LONDON, Sept 1 (Reuters) – Australia’s former prime minister, Tony Abbott, declined on Tuesday to comment on reports he is being lined up to become a trade envoy for Britain, a possible appointment that has stirred criticism from opposition lawmakers.
Speaking at an event hosted by the Policy Exchange think tank, Abbott, a supporter of Brexit who was Australia’s prime minister between 2013-2015, was asked about reports he had been appointed as a member of Britain’s board of trade.
“Obviously I can’t comment on any position which is not yet official,” he said.
“But certainly I think that it’s in Britain’s interest and it’s in Australia’s interests that this particular free trade deal be done as quickly as possible.” (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper and Estelle Shirbon; editing by Kate Holton)