Canberra, Jan 22 (IANS): Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is being considered for the role of secretary-general for the United Nations, the media reported on Friday.

Rudd was flagged as a potential replacement for outgoing secretary-general Ban ki-moon, who will finish his term at the end of 2016. Ban ki-moon was elected for the role in 2006, Xinhua reported.

Member countries of the UN, including Australia, the US and France, were expected to announce their nominations for the position in coming weeks as the contest to select the new secretary-general gathers momentum.

This means Australia's federal government and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, must decide whether they will support Rudd in his quest to succeed Ban ki-moon.

At the moment, he is not considered one of the favourites for the post.

Media reports said on Friday that the Turnbull government believes it would be able to avoid nominating any candidate if Rudd remained an outsider in the race.