Australian Prime Minister announces new cabinet
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Australia's first woman prime minister (PM), Julia Gillard, has announced the cabinet she'll be taking to the federal election, with no mention of former PM Kevin Rudd.
The Australian Labor Party (ALP) voted Mr Rudd out of parliamentary leadership in a special caucus election last week. "The new leader elected unopposed is Julia Gillard and the deputy will be Wayne Swan," Senator Michael Forshaw told media after the caucus.
The key differences between Ms Gillard's and Mr Rudd's cabinet are Simon Crean becoming Minister of Education, Workplace Relations and Social Inclusion, replacing Gillard; and Stephen Smith adding Minister for Trade, replacing Crean, to his position as Minister for Foreign Affairs.
In a statement Mr Rudd said, "[u]ltimately, decisions on Cabinet appointments are a matter for the Prime Minister" and he is respectful of her decision. Ms Gillard said, however, that she would be happy to include Mr Rudd as a senior cabinet minister after the election.
The next election is constitutionally due in early 2011 but Ms Gillard has indicated that it will be held this year.
Related news
- "Australian Labor Party caucus vote to change prime minister" — Wikinews, June 24, 2010
Sources
- "No Rudd in Gillard's cabinet" — World News Australia, June 28, 2010
- "Rudd misses out in cabinet reshuffle" — Trading Room, June 28, 2010
- "Simon Crean in Julia Gillard's Cabinet reshuffle, but no room for Kevin Rudd" — The Daily Telegraph, June 28, 2010