Consulate to coastal mansion … it’s not all bad for Kevin Rudd

This ultra chic beach house is in Kevin Rudd’s wifes name, Theresa Rein

There are calls for former PM Kevin Rudd to be stripped of his role as US ambassador after he was embarrasingly roasted by US president Donald Trump.

But it is not all bad, with Rudd, described as the “elephant in the room” by Opposition Sussan Ley, having a soft – and luxurious place – to fall if he gets the sack.

And its a luxurious beach house in Sunshine Beach in Queensland.

Publicly-available property records show that his entrepreneur wife, Therese Rein, is listed as the owner of the Seaview Terrace residence which boasts uninterrupted ocean views.

The $17m Sunshine Beach residence owned by US ambassador Kevin Rudd’s wife, Therese Rein

She purchased the striking modern residence for a staggering $17 million in May 2020, at the start of the Covid-19 property boom.

It was listed briefly for $20 million in January 2021.

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Prior to Australia’s first family buying the property – Rudd served as Australia’s 26th Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010 – it was owned by tennis ace Pat Rafter.

Rudd was appointed as Australia’s US Ambassador in 2023, but created waves before being appointed to the role with some stinging social media posts about Trump.

Those comments came back to haunt Rudd during a cringeworth exchange at the White House on Monday.

The US President lashed out at the former Prime Minister after he was asked about Mr Rudd’s previous social media posts in which he labelled Mr Trump “the most destructive president in history” and a “traitor to the West”.

Mr Trump, who previously labelled Mr Rudd “nasty” for the comments, said he was not aware of the posts.

“I don’t know anything about him, if he said bad (things) maybe he’d like to apologise,” Mr Trump said.

Turning to Mr Albanese, Mr Trump asked: “did the ambassador say something about me … don’t tell me”.

“Where is he, is he still working for you.”

Kevin Rudd (left) was roasted by US president Donald Trump

In an awkward exchange, Mr Albanese hesitated before pointing at Mr Rudd directly across the table from the President, saying “he’s there”.

Members of the Trump administration including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth laughed as Mr Rudd attempted to squirm out of the exchange, agreeing he had made comments “before I took this position Mr President”.Mr Trump interrupted, telling him “I don’t like you either and I probably never will”.

Australian officials said after Mr Rudd apologised, all was forgiven by the US President.

Members of the press pack overheard Mr Rudd apologising to the President as reporters and cameras were being cleared from the room.

Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese, U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Australian Ambassador to the U.S. Kevin Rudd (2nd R) speak to reporters ahead of a bilateral meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on October 20, 2025. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Opposition leader Sussan Ley said Mr Rudd’s position was now untenable.

“Kevin Rudd really was the elephant in the room and it’s a bit awkward, isn’t it,” she said on Sky News.

“It’s taken nearly a year to get this meeting, and that’s been a failure of the ambassador.

“And when the ambassador is the punchline of the joke and the Prime Minister is actually laughing at him, I think that tells us all we need to know about the fact that it’s probably not reasonable that he continue in the role.”

And if he gets the boot from the role, at least he has some luxury digs to escape to to lick his wounds.

The Sunshine Beach residence has seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, a pool, and sits on an absolute beachfront 1031sq m block.

Inside the Seaview Terrace residence.

Sunshine Beach has been a popular location for Australia’s well-heeled, with homes owned by the likes of Peter and Patty Tighe (owners of champion racehorse Winx), Karen Greer, wife of Wilson Asset Management founder Geoff Wilson, and billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart.

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