Asia-Pacific

Former Australian PM Kevin Rudd to be foreign minister

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-11 09:42

CANBERRA - Former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd is to be foreign affairs minister in the new Labor government, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced on Saturday.

Australia's Kevin Rudd speaks at a news conference for the last time as Prime Minister at Federal Parliament House in Canberra June 24, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]?

A spokeswoman for Gillard confirmed that Rudd, a Mandarin speaking former diplomat who was Labor foreign affairs spokesman while in opposition, would take over from Stephen Smith who has held the job since Labor won the 2007 election.

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Following his ousting as prime minister, Gillard promised Rudd a senior frontbench position with speculation covering foreign affairs plus some other possibilities.

Smith in turn takes over the defense portfolio, vacated by John Faulkner who announced before the election he was standing aside. In which, Smith will be Labor's third defense minister in three years.

Smith will hold a press conference in Perth of Australia later on Saturday to comment on his new responsibilities.