Bracks' NY post may be reviewed: Libs THE federal coalition says it has the right to review former Victorian premier Steve Bracks' New York diplomatic posting if it wins Saturday's election. Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop says the coalition had asked that it be consulted on any major appointments close to the election but the request fell on deaf ears. "Foreign Minister Carr arrogantly ignored this request and appointed former Labor premier Steve Bracks to the important post of consul-general in New York to take effect within a few days after the election," she said in a statement on Tuesday. If the coalition wins the election, I reserve the right to review this appointment, given that the Labor government failed to undertake any consultation. Foreign Minister Bob Carr announced Mr Bracks's appointment in May, sparking criticism the government was handing plum foreign postings to party affiliates. But then prime minister Julia Gillard defended the posting, saying candidates were drawn from "across the political spectrum to get the best of skills" and highlighting the roles of former Liberal leader Brendan Nelson at NATO and the European Union, South Australian Liberal senator Robert Hill at the UN, and Howard government minister Amanda Vanstone in Italy. "I do note that when we came to government there were a number of former Liberal MPs serving in various diplomatic posts around the world," she said at the time. There was quite a substantial list and we did not engage in instability and churning of appointments based on who had a political party ticket. Mr Bracks' office has been contacted for comment. Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews says most Australians regard Mr Bracks as a person of great integrity and it'd be "incredibly petty" if a conservative government changed the decision about his posting. "I think he'll do a great job in New York and be a great servant of our nation, just as he was of our state," the Labor leader told reporters.