Albanese launches bid for UN security council seat and names former Murdoch aide to top diplomatic post

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese formally submitted an application for Australia to hold a two-year position on the United Nations Security Council for 2029 and 2030. Albanese also announced Siobhan McKenna, a former head of broadcasting at Murdoch-owned News Corp, as Australia's new consul general to New York. A formal vote for the UN council seat won't take place until mid-2028, but Albanese's team will ramp up lobbying efforts during the Prime Minister's visit to New York for the UN General Assembly.

Albanese argued that Australia's presence on the Security Council would benefit ordinary citizens by influencing aspects like the cost of living and inflation. "Engagement with the world matters. It matters because it makes a difference to the cost of living, to inflation, to Australians' way of life," the Prime Minister stated. Australia has been on the Security Council five times since its inception after World War II, most recently leading the response to the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2013-2014.

To succeed, Australia needs support from two-thirds of the 193 UN member states. Although only Australia and Finland have submitted bids, other Western Europe and Others group countries could still apply. With two Western European nations vying for the spot, Albanese remains optimistic about gaining Pacific and Southeast Asian support.

The campaign, "we listen, we partner, we protect," will emphasize Australia's role in the Pacific, climate change action, and efforts to regulate social media and AI. McKenna, now chair of Australia Post and NBN, will bring financial and economic expertise to the role.