Kevin Rudd is sending his youngest son Marcus Rudd to take his place at the state funeral for former prime minister Malcolm Fraser to be held in Melbourne this Friday.
Fairfax Media understands Mr Rudd has prior commitments he cannot break and asked a close family member to attend for him instead as a sign of respect.
Marcus Rudd, 22, worked on the Australian Labor Party's election campaign from campaign headquarters in 2013 after Kevin Rudd became prime minister for the second time.
Marcus Rudd worked in the digital unit and was well regarded and considered talented in his work. Mr Rudd's oldest son Nicholas was made a senior advisor within the prime minister's office and joined his travelling party on the election trail.
All living prime ministers including Tony Abbott, Paul Keating, Bob Hawke, John Howard, Julia Gillard, Mr Rudd and the late Malcolm Fraser attended the state memorial for Gough Whitlam, who died in October last year.
Mr Fraser's funeral is being held one week after his death. Prime Minister Tony Abbott is confirmed as attending. Former prime ministers Ms Gillard, Mr Howard and Mr Keating are also attending.
Mr Hawke will be overseas and miss the funeral.
Sources have told Fairfax Media that Mr Rudd will instead be attending the Boao Forum in China at the time of the funeral.
The absences of Mr Rudd and Mr Hawke means there will be no repeat of the moment at Mr Whitlam's memorial last year when all seven surviving Australian prime ministers, past and present, were pictured together.
Mr Rudd will be able to avoid, however, any repeat of what appeared to be an awkward incident with Ms Gillard before the ceremony.
