and there is this. Maybe Mr Rudd is getting back at Mr Borrowman for leaving the position?
Rudd under fire over diplomat block Posted 7 hours 44 minutes ago
Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop has demanded Prime Minister Kevin Rudd explain why he blocked the posting of a senior diplomat to Germany.
There are reports that Mr Rudd vetoed Foreign Minister Stephen Smith's recommendation that senior diplomat Hugh Borrowman be appointed ambassador to Germany.
Ms Bishop has demanded an explanation.
"The Prime Minister said to the media, to the Australian people that it was because Mr Borrowman did not speak German," she said.
"In fact Mr Borrowman's language qualification is German. So what is the real reason that Mr Rudd blocked Mr Borrowman's career prospects by preventing him from being ambassador to Germany?"
Before he was appointed Australia's ambassador to Sweden last week, Mr Borrowman spent three years as a senior secretary in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The DFAT website says his extensive diplomatic experience before that includes stints helping shape Pacific policy, and work in various areas within the department.
As well as speaking German, French and Swedish, he has worked in Stockholm and Belgium.
