Beazley new US ambassador

CANBERRA - Kim Beazley will next year become Canberra's new man in Washington, using connections from 27 years in politics to advance Australian ties with the United States.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd yesterday handed the man he replaced as Labor leader the top prize in diplomacy, the job of Australia's ambassador to the US.

A renowned student of American politics, Beazley has long been tipped as a frontrunner for the job.

The former Opposition leader never made it to prime minister, losing elections in 1998 and 2001, but the US job may make up for any regret he feels for those losses.

"I can't think of anything I would rather do at this point in time," Beazley said.

"The US is a country for which I have very great affection."

Rudd told reporters the appointment was yet more evidence of the value Australia attached to its relationship with the US.

Michael Fullilove, the global issues director at the Lowy Institute, said Beazley's professional and personal qualities would be well-received in Washington. "He brings a real stature to the job that no career diplomat could."

Beazley will take up the job in February next year, replacing Dennis Richardson who comes back to Australia to run the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Rudd also announced the appointment of former Liberal leader Dr Brendan Nelson as Australia's next ambassador to the European communities.

Nelson will also serve as Australia's representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, as special representative to the World Health Organisation and as ambassador to Belgium and Luxemburg.

Both Beazley and Nelson had served as defence ministers, both had led their parties and both had earned the trust and respect of the Australian people, Rudd said.

- AAP