Cabinet yet to discuss UN candidates

Federal cabinet will wait for a full list of candidates before it decides who Australia backs to be the next United Nations chief.

There is speculation former prime minister Kevin Rudd will enter the race.

"Cabinet will consider whether Australia will support any particular candidate or nominate a candidate," Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.

The decision could prove a tricky one for cabinet.

There are conservative MPs within coalition ranks who don't want the government to back Mr Rudd.

Ms Bishop, when asked whether Mr Rudd had the right qualities to be UN secretary-general, said the position required a great understanding of international affairs and administrative skills.

Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark has announced her bid to replace Ban Ki-moon when he retires at the end of 2016.

Ms Clark is the third-highest ranked UN official and one of four female candidates in an eight-person field so far.

Observers expect the successful candidate to be drawn from Eastern Europe.

As well, there appears to be a strong appetite for appointing a woman to a role only held by men previously.