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Kevin Rudd sworn in as new Australian prime minister | Kevin Rudd sworn in as new Australian prime minister |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Kevin Rudd has been sworn in as prime minister of Australia, a day after he ousted Julia Gillard as leader of the Labor Party. | Kevin Rudd has been sworn in as prime minister of Australia, a day after he ousted Julia Gillard as leader of the Labor Party. |
Mr Rudd took the oath at Government House in front of Governor-General Quentin Bryce. | |
The leadership change comes ahead of a general election scheduled for 14 September, which polls suggest Labor will lose. | |
Opposition leader Tony Abbott called on Mr Rudd to set an earlier poll date. | |
"The Australian people are yearning to make a choice. The Australian people are well and truly over this low and dishonourable parliament," he told a news conference. | "The Australian people are yearning to make a choice. The Australian people are well and truly over this low and dishonourable parliament," he told a news conference. |
Anthony Albanese has been sworn in a deputy prime minister and Chris Bowen replaces Wayne Swan as treasurer. | |
'Energy and purpose' | |
Mr Rudd returned to Australia's top job three years and three days after he was toppled in a similar party ballot by Ms Gillard, then his deputy. | |
He secured 57 votes to Ms Gillard's 45 in Wednesday's vote, which followed months of speculation over who should lead Labor into the forthcoming election. | |
Opinion polls have been pointing to a crushing defeat for Labor. But Mr Rudd is more popular with voters than Ms Gillard and many believe Labor will perform better under him. | |
Speaking after his win on Wednesday, Mr Rudd said he resumed the role of prime minister with "an important sense of energy and purpose". | |
"Why am I taking on this challenge? For me it's pretty basic, it's pretty clear. I simply do not have it in my nature to stand idly by and to allow an Abbott government to come to power in this country by default," he said. | |
Ms Gillard resigned as prime minister on Wednesday and says she will leave politics. | |
Despite their bitter rivalry, Mr Rudd praised his predecessor, describing her as a woman of extraordinary intelligence, with great strength and energy. | Despite their bitter rivalry, Mr Rudd praised his predecessor, describing her as a woman of extraordinary intelligence, with great strength and energy. |
"Julia, as prime minister and prior to that as deputy prime minister, has achieved much under the difficult circumstances of a minority government," he said after his win. | |
Six of Ms Gillard's ministers resigned after the party vote and further cabinet shake-ups are expected. | |
Mr Rudd is due to address parliament later on Thursday. |