Anthony Albanese’s selfie-loving trade minister comes under fire AGAIN for appointing a mate to plum overseas trade job – instead of experienced female executive Kirstyn Thomson

A senior minister’s decision to appoint one of his colleagues to a cushy, well-paid role, in which a female director had already been identified as the best candidate, has been dismissed as yet another example of Labour’s ‘jobs for the boys’.

Trade Minister Don Farrell appointed his friend Chris Ketter as senior trade and investment commissioner and Australian consul general in San Francisco on July 7.

Kirstyn Thomson, head of the US investment desk at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), was identified as the ‘preferred candidate’ for the role. The Australian announced on Thursday.

To make matters worse, Mr Ketter is said to have never even applied for the position, and the formal recruitment process was canceled when Senator Farrell’s office selected his partner for the reported $250,000-a-year job, the Australian reported.

Mr Ketter is a former Labor senator who, after being ousted, took on a role in Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles’ office as a senior staffer. He considers Mr. Farrell a close friend and ally.

Trade Minister Don Farrell (centre) sits with ALP politicians at a Labor event. Mr Ketter thanked Mr Farrell for his ‘friendship and support’ during his maiden speech to Parliament in 2013

Former Labor senator Ketter (left, with fitness star Michelle Bridges) reportedly did not apply for the US job at all and has no experience in the field, but was appointed by his friend, Trade Secretary Don Farrell.

Kirstyn Thomson (pictured), head of the US investment desk at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), was highlighted as the ‘preferred candidate’ for the role

The decision required federal cabinet approval, meaning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was aware of the appointment and signed it.

Greens Senator Larissa Waters was scathing about the decision, telling reporters in Canberra it “stinks, to put it bluntly”.

“The Australian people have voted to put an end to this ‘jobs for the boys’ nonsense. They expect better from the Albanian government,” she said.

“Minister Farrell’s decision to appoint an ex-Labor colleague and senior employee to a plum industry role, rather than the woman selected through a rigorous recruitment process, simply does not pass the pub test.”

Ms Thomson, who has 20 years’ experience in the trade, appears to have held no ill will over the decision and told The Australian she was subsequently offered a more suitable post.

It’s not the first time Don Farrell has caused drama for Anthony Albanese.

Before September’s grand final between Collingwood and Brisbane, it was revealed that a chilling exchange took place between Farrell and football legend Dermott Brereton.

The Labor powerbroker moved to the front of the queue and demanded a selfie with him, declaring he was ‘a minister’.

When asked where Don Darrell was a ‘w*nker’, the Hawthorn star replied: I don’t know him personally, but his behavior at that stage suggests that this may be the case.’

Ms Thomson has led the US investment desk at AusTrade since 2021, but has more than two decades of industry experience, including working from London and Myanmar, according to her LinkedIn page.

She was reportedly one of fifty people who applied for the position and was determined to be the preferred candidate.

Trade Minister Don Farrell (pictured) appointed his friend Chris Ketter as senior trade and investment commissioner and Australian consul general in San Francisco on July 7.

The decision required federal cabinet approval, meaning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was aware of and signed the appointment

Meanwhile, Mr Ketter reportedly did not apply for the job at all and has no experience in the field.

He worked as a union official in a role closely aligned with Mr Farrell, and used his first speech in Parliament after being elected to the Senate in 2013 to thank Mr Farrell for his “friendship and support”.

He lost his Senate seat in the 2019 elections and went to work as a “senior adviser” to Mr Marles.

Congratulating Mr Ketter on the appointment, Mr Farrell said he brings “extensive experience in government and in the defense industry and critical technologies sector, which will help strengthen Australia’s AUKUS objectives”.

Daily Mail Australia approached Mr Farrell for comment.