Lack of US ambassador a 'bitter pill'

Australia won't have a United States ambassador in place for Remembrance Day, with former Nationals leader Tim Fischer labelling the snub a "bitter pill".

The US hasn't bothered to appoint a new ambassador to Australia for more than two years, while Brunei and Bosnia were two of the most recent countries to get new appointments.

"It is a bitter pill that can no longer be sugar coated that Australia is now over two years without a US ambassador," former deputy prime minister Mr Fischer told AAP on Thursday.

"The drift in this matter is bordering on an insult given the fact that we now are approaching the final four weeks commemoration of the centenary of World War One, where the US and Australia fought alongside on the Western Front."

Mr Fischer said even if the US rushes through a nomination it still won't be done in time for November 11's Remembrance Day event in Canberra.