Liberal MP Andrew Hastie has added to backbench dissent against Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, contradicting her calls for US Ambassador Kevin Rudd to be fired.

The high-profile backbencher broke his media silence on Thursday, weeks after resigning from Ms Ley’s frontbench.

He used his first media event since going quiet to side with Mr Rudd over Ms Ley, and underlined growing unease among Liberal MPs .

“Kevin Rudd got the job done in the end. He got the minerals deal. He had a seat at the table with President Trump and the Prime Minister,” Mr Hastie told 2GB.

“Frankly, he made some unwise comments prior to becoming the ambassador. We all make unwise comments.

“He sat there and he was humiliated by Donald Trump, first by pretending not to know who he was, then secondly by saying ‘I d

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