Ex-Australian PM Rudd seeks nomination for UN secretary general role

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has confirmed that former prime minister Kevin Rudd has put his name forward for the post of UN secretary general.

Bishop told Sky News that Rudd had requested that the Australian government to nominate him for the role.

"Kevin Rudd has requested that the Australian Government nominate him and, as the Prime Minister has indicated on a number of occasions, that'll be a matter for Cabinet," abc.net.au quoted her as saying.

She said that it was now for the cabinet to consider whether to support Rudd's candidacy for the UN's top job or not.

The United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-Moon chair will become vacant when his term expires at the end of this year.

His successor will take office on January 1, 2017.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has urged the Coalition to back Rudd, saying he was "suitably qualified".

"I think Turnbull should put the national interest first and support an Australian," he said.

South Australian Liberal senator Cory Bernardi had previously urged Bishop not to endorse a "dysfunctional", "vengeful", "unstable", "megalomaniac" like Rudd.

Her had said in February that "the Australian public would be very disappointed if we endorsed such a person for this significant role".

Rudd if nominated will face former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark, who announced her candidacy earlier this year.