Foreign Minister, Senator Penny Wong, has signalled a shift away from the past practice of appointing former politicians as Australian ambassadors or to other diplomatic posts. (pictured)

Senator Wong acknowledged that both sides of politics had engaged in the practice when in office and also conceded that some ex-MPs would still be selected to represent the nation where appropriate.

The Bug tasked its Adelaide bureau to visit Rundle Mall in the Adelaide CBD to test public opinion on the shift in policy and found the change is not popular.

Al Exdowner – 71, landed gent of Adelaide Hills  

Gadzooks man! What is this Wong woman on about? I tell you she will rue the day she shuts the door on appointing the likes of me….., I mean…. she’ll rue the day she shuts the door on appointing experienced and talented people, perhaps like a former foreign minister still willing to serve in a plum diplomatic post especially in the Mother Country.

N. Titled – 71,  what do you mean, occupation? of Adelaide Hills  

How can one ever carry on one’s family’s tradition of serving one’s nation in the heart of our Empire if the selection criteria is limited to being talented, knowledgeable, hard-working, and other “woke” yardsticks? Now get out of my way, I am late for tiffin at the Adelaide Club.

Thatsmylord Toyou – 71, obviously your better of Adelaide Hills  

When I was foreign minister….., I mean, if I were foreign minister I would be appointing as many former Liberal Party ministers to as many diplomatic posts as possible. That is their right. Sending ex-MPs from the Liberal Party to fill key diplomatic postings is sound, sensible public policy compared with the tawdry, “jobs-for-the-mates” approach taken by Labor governments.

Ari Stocrat – 71, don’t be impudent of Adelaide Hills  

I say, this new policy must be scrapped immediately. (Respondent tapped his longstaff heavily on the ground for emphasis.) How else can someone like my darling daughter ever hope to secure a diplomatic post? This is a matter of gender equity, my man. Women in the Liberal Party should have the same opportunity as men to serve in cushy overseas posts.