Long known King will get Australia

Stuff reports:

Former Rongotai MP and Labour deputy leader Dame Annette King has put her Hataitai home up for sale, amid expectations she is headed overseas for a top diplomatic posting.

King, who served as an MP for 10 Parliamentary terms, including holding the seat of Rongotai since 1996, stepped down at the 2017 election. In May she was made a Dame, after being named in the New Year’s honours.

Having recently announced she is stepping down as interim chair of EQC, the former health minister is expected to be named as the next High Commissioner to Australia, although there has been no official confirmation.

Speaking from Thailand, where she is holidaying with family, King said the house was simply larger than she needed. It should not be inferred that it was a step towards a move to Canberra.

I first heard around four years ago that Annette would be made High Commissioner to Australia once there was a Labour Government. So it will be absolutely no surprise once her appointment is confirmed.

She’ll be a good pick for the job as she has a direct line to the PM and will need to smooth things overs with the Aussies as several Ministers are peeved off with the current Government here.