Arthur Sinodinos, Mathias Cormann and Marise Payne in the running for US ambassador
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is preparing to appoint one of the government's most senior figures as Australia's new ambassador to the United States.
The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age understand Finance Minister Mathias Cormann and NSW senator Arthur Sinodinos - a highly respected former cabinet minister and chief of staff to John Howard - are leading candidates to replace Joe Hockey as the nation’s top international envoy. Foreign Minister Marise Payne is also in the mix but considered the least likely option.
The secretary of the Department of Defence, Greg Moriarty, has also been discussed in diplomatic circles as a possible replacement.
An announcement could be made as soon as Sunday.
Mr Hockey has served as Australia’s representative in Washington since 2016 but will return to Sydney when his posting expires at the start of next year.
The Prime Minister was expected to name a replacement later this year but the decision will likely be made public when he unveils his revamped ministry on Sunday.
Mr Hockey has formed close relationships with senior Trump administration officials and has played golf with the president several times.
His successor will take up the posting at a highly volatile time, just as the Democratic presidential primaries are beginning and with President Donald Trump focussed on his re-election prospects.
Senator Sinodinos served as Malcolm Turnbull’s cabinet secretary but was forced to stand down to undergo treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He has since made a full recovery and was expected to return to cabinet under Mr Morrison.
Appointing a senator to the post would not trigger a byelection. A casual Senate vacancy would give Mr Morrison and the Liberal Party the ability to bring fresh talent into Parliament.
Sending Senator Cormann or Senator Payne to Washington would trigger a wider reshuffle at the top of the new cabinet.
Senator Cormann also serves as the government’s leader in the Senate and has played a crucial role negotiating with crossbench senators on contentious legislation. The only cabinet member to remain in the same position since Tony Abbott 2013 election win, the Finance Minister’s experience could be used in Washington to help navigate a worsening trade dispute between Mr Trump and China that threatens the global economy.
The Prime Minister’s office declined to comment on Sunday morning.
The prestigious post has traditionally been filled by a senior Australian politician or public servant. Kevin Rudd appointed former Labor leader Kim Beazley to the post in 2010, while former Liberal leader Andrew Peacock also held the role for several years.
Former foreign minister Julie Bishop was considered a potential candidate but has previously indicated she was not interested and planned to return to the private sector following her retirement at the May 18 election.
The US Department of Justice last week announced that it would charge the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act, presenting a diplomatic challenge for Australian diplomats in Washington.
Mr Trump said on Friday that he had asked his Attorney-General William Barr to investigate Australia's role in sparking the 2016 FBI probe into potential links between his election campaign and Russia.
“I hope he looks at the UK and I hope he looks at Australia and I hope he looks at Ukraine,” he told reporters.
"I hope he looks at everything, because there was a hoax that was perpetrated on our country."