Former Victorian Premier Steve Bracks, Source: News Limited STEVE Bracks has played a role in his own demise as Consul-General to New York after losing the confidence of the Abbott Government by actively fundraising and campaigning against it. Mr Bracks has been axed from the prestigious $250,000-a-year posting just days before he was due to move into the $25 million apartment that comes with the job. But while the former Victorian Premier has been dumped the Abbott Government will keep former Labor leader Kim Beazley in Washington and former SA Labor premier Mike Rann in London. Abbott revokes Bracks' diplomatic post It is understood new Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will not exercise an option to recall Mr Beazley and will next week confirm his role as US Ambassador until December 2014. The Abbott Government will tell US President Barack Obama's administration that Mr Beazley is ``our man in Washington" and will speak for new PM Tony Abbott. PM Elect Tony Abbott working in his office at Parliament House in Canberra Picture: Kym Smith Source: News Limited The Herald Sun has learned senior figures decided that Mr Bracks could not speak for the Abbott government in New York because he campaigned against it. Mr Bracks was the star billing at a fundraising event and involved in the Hotham pre-selection contest. ``There is an expectation that the ex-pollies who serve in these jobs have the ear of the government of the day but Mr Bracks didn't show diplomatic skills or judgment," said a Liberal source. ``It was highly inappropriate for him to be involved in a campaign against the government he would have to represent. Ms Bishop warned in May that she reserved the right to review the appointment as it was taking effect at the same time as the election. She will not formally become Foreign Minister until next week but in a meeting on Monday with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade secretary Peter Varghese she indicated Mr Bracks would be recalled from the post. Because Mr Bracks had been due to fly from Melbourne to New York this week, Mr Varghese advised him not to go. Acting Foreign Minister Tanya Plibersek said it was a ``petty and vindictive" decision as the first act of the Abbott Government. But former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett said Mr Bracks has no right to complain because ``he did exactly the same thing when he won government in 1999" by sacking Sir James Gobbo as Governor. PM Elect Tony Abbott and Deputy Liberal Leader Julie Bishop during a meeting at Parliament House in Canberra. In his book, ``A Premier's State" Mr Bracks said Sir James has been a member of a regular lunch group called the Rumour Tank that was made up of ``Liberal Party identities" including Mr Kennett and it concerned him and was a factor in not extending his term as Governor. Mr Bracks, who had strong business and political support for the job, issued a statement saying he had been advised Ms Bishop ``would be revoking my position. He had resigned from other jobs and will now seek opportunities in the funds management industry. It is understood senior foreign affairs officials were concerned about former PM Julia Gillard's decision to appoint to Mr Bracks so close to the election. A foreign affairs diplomat will be acting consul-general and it is believed no one has yet been offered the post.