Abbott friend offered diplomatic post

Prime Minister Tony Abbott considered appointing close friend, News Corp Australia journalist Greg Sheridan, to a diplomatic post, it has been revealed.

The pair, who have been friends since their Sydney University days, discussed the role of high commissioner to Singapore before the 2013 election.

It was formally considered after Mr Abbott's election September 2013 win, but the senior journalist with The Australian knocked back the offer after discussing it with editor-in-chief Chris Mitchell.

Mr Mitchell confirmed to AAP it was considered to be a serious job offer, but he had talked his foreign editor out of leaving.

It is not uncommon for experienced journalists to be offered government jobs.

Mr Sheridan has been reporting and writing on Asian politics since the late 1970s.

Previously he has described Mr Abbott as his "best friend" at university and has defended the prime minister's reputation on many occasions.

However he was scathing of the prime minister's decision to award Prince Philip a knighthood, describing it as a "very dumb decision" and "bizarre".

Nobel laureate Professor Peter Doherty linked the two issues in a Twitter response to the story which broke on the Fairfax website on Friday.

"After the Duke, it gets even weirder!" he tweeted.

Comment was being sought from the prime minister's office.