Adios uncalled for, says Minchin

Minchin made the comments after Trujillo was quoted in a BBC News interview accusing Kevin Rudd and other commentators of racism over their use of the word ‘adios' upon learning of his impending departure.

Minchin also slammed the Prime Minister's comments as "contemptuous, rude, sneering and entirely inappropriate", particularly coming from a former diplomat.

"The regular references, by a variety of commentators, to Trujillo's Mexican background during his tenure in Australia were quite rude and uncalled for," Minchin said.

"In contrast, Senator Conroy was much more generous about Mr Trujillo's contribution to Australia in his remarks at last week's ATUG conference and set a far higher standard than Mr Rudd's base remark."