Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has fuelled speculation cabinet will sink Kevin Rudd's bid to lead the United Nations, rejecting Foreign Minister Julie Bishop's central argument in favour of the nomination.
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In an interview ahead of Thursday's cabinet meeting, which will make a decision on the matter, Mr Turnbull argued the government's nomination of the former Labor prime minister would amount to support.
Ms Bishop, the main backer of Mr Rudd in cabinet, recently told the Coalition party room that a "nomination is not an endorsement" but the former Labor leader has not attracted the support of other senior ministers.
Treasurer Scott Morrison, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, Industry Minister Greg Hunt and several backbenchers have publicly questioned the former Labor leader's merit and suitability to be secretary-general of the powerful international organisation.
Speaking to Alan Jones on 2GB on Thursday morning, the Prime Minister said, "I think if you nominate someone, you are..."
"Indirectly supporting him," Jones offered.
"Well, yes. You can't nominate and not," Mr Turnbull said.
"I know there's a lot of interest in Mr Rudd but it is far from being the most important issue before cabinet today, indeed or any other day."
Speaking on 2GB later in the morning, Mr Dutton said "people have made their own assessment, their own judgement about Kevin Rudd, his conduct, his personality, his management style.
"Everybody knows him well and those that know him best, his colleagues – as [former minister] Eric Abetz and others have pointed out – they've been publicly boisterous about what they believe Kevin Rudd to be."
On ABC radio, Energy and Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg said he expected a "very robust discussion...because there are obviously competing views".
Senior conservative Senator Abetz said Labor figures had referred to their former leader as a narcissist, micro-manager, impulsive control freak and psychopath and that "these are not qualities listed on the job-ad for UN chief".
"Any cursory glance at Mr Rudd's temperament and capacity would show that Mr Rudd is poorly qualified for this role and if Australia were to seek to inflict Kevin Rudd onto the United Nations, it would be a mistake," he said.
Mr Morrison has questioned why the Coalition government should support Mr Rudd because Labor hadn't supported former treasurer Peter Costello to become head of the International Monetary Fund in 2011.
Should the government decline Mr Rudd's request for a formal nomination, made in writing to current Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Labor will accuse the Coalition of petty partisanship.
Acting Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek expressed shock on Thursday that the government would even consider not backing Mr Rudd.
"I don't think I can imagine anyone who is better qualified for this job than Kevin Rudd," she said.
"If the cabinet today decides not to offer its endorsement to Kevin Rudd, it will show that the petty, small-minded right-wing of the Liberal Party have Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop on a short leash."
There is global momentum for a woman to become secretary-general for the first time and the eastern Europe bloc is due to have a representative fill the position. Of the 12 official candidates, Antonio Guterres, former prime minister of Portugal, is considered a frontrunner.
Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark has been mentioned as the most likely outsider compromise candidate that could emerge if the eastern European candidates stymy each other's chances.
