BREAKING NEWS

Australia: Former PM Rudd to be new foreign minister

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEPTEMBER 11, 2010 12:25

SYDNEY — Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was named Saturday as Australia's new foreign minister, a high-profile and coveted posting that will be seen as a consolation prize for being ousted from the leadership.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who narrowly won elections last month just weeks after she toppled Rudd in an internal Labor Party insurrection, made the appointment as part of several changes to her Cabinet.

Rudd, 53, is well qualified for the foreign minister post. Before entering politics he was a senior diplomat and spent years working and studying in China — one of Australia's most important trade and diplomatic partners. He speaks fluent Mandarin.

He replaces Stephen Smith who was foreign minister for three years while Rudd was prime minister. Smith becomes defense minister in Saturday's shuffling of posts.

Gillard was Rudd's deputy until July, when she unseated him in an internal party vote, saying she believed the government had lost its way. She announced a handful of major policy changes, then called elections that resulted in an almost drawn result with the conservative coalition.

Gillard last week completed a deal with independents and minor party lawmakers that allowed her to lead Australia's first minority government in 70 years.

Gillard publicly promised Rudd a senior post in her government if it were re-elected.

After initially being blamed for a series of leaks that damaged Labor during the election campaign, Rudd campaigned heavily for Gillard, helping to stem a strong swing in votes away from the government in his home state of Queensland.

Man shoots and wounds two police officers in Paris, French media reports

By REUTERS

05/10/2024 12:49 AM

Emergency government could fall apart at any time - KAN report

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

05/09/2024 09:07 PM

IDF appoints commanders to investigate events of October 7

By AMIR BOHBOT

05/09/2024 08:41 PM

Unidentified object from Gaza Strip lands in Israel, no damages

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

05/09/2024 07:36 PM