Kevin Rudd

Infobox Prime Minister
honorific-prefix = The Honourable

name = Kevin Michael Rudd
honorific-suffix =
BA (Hons) MP


imagesize = 200px
small

caption =
order = 26th Prime Minister of Australia
Elections: 2007
deputy = Julia Gillard
term_start = 3 December 2007
term_end =
predecessor = John Howard
successor =
office2 = Leader of the Australian Labor Party
term_start2 = 4 December 2006
term_end2 =
predecessor2 = Kim Beazley
successor2 =
constituency_MP3 = Griffith
parliament3 = Australian
majority3 =
term_start3 = 3 October 1998
term_end3 =
predecessor3 = Graeme McDougall
successor3 =
birth_date = birth date and age|1957|09|21|df=y
birth_place = Nambour, Queensland, Australia
death_date =
death_place =
party = Australian Labor Party
spouse = Thérèse Rein
relations =
alma_mater = Australian National University
occupation =
profession = Diplomat Civil servant


footnotes =
website = [http://www.pm.gov.au Prime Minister of Australia's website]

Kevin Michael Rudd (born 21 September 1957) is the 26th and current Prime Minister of Australia and federal leader of the centre-left Australian Labor Party (ALP). Under Rudd's leadership, the Labor Party won the 2007 federal election on 24 November against the incumbent centre-right Liberal/National coalition government led by John Howard. The Rudd Ministry was sworn in by the Governor-General, Michael Jeffery, on 3 December 2007.

Early life

Rudd was born in Nambour, Queensland and grew up on a dairy farm in nearby Eumundi. Farm life, which required the use of horses and guns, is where he developed his life-long love of horse riding and shooting clay targets.cite news
title =Kevin the Kid: PM reveals inner cowboy
publisher ="The Sydney Morning Herald"
date =2008-09-19
url =http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/cowboy-pm-horses-and-shooting-a-hrefhttpmediafairfaxcomaurid41942bvideoba/2008/09/19/1221331152219.html
accessdate =2008-09-19 ] His father, a share farmer and Country Party member, died when Rudd was 11 and the family was compelled to leave the farm under hardship.cite news
title = A disputed eviction and a tale of family honour
last = Duff
first = Eamonn
last2 = Walsh
first2 = Kerry-Anne
publisher = The Sun-Herald
date= 11 March 2007
url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/rudds-childhood-eviction-disputed/2007/03/10/1173478729097.html
accessdate =2007-03-11 ] Rudd joined the Australian Labor Party in 1972 at the age of 15.cite news
first = Cosima
last = Marriner
title = The lonely road to the top
url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/the-lonely-road-to-the-top/2006/12/08/1165081157750.html
publisher = Sydney Morning Herald
page = 33
date = 9 December 2006
accessdate = 2007-05-27 ] He boarded at Marist College Ashgrove in Brisbane [cite news | first=Cosima | last=Marriner | coauthors= | title=It's private - the school he wants to forget | date=27 April 2007 | publisher= | url =http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/its-private—the-school-he-wants-to-forget/2007/04/26/1177459877747.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 | work =The Sydney Morning Herald | pages =1 | accessdate = | language = ] and was dux of Nambour State High School in 1974. [cite web
title = Genesis of an ideas man
publisher = The Australian
date= 5 December 2006
url =http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20876,20870748-28737,00.html
accessdate =2006-12-05 ]

Rudd studied at the Australian National University in Canberra where he resided at Burgmann College and graduated with First Class Honours in Arts (Asian Studies). He majored in Chinese language and Chinese history, became proficient in Mandarin and acquired a Chinese alias, Lù Kèwén (zh-t|t=陸克文 or in zh-s|s=陆克文). cite news
url=http://business.smh.com.au/chinas-leaders-slow-to-tackle-inflation/20071125-1cqe.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
title=China's leaders slow to tackle inflation
publisher=Fairfax
work=Sydney Morning Herald
author=John Garnaut
date=26 November 2007; cite news
url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/tough-role-especially-as-the-boss-is-the-diplomat/2007/11/30/1196394619036.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
title=Tough role, especially as the boss is the diplomat
publisher=Fairfax
work=Sydney Morning Herald
author=Hamish McDonald
date=1 December 2007; cite news
url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2007/12/kevin_rudd_aka_lu_kewen.asp
title=Kevin Rudd, aka Lu Kewen
publisher=WorldwideStandard.com
work=The Weekly Standard
author=Jennifer Chou
date=3 December 2007; cite news
url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/international/234328.htm
title=A man of reason and foresight takes the reins
publisher=China.org.cn
work=China Daily
date=4 December 2007] Like most Chinese names given to westerners, Rudd's Chinese surname (Lù 陆) is partially based on the phonetics of his actual surname, Rudd (both possessing the vowel 'U' and the similar sounding alveolar lateral flap initial 'R/L') as well as being an actual Chinese name. Similarly, despite his Chinese given name (Kèwén 克文) closely resembling the official Chinese language transliteration of 'Kevin' (Kǎiwén 凯文), it is also a Chinese name in its own right. [ http://chineseculture.about.com/library/name/male/blna_kevin.htm>] [ [http://blog.chinesehour.com/?p=612 Speak Fluent Mandarin Like PM Kevin Rudd] ] Rudd's thesis on Chinese democracy activist Wei Jingsheng [ABC (2008). [http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2008/s2212441.htm PM - Chinese activist puts hope in Rudd] . Retrieved 14 April 2008.] was supervised by Pierre Ryckmans, the eminent Belgian-Australian Sinologist.cite book
last = Stuart
first = Nicholas
authorlink = Nicholas Stuart
title = Kevin Rudd: an unauthorised biography
publisher = "Scribe"
year= 2007
pages =
isbn = 9781921215582 ] During his studies Rudd cleaned the house of political commentator Laurie Oakes to earn money.cite news
title = McKew impressed to the max
first = Caroline
last = Overington
authorlink = Caroline Overington
publisher = "The Australian"
date= 9 December 2006
url =http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21124932-2702,00.html
accessdate =2007-03-04] In 1980 he continued his Chinese studies at the National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei, Taiwan.cite news
title = 澳洲大選變天 中國通陸克文勝出
publisher = "China Daily News"
date= 24 November 2007
url =http://www.cdnnews.com.tw/20071125/news/jdxw/010000002007112420253449.htm
accessdate =2007-12-19] Delivering the annual Gough Whitlam Lecture at Sydney University on "The Reforming Centre of Australian Politics" in 2008, Rudd praised the former Labor Prime Minister for implementing educational reforms, saying he was:

... a kid who lived Gough Whitlam's dream that every child should have a desk with a lamp on it where he or she could study. A kid whose mum told him after the 1972 election that it might just now be possible for the likes of him to go to university. A kid from the country of no particular means and of no political pedigree who could therefore dream that one day he could make a contribution to our national political life. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/national/rudd-pays-tribute-to-his-hero-whitlam-20080912-4fis.html Rudd pays tribute to his hero Whitlam: The Age 13/8/2008] ; [http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/dithering-liberals-get-their-deserts/2008/09/12/1220857832437.html?page=2 Dithering Liberals get their deserts: SMH 13/8/2008] ]

In 1981, Rudd married Thérèse Rein whom he had met at a gathering of the Australian Student Christian Movement during his university years. They have three children: Jessica (born 1984), Nicholas (born 1986) and Marcus (born 1993). cite news
title =Rudd walks daughter down the aisle
publisher =AAP/"The Age"
date= 5 May 2007
url =http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/05/05/1177788454802.html
accessdate =2007-11-25 ; cite news
last =Merrit
first =Chris
title =Ms Rudd follows Ms Howard ... it's the law
publisher =The Australian
date= 30 January 2007
url =http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,21139500-2702,00.html
accessdate =2007-11-25 ; cite news
first=Barney
last=Zwartz
title = ALP's new man puts his faith on display
publisher = "The Age"
date= 9 December 2006
url =http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/rudd-puts-his-faith-on-display/2006/12/08/1165081151409.html
accessdate =2006-12-09; cite news
url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/kevin-rudd/2006/12/02/1164777852646.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
title=Kevin Rudd
author=Carmel Egan
publissher="The Age"
date=3 December 2006
accessdate=2007-10-26 ; cite web
title = Kevin Rudd - Member for Griffith
publisher = "Australian Labor Party"
url =http://alp.org.au/people/qld/rudd_kevin.php
accessdate =2007-01-30 ]

Entry into politics

In 1981 Rudd joined the Department of Foreign Affairs, where he served until 1988. He and his wife spent most of the 1980s overseas posted at the Australian embassies in Stockholm, Sweden and later in Beijing, China.

Returning to Australia in 1988, he was appointed Chief of Staff to the Labor Opposition Leader in Queensland, Wayne Goss. He became Chief of Staff to the Premier when the Labor party won office in 1989, a position he held until 1992, when Goss appointed him Director-General of the Office of Cabinet. In this position Rudd was arguably Queensland's most powerful bureaucrat.cite book
last = Stuart
first = Nicholas
authorlink = Nicholas Stuart
title = Kevin Rudd: an unauthorised biography
publisher = Scribe
year= 2007
pages = 86
isbn = 9781921215582 ] In this role he presided over a number of reforms including development of a national program for teaching foreign languages in schools. Rudd was influential in both promoting a policy of developing an Asian languages and cultures program which was unanimously accepted by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in 1992 and later chaired a highlevel Working Group which provided the foundation of the strategy in its report, which is frequently cited as "the Rudd Report". [Citation
last = Henderson
first = Deborah
title = Shaping Australia's Future
newspaper = Asia Education Foundation News
pages = 22–23
year = 2002
date =
url = http://eprints.qut.edu.au/archive/00003245/01/3245.pdf; Citation
last = Rudd
first = Kevin
year = 1994
title = Asian languages and Australia's economic future : a report prepared for the Council of Australian Governments on a proposed national Asian languages/studies strategy for Australian schools
place = Brisbane
publisher = Queensland Government Printer
isbn = 0724257675]

During this time he underwent a cardiac valve transplant operation (Ross procedure), receiving a cadaveric aortic valve replacement for rheumatic heart disease.cite web
title =Rudd rejects bad health rumours
work =Transcripts by category: Politics
publisher =news.com.au
date = 19 September 2007
url = http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22446212-29277,00.html
accessdate = 2006-09-20]

After the Goss government lost office in 1995, Rudd was hired as a Senior China Consultant by the accounting firm KPMG Australia. He held this position while unsuccessfully contesting the federal seat of Griffith at the 1996 federal election. He contested the seat again at the 1998 election and won.

Member of Parliament

Rudd made his first speech to the Australian Parliament on 11 November 1998. cite web
author=Kevin Rudd
title = First Speech to Parliament
publisher = Parliament of Australia
date=11 November 1998
url =http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/firstspeech.asp?id=83T
accessdate =2007-12-03] His most publicised local cause was opposition to a suggested parallel runway at Brisbane Airport, against which he organised one of Brisbane's largest public demonstrations, receiving massive media coverage. His commitment to the issue reduced when the airport altered its plans with the support of Queensland premier Peter Beattie, removing Rudd's constituency from projected flightpaths and, with the advice of the airport's 3PR adviser, renaming it a "staggered" runway, rendering the Rudd campaign's widely distributed "No Parallel Runway" posters out-of-date. The development received legally binding permission to proceed in 2007 under John Howard's administration.

hadow Minister for Foreign Affairs (2001–2005)

A member of parliament since 1998, Rudd was promoted to the Opposition front bench following the 2001 election and appointed Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs. In 2002 he met with British intelligence and helped define the position Labor would take in regards to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

There is no debate or dispute as to whether Saddam Hussein possesses weapons of mass destruction. He does. There's no dispute as whether he's in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. He is. [http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/stories/s685074.htm]

After the fall of Saddam he would criticise the Howard Government over its support for the United States, while maintaining Labor's position of support for the Australian-American alliance.

Well, what Secretary Powell and the US seems to have said is that he now has grave doubts about the accuracy of the case he put to the United Nations about the claim that Iraq possessed biological weapons laboratories - the so-called mobile trailers. And here in Australia, that formed also part of the government's argument on the war. I think what it does is it adds to the fabric of how the Australian people were misled about the reasons for going to war.cite web
title =Interview: Shadow Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd
work =Transcripts by category: Politics
publisher =Seven Network
date = 4 April 2004
url = http://seven.com.au/sundaysunrise/politics_040404_rudd
accessdate = 2006-12-04]

Rudd's policy experience and parliamentary performances during the Iraq war made him one of the better known members of the Labor front bench. When Opposition Leader Simon Crean was challenged by his predecessor Kim Beazley in June, Rudd did not publicly commit himself to either candidate. [cite web
publisher =Australian Broadcasting Corporation
title=Lateline
date = 7 June 2003
url = http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2003/s874357.htm
accessdate = 2006-12-09] When Crean finally resigned in late November, Rudd was considered a possible candidate for the Labor leadership, [cite web
title =Beazley, Latham, Rudd in ALP leadership lineup
first=Catherine
last=McGrath
publisher =AM
date = 28 November 2003
url = http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2003/s999123.htm
accessdate = 2006-12-09] however, he announced that he would not run in the leadership ballot, and would instead vote for Kim Beazley.

Rudd was predicted by some commentators to be demoted or moved as a result of his support for Beazley following the election of Mark Latham as Leader, but he retained his portfolio. Relations between Latham and Rudd deteriorated during 2004, especially after Latham made his pledge to withdraw all Australian forces from Iraq by Christmas 2004 without consulting Rudd. [cite web
title =Howard on front foot over troops
first=Michael
last=Brissenden
publisher =The 7.30 Report
date = 30 March 2004
url = http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2004/s1077381.htm
accessdate = 2006-12-09] After Latham failed to win the October 2004 federal election, Rudd was again spoken of as a possible alternative leader. He retained his foreign affairs portfolio and disavowed any intention of challenging Latham.

When Latham suddenly resigned in January 2005, Rudd was visiting Indonesia and refused to say whether he would be a candidate for the Labor leadership. [cite web
title =Rudd to end suspense tomorrow
publisher =The Age
date = 23 January 2005
url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Rudd-to-end-suspense-tomorrow/2005/01/23/1106415441552.html
accessdate = 2006-12-09] Such a candidacy would have required him to run against Beazley, his factional colleague. "The important thing for me to do is to consult with my colleagues in the party", he said. [cite web
title = Rudd non-committal on leadership aspirations
publisher = "ABC News"
date= 18 January 2005
url =http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200501/s1284255.htm
accessdate =2006-12-09 ] After returning from Indonesia, Rudd consulted with Labor MPs in Sydney and Melbourne and announced that he would not contest the leadership. Kim Beazley was subsequently elected leader.

In June 2005 Rudd was given expanded responsibilities as the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Security and, also, the Shadow Minister for Trade.

Leader of the Opposition

A November 2006 Newspoll opinion poll indicated voter support for Rudd was double that for Beazley.cite web
title = Federal voting intention and leaders' ratings
date= 30 November 2006
publisher = Newspoll, "The Australian"
url =http://www.newspoll.com.au/image_uploads/1108%20Fed%20&%20ALP%20leadership.pdf
accessdate =2006-12-04 |format=PDF] In December 2006, Beazley declared open the positions of Leader and Deputy leader of the Labor Party, and Rudd announced his candidacy for the leadership. [cite web
title = Rudd, Beazley to lobby colleagues
date= 2 December 2006
publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
url =http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200612/s1802585.htm
accessdate =2006-12-04] cite web
title = Editorial: ALP in fight with the wrong enemy
publisher = "The Australian"
date= 2 December 2006
url =http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20856315-601,00.html
accessdate =2006-12-04] Fellow Labor MP Julia Gillard ran alongside Rudd for Deputy Leader. The vote took place on 4 December 2006. Rudd was elected Leader with 49 votes to Beazley's 39, and Gillard was elected unopposed as Deputy Leader. [cite web
title = Rudd ousts Beazley
publisher = "The Age"
date = 4 December 2006
url =http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/rudd-ousts-beazley/2006/12/04/1165080846679.html
accessdate =2006-12-04 ]

At his first press conference as leader, having thanked Beazley and former deputy leader Jenny Macklin, Rudd said he would offer a "new style of leadership", and would be an "alternative, not just an echo" of the Howard government. He outlined the areas of industrial relations, the war in Iraq, climate change, Australian federalism, social justice, and the future of Australia's manufacturing industry as major policy concerns. Rudd also stressed his long experience in state government, as a diplomat and also in business before entering federal politics. [cite web
title =Press Conference
date =4 December 2006
publisher =Australian Labor Party
url =http://www.alp.org.au/media/1206/pcloo040.php
accessdate =2006-12-04]

Rudd and the ALP soon overtook the government in both party and leadership polling. The new leader maintained a high media profile with major announcements on federalism, climate change, broadband Internet and the domestic car industry.

Since 2002, Rudd appeared regularly in interviews and topical discussions on the popular breakfast television program "Sunrise", along with federal Liberal MP Joe Hockey. This was credited with helping raise Rudd's public profile. [cite news
url=http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/act/content/2006/s1803326.htm
title= Rudd Challenge
first=Michael
last=Brissenden
publisher=ABC
work=Stateline Canberra
date=1 December 2006
accessdate=2007-12-04] Rudd and Hockey ended these appearances in April 2007 citing the increasing political pressures of an election year.cite web
title =Sunrise spots too hard: Rudd
date =16 April 2007
publisher =News Ltd
url =http://www.news.com.au/story/0,4057,21563847-2,00.html] On 21 October 2007 Rudd presented strongly in a televised debate against incumbent prime minister John Howard. [cite news
last = Heywood
first = Lachlan
title = Worm turns against Howard
publisher = www.news.com.au
date= 21 October 2007
url = http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22624834-952,00.html
accessdate = ]

On 19 August 2007, it was revealed that Rudd, with New York Post editor Col Allan and Labor backbencher Warren Snowdon, had briefly visited a strip club in New York in September 2003. When he realised it was a strip club, he left. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/21/2010489.htm Rudd in strip joint: 'Oh no, this won't do'] ] The incident generated a lot of media coverage, but made no impact on Rudd's popularity in the polls. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2007/s2010353.htm Rudd avoids poll slide after strip club revelations] ] Indeed, some people believe that the incident may have enabled Rudd to appear "more human" and lifted his popularity. [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,22023,22278944-5000112,00.html Rudd on last chance] ]

Prime Minister

The 2007 election campaign

On the evening of 24 November 2007, some fifty weeks since Rudd became Labor leader, John Howard held a late night press conference conceding that the Coalition had lost the right to govern. Shortly afterwards, Rudd made his victory speech as Prime Minister-elect, saying he would "be a Prime Minister for all Australians."cite news
title =Election Victory Speech
publisher=Australian Labor Party
date= 24 November 2007
url =http://labor.com.au/media/1107/spepme240.php
accessdate =2007-12-01 ] Labor's win was coined a 'Ruddslide' by the media and was underpinned by the considerable support from Rudd's home state of Queensland, with the state result recording a two party preferred swing of 7.53 percent. cite news
title=Qld support underpins Rudd's landslide
publisher=ABC News
url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2007/11/25/2100641.htm
date=2007-11-25] [ cite news
title =Qld set at battle ground for federal election
publisher =The 7.30 Report
url =http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s1867103.htm
date=8 March 2007] The nationwide swing was 5.44 percent to Labor, the 3rd largest swing at a federal election since two party estimates began in 1949.

The next day, Rudd announced he and wife Thérèse Rein would live in The Lodge, the Prime Minister's official residence in Canberra, and only use Kirribilli House while on official business in Sydney.cite news
title =Kevin Rudd's plan for Lodge
publisher =Herald Sun Sunday
date= 25 April 2007
url =http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21616169-662,00.html
accessdate =2007-11-25 ] As foreshadowed during the election campaign, on 29 November Rudd directly chose his frontbench, breaking with more than a century of Labor tradition whereby the frontbench was chosen by party factions. cite news
url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/29/2046939.htm
title=Rudd seizes power from factions
author=Ben Worsley
publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation
work=ABC News
date=29 September 2007] cite news
title =Rudd hands out portfolios
publisher =ABC News
date= 29 November 2007
url =http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/29/2105169.htm
accessdate =2007-11-29]

Kevin Rudd is only the second Queenslander to lead his party to a federal election victory, the first being Andrew Fisher almost a century earlier, in 1910 (although Fisher had first become Prime Minister in 1908 when the Alfred Deakin government resigned). Queenslanders Arthur Fadden (1941) and Frank Forde (1945) were also Prime Ministers, but only for a short period between elections - in Fadden's case the incumbent Robert Menzies resigned; in Forde's case the incumbent John Curtin died. Rudd is also the first Prime Minister since World War II not to come from either New South Wales or Victoria; the last were Curtin (Western Australia) and Forde (Queensland) in 1945.

Kevin Rudd is soon expected to be added to the Prime Minister's Avenue, a collection of busts of all Prime Ministers of Australia, located at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens in Ballarat, Victoria. [ [http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/Your_Council/Publications/Media_Releases/November/Media_Release_New_bust_for_the_Gardens/indexdl_4838.aspx New bust for the Gardens: City of Ballarat, 27/11/2007] ; [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/28/2103664.htm Rudd gets heads-up about Ballarat bust: ABC News, 28/11/2007] ]

First term: 2007–present

On 3 December 2007, Rudd was sworn in as Prime Minister by the Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/photos/2007/12/03/2107673.htm Kevin Rudd sworn in as Prime Minister - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) ] ] Rudd is the first Prime Minister to make no mention of the Queen in his oath of office. [ [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=499369&in_page_id=1811 Australia's new PM is sworn in - but refuses to swear allegiance to the Queen | the Daily Mail] ] [ [http://australianpolitics.com/2007/12/03/kevin-rudd-sworn-in-as-australias-26th-prime-minister.shtml australianpolitics.com » Kevin Rudd Sworn In As Australias 26th Prime Minister] ]

Labor governs with 83 of the 150 lower house (House of Representatives) seats. In the upper house (Senate), Labor holds 32 of the 76 seats. An additional seven votes are required to pass legislation, from either the 32 Liberals, or from the crossbench of 12, made up of five Greens, four Nationals and one CLP, Family First's Steve Fielding, and independent Nick Xenophon.

Kyoto

Rudd's first official act, on his first day in office, was to sign the instrument of ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. cite news
url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/rudd-signs-kyoto-deal/2007/12/03/1196530553203.html
title=Australia ratifies Kyoto Protocol
author=AAP
publisher=Fairfax
work=Sydney Morning Herald
date=3 December 2007]

The apology

On 13 February 2008 Rudd fulfilled an election promise to apologise to Indigenous Australians for the stolen generation as the parliament's first order of business. The apology was well received, [cite news | url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/02/13/1202760345721.html | title = Tears in Melbourne as PM delivers apology | publisher=Fairfax | work=The Age | date=13 February 2008 | accessdate=2008-02-13] and most criticisms were of Labor for refusing to provide victims with monetary compensation. [ cite news
url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23118012-421,00.html
title=Rudd in a hurry to say sorry
author=Steve Lewis
publisher=News Limited
work=The Daily Telegraph
date=28 January 2008
accessdate=2008-01-31; cite news
url=http://news.theage.com.au/apology-will-bridge-indigenous-gap-rudd/20080127-1of9.html
title=Apology will bridge indigenous g

author=AAP
publisher=Fairfax
work=The Age
date=27 January 2008
accessdate=2008-01-31; cite news
url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/30/2150281.htm
title=Govt sets Stolen Generations apology date
publisher=ABC
work=ABC News Online
date=30 January 2008
accessdate=2008-01-31; cite news
url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/13/2161452.htm
title=Thousands greet Stolen Generations apology
publisher=ABC
work=ABC News Online
date=13 February 2008
accessdate=2008-02-13] Rudd pledged the government to bridging the gap between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australian health, education and living conditions, [cite news | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/13/2161776.htm | title=Govt promises action after apology | publisher=ABC | work=ABC News | date=13 February 2008 | accessdate=2008-02-13] with changes to the narrow [cite news
last = Neate
first = Graeme
coauthors =
title = Native title resolution challenges remain
publisher = Budsoar
work = Koori Mail
date = 2008-07-30
url =
accessdate = ] negotiation process in resolving native title issues and transparency in indigenous spending. [cite news
last = Karvelas
first = Patricia
coauthors = Padraic Murphy
title = Labor to overhaul native title law
publisher = News Limited
work = The Australian
date = 2008-05-22
url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,23738718-2702,00.html
accessdate = 2008-08-18 ] [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title = NT govt backs indigenous funding probe
publisher = Fairfax
work = The Age
date = 2008-08-14
url = http://news.theage.com.au/national/nt-govt-backs-indigenous-funding-probe-20080814-3vil.html
accessdate = 2008-08-18 ] Despite bipartisan support for the apology, two of Rudd's senior staff joined in on turning their backs part way through the Opposition Leader's reply. Rudd did not apologise for their actions, [cite news
url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=379102
title=Nelson unfazed at response to speech
publisher=aap
work=ninemsn news
date=14 February 2008
accessdate=2008-02-14] but said that he would require them to do so in writing.

Industrial relations

WorkChoices, the industrial relations regime introduced by the Howard government, will be overhauled and replaced with a new national system. [ cite news
url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23104407-2,00.html
title=Labor pushes for national system
author=Sid Marris
publisher=News Limited
work=The Australian
date=25 January 2008
accessdate=2008-01-31]

Public spending

Rudd's cutbacks on public spending in state politics have flowed through, with a "five point plan" to combat the inflation problem it "inherited from the previous Coalition government" (due in part to record low unemployment, also a legacy of the Howard government), [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/audio/2008/02/14/2162660.htm Unemployment figures show lowest in decades - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) ] ] with new training places to target skills shortages in various sectors, and a "razor gang" going through the budget looking for savings, with added pressures in the domestic and international economy. The target surplus of the national Gross domestic product was also been increased from 1.0 to 1.5 per cent. [ cite news
url=http://business.theage.com.au/rudd-details-plan-to-fight-inherited-inflation/20080121-1n4s.html
title=Rudd details plan to fight 'inherited' inflation
author=AAP
publisher=Fairfax
work=The Age
date=21 January 2008
accessdate=2008-01-31] [ cite news
url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23015322-5013871,00.html
title=Rudd to axe Lib pledges
author=David Uren
publisher=News Limited
work=The Australian
date=7 January 2008
accessdate=2008-01-31] [ cite news
url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23083528-601,00.html
title=Rudd fast-tracks training
author=Samantha Maiden
publisher=News Limited
work=The Australian
date=21 January 2008
accessdate=2008-01-31] [ cite news
url=http://news.theage.com.au/rudd-trying-to-lure-nurses-back-to-work/20080115-1m1f.html
title=Rudd trying to lure nurses back to work
author=Samantha Maiden
publisher=Fairfax
work=The Age
date=15 January 2008
accessdate=2008-01-31]

Iraq War

Plans are under way for the withdrawal of Australian troops from the Iraq War. [ cite news
url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/iraq-withdrawal-to-go-ahead-says-smith/2008/01/26/1201157739194.html
title=Iraq withdrawal to go ahead, says Smith
author=Ian Munro
publisher=Fairfax
work=The Age
date=27 January 2008
accessdate=2008-01-31]

An Australian republic

The question of Republicanism in Australia was raised following the failed 1999 referendum, and although Rudd is a republican, he has indicated that no referendum will take place in the near future. [ cite news
url=http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSSYD6635920080128
title=Queen Elizabeth must die or abdicate for Australian republic
author=Michael Perry
publisher=Reuters
date=27 January 2008
accessdate=2008-01-31]

Homelessness

In late January, Rudd announced funding for homeless persons, including $150 million in emergency accommodation. [ cite news
url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/shame-on-us-rudd-pleads-for-homeless/2008/01/27/1201368945676.html
title=Shame on us: Rudd pleads for homeless
author=Jonathan Pearlman
publisher=Fairfax
work=Sydney Morning Herald
date=28 January 2008
accessdate=2008-01-31]

2020 summit

In February 2008 he announced the Australia 2020 Summit, held 19-20 April 2008, which brought together 1000 leading Australians to discuss ten areas the government saw as critical for Australia's future development. [cite news | url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23153777-16741,00.html | title= 2020 summit not just another talkfestwork = The Australian | publisher = News Limited | accessdate=2008-02-18 | date= 4 February 2008]

Islamic schools

The planning and placement of Islamic schools has also been an issue, especially in Camden. In November 2007, Rudd visited the semi-rural town of Camden, convert|65|km|mi|0 south west of Sydney and, [http://camden.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/rudd-opposed-to-islamic-school/240600.aspx Rudd opposed to Islamic school - Local News - News - General - Camden Advertiser] ] gave his support to the campaign to oppose the building of a 1200-student Islamic school there. Rudd stated that the development couldn't be supported on planning grounds. citing a lack of adequate infrastructure. The anti-school protests in Camden had received national [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/20/2124578.htm Residents uneasy amid opposition to Muslim school - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)] ; [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22953152-12377,00.html Politicans, locals oppose Islamic school | The Australian] ; [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/backlash-over-new-islamic-school/2007/11/06/1194117995331.html Backlash over new Islamic school - National - smh.com.au] ] and international media attention, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7416145.stm BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Town moves against Islamic school] ] and the Camden Council eventually voted to reject the development application. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/islamic-school-rejected/2008/05/27/1211654031529.html Islamic school rejected - National - smh.com.au] ] The site for the proposed school is on land zoned the same as the existing school 600 metres away.

Newspoll records

Newspoll polling in February 2008 saw Rudd achieve a "Preferred Prime Minister" rating of 70 percent, setting a new Newspoll record for any Prime Minister. [ [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23237839-2,00.html Brendan Nelson's record low approval rating: news.com.au 19/2/2008] ] March figures set another record, 73 to 7 percent. The two party preferred figure also set a Newspoll record, at 63 to 37 percent. [ [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23315143-5013947,00.html Nelson defends record low poll figures | The Australian ] ]

International tour

Rudd began a 17-day international tour in March 2008, meeting with government leaders in the United States, Europe and China including US President George W Bush, presidential candidates John McCain and Hillary Clinton, spoke with Barack Obama, and met with Queen Elizabeth II and President of The People's Republic of China Hu Jintao. His knowledge of Mandarin Chinese and experience as a diplomat in China have been acknowledged by leaders, with US President George Bush stating that "It's clear when you talk to [Rudd] , he is an expert on China." [cite news | last=Grattan | first=Michelle | title=The Rudd show goes on tour | date=1 April 2008 | publisher=The Age | url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/04/01/1206850911106.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1] He also addressed students at Peking University, Beijing in Mandarin. [cite news | surname=McDonnell |firstname=Chris|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/09/2212467.htm | title= China sprays Rudd over Tibet human rights claims work = ABC News | publisher = ABC | accessdate=2008-02-18 | date= 9 April 2008] In his absence Julia Gillard served as Acting Prime Minister, the first female to do so in Australia.

New Governor-General

Rudd announced that Quentin Bryce would become the first female Governor-General of Australia.

LGBT rights

In April 2008 the Rudd Labor government proposed greater recognition of LGBT rights in Australia by announcing reforms to the recognition of same-sex relationships in taxation, health, employment, superannuation, aged care and other areas. Originally, 58 Commonwealth laws where gay couples faced discrimination were identified in HREOC's "Same-Sex: Same Entitlements Inquiry", which was tabled in Parliament on 21 June 2007, following a year-long national inquiry. [ [http://www.hreoc.gov.au/human_rights/gay_lesbian/index.html HREOC - Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Equality] ] A Rudd Labor government audit in early 2008 found around 100 Commonwealth laws where gay couples faced discrimination. It was announced that changes would be implemented between mid-2008 and mid-2009 to remove these laws. These changes would not affect marriage, IVF access, and adoption rights. [cite news|last=Bryant|first=Nick|title= Australia to improve gay rights|date=30 April 2008|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7374710.stm|work=BBC|accessdate=2008-05-03] [cite news|last=Schubert|first=Misha|title=Law reforms for gay couples|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/04/29/1209234861987.html|work=The Age|date=30 April 2008|accessdate=2008-05-03] The precursor was the Australian Capital Territory's civil union legislation, originally blocked "in toto" by the Howard government, was put for consideration in early May—however, the Rudd government objected to sections which allowed legal ceremonies to establish same-sex relationships. In the end, the ACT was forced to amend the legislation so it would allow for legal recognition of the relationship without a ceremony. ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell said, "We are angry, disappointed and frustrated with the approach of our federal colleagues." [cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/05/04/1209839456815.html|last=Smiles|first=Sarah|title=Federal veto forces ACT backdown on gay unions|date=5 May 2008|work=The Age|accessdate=2008-05-05] [cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/01/2232458.htm|title=ACT, Fed Govt at odds over civil union laws|work=ABC Online|date=1 May 2008|accessdate=2008-05-05] Corbell also pointed out that in December 2007 Kevin Rudd, whilst not supporting civil unions, did support the legislative sovereignty of territories. [cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/06/2111980.htm|title=Rudd 'won't interfere' in ACT civil unions bill|work=ABC Online|date=6 December 2007|accessdate=2008-05-05] [cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/act-abandons-samesex-civil-unions-plans/2008/05/04/1209839434204.html|title=ACT abandons same-sex civil unions plans|work=The Age|date=4 May 2008|accessdate=2008-05-05]

First Rudd/Swan budget

The first budget of the Rudd government, delivered by Treasurer Wayne Swan, saw spending cuts to "fight inflation", in response to the global events which sparked the financial crisis of 2007-2008, and subsequent economic crisis of 2008. Spending in the budget, as a share of gross domestic product (GDP), was lower than at any time of the Howard government. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/swan-outflanks-turnbull/2008/05/14/1210444517954.html Swan outflanks Turnbull - National - smh.com.au] ] The projected surplus of $21.7 billion, the highest since 1999, was higher than expected, at 1.8 percent of GDP. Promised tax cuts were delivered, and three major investment funds were established - the infrastructure fund, "Building Australia", received $20 billion. Education received $10 billion as part of Rudd's "education revolution", while health also received $10 billion. [ [http://business.smh.com.au/swan-confident-stockpile-will-help-fight-inflation-20080513-2dup.html Swan confident stockpile will help fight inflation | smh.com.au] ] [ [http://business.theage.com.au/swan-has-reprised-election-promises-though-doesnt-go-much-beyond-that-20080514-2ed5.html Swan has reprised election promises, though doesn't go much beyond that | theage.com.au] ] [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/a-real-son-of-the-alp/2008/05/15/1210765051008.html A real son of the ALP - Opinion - theage.com.au] ]

Controversial artwork

In May 2008, Rudd was drawn into the controversy over photographic artist Bill Henson and his work depicting unclothed adolescents as part of a show due to open at an inner-city gallery in Sydney. In a televised interview, Rudd stated that he found the images "absolutely revolting" [ [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/05/23/1211183044543.html Rudd revolted - Arts - Entertainment - smh.com.au] ] [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/henson-still-revolting-pm/2008/05/28/1211654079734.html Rudd stands by criticism of Henson images - National - theage.com.au] ] [ [http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=567968 Rudd 'revolted' at art of naked children] ] and that they had "no artistic merit". [ [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23745396-2702,00.html PM says Henson photos have no artistic merit | The Australian] ] These views swiftly drew censure from members of the 'creative stream' who attended the recent 2020 Summit convened by Rudd, led by actor Cate Blanchett. [ [http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/blanchett-joins-chorus-against-henson-attack/778095.aspx Blanchett joins chorus against Henson attack - Local News - News - General - The Canberra Times] ]

Public service workhours

Rudd's views on balancing work and family life were criticised in May 2008 when he rebuked the federal public service for complaining about the long hours he was asking them to work. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/national/kevins-way-burning-the-oil-at-midnight-toiling-at-dawn-20080530-2jzt.html?page=-1 Kevin's way: burning the oil at midnight, toiling at dawn | theage.com.au] ]

Immigration

Under the Rudd government, skilled immigration under the 457 visa will dramatically increase, in what the government says are attempts to relieve skills shortages, lift productivity and prevent an inflationary wages breakout. [cite web
title = Migrants the ALP isn't game to crow about
publisher =News Ltd
date= 16 May 2008
url =http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23705274-7583,00.html] In May 2008 it was revealed that the Department of Immigration and Citizenship was rejecting asylum seeker applications at a higher rate than under the previous government, rejecting 41 of 42 applications, a denial rate of 97.6 percent according to Melbourne's Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. [ [http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23659947-953,00.html Rudd tougher on asylum seekers than Howard | The Courier-Mail] ] The minister responsible, Chris Evans, claims a denial rate of 77 percent, based on his acknowledgement that of a caseload of 730 appeals, he has intervened in 170. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/labor-tougher-on-asylum-seekers/2008/05/11/1210444243814.html Labor 'tougher' on asylum seekers - National - theage.com.au] ]

Announced in July 2008, Labor proposed changes to mandatory detention. Unauthorised arrivals in excised areas will still be subject to mandatory detention and processed offshore. However, unauthorised arrivals will have their cases reviewed every three months, be able to access legal advice and be able to apply for an independent review of adverse decisions. Children, and where possible their families, will not be detained. The process will be scrutinised by the Immigration Ombudsman. [ [http://www.chrisevans.alp.org.au/news/0708/immispeeches29-01.php New Directions in Detention, Restoring Integrity to Australia's Immigration System: Hon Chris Evans Speech] ] [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/29/2317303.htm Sweeping changes to mandatory detention announced: ABC News 29/7/2008] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7530156.stm Australia abandons asylum policy: BBC News 29/7/2008] ]

High Court appointments

In July 2008 Rudd announced that Robert French would succeed Murray Gleeson as Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia. [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24101281-601,00.html] Another vacancy in the court will arise in March 2009, when Michael Kirby retires.

Torture laws

The Rudd government announced in August 2008 the intention to make torture a separate criminal offence, and to ratify the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture, a treaty which allows UN and domestic inspectors to visit prisons and detention centres. It is unclear how this will affect Australian forces abroad. The Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, said the measures were intended to improve Australia's human rights record and its relationship with the UN. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/national/government-takes-hard-line-against-torture-20080808-3seu.html Government takes hard line against torture: The Age 9/8/2008] ]

Political views

Economics

In his first speech to parliament, Rudd stated that:

Competitive markets are massive and generally efficient generators of economic wealth. They must therefore have a central place in the management of the economy. But markets sometimes fail, requiring direct government intervention through instruments such as industry policy. There are also areas where the public good dictates that there should be no market at all.We are not afraid of a vision in the Labor Party, but nor are we afraid of doing the hard policy yards necessary to turn that vision into reality. Parties of the Centre Left around the world are wrestling with a similar challenge—the creation of a competitive economy while advancing the overriding imperative of a just society. Some call this the `third way'. The nomenclature is unimportant. What is important is that it is a repudiation of Thatcherism and its Australian derivatives represented opposite. It is in fact a new formulation of the nation's economic and social imperatives. [cite web
first=Kevin
last=Rudd
title = First Speech to Parliament
publisher = "Parliament of Australia"
date= 11 November 1998
url =http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/firstspeech.asp?id=83T
accessdate =2006-12-09]

Rudd is critical of free market economists such as Friedrich Hayek, [cite web
first=Kevin
last=Rudd
title = What's Wrong with the Right
date= 16 November 2006
url =http://www.labor.com.au/media/1106/spefaistra160.php
accessdate =2008-01-15; cite web
first=Peter
last=Hartcher
title = Howard's warriors sweep all before them
publisher = "Sydney Morning Herald"
date= 14 October 2006
url =http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/howards-warriors-sweep-all-before-them/2006/10/13/1160246325222.html?page=fullpage
accessdate =2006-12-04 ] although Rudd describes himself as "basically a conservative when it comes to questions of public financial management", pointing to his slashing of public service jobs as a Queensland governmental advisor. [cite web
title = New Labor Leader Outlines Plan
publisher = "The 7.30 Report"
date= 4 December 2006
url =http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2006/s1804034.htm?page=fullpage
accessdate =2006-12-05 ; cite web
title = Labor elects new leader
publisher = "The 7.30 Report"
date= 4 December 2006
url =http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2006/s1804032.htm?page=fullpage
accessdate =2006-12-05 ]

In "The Longest Decade" by George Megalogenis, Rudd reflected on his views of economic reform undertaken in the past couple of decades:

The Hawke and Keating governments delivered a massive program of economic reform, and they didn't shy away from taking on their own political base when they knew it was in the national interest. Think tariffs. Think cuts to the marginal tax rate. Think enterprise bargaining. Think how unpopular all of those were with the trade union movement of Australia. Mr Howard, on the other hand, never took on his own political base in the prosecution of any significant economic reform. His reform agenda never moved out of the ideological straitjacket of the 1970s and 1980s. Think industrial relations. Think consumption tax. And think also of the explosion in untargeted welfare... When the economic circumstances change, and the demands of a competitive economy change, Mr Howard never adjusted and never took the lead when it came to new ideas. Look at climate change. Look at infrastructure policy. Look at education policy. Look at early childhood education. There's a mountain of economic evidence about the importance of those policy domains to Australia's future. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/rudds-story-time/2008/05/23/1211183102319.html Rudd's story time: The Age 24/5/2008] ] [ [http://eherald.alp.org.au/articles/0508/natp23-01.php Labor eHerald: The Longest Decade launch 23/5/2008] ]

Foreign policy

As shadow foreign minister, Rudd reformulated Labor's foreign policy in terms of "Three Pillars": engagement with the UN, engagement with Asia, and the US alliance. [cite web
first=Greg
last=Sheridan
title = ALP's pillar of wisdom
publisher = The Australian
date= 9 December 2006
url =http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20897623-601,00.html
accessdate =2006-12-09 ]

Although disagreeing with the original commitment to the Iraq War, Rudd supports the continued deployment of Australian troops in Iraq, but not the continued deployment of combat troops. Rudd, in his role as shadow foreign minister had written a letter in November 2003 to Prime Minister John Howard offering policy ideas after the fall of Baghdad. Among his recommendations were a deployment of trainers for the New Iraqi army, and using the Australian Electoral Commission to help Iraq stage elections. [ cite news
url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22228611-662,00.html
title=Rudd supported PM's Iraq stand
publisher= The Herald Sun
date=12 August 2007] However, Labor pledged in 2007 to replace 550 existing combat troops with new troops serving training and border security roles (possibly stationed in other countries around the Middle East), with a continued presence of over 1,000 Australian troops stationed in Iraq (in 2007, there were 1,575 Australian military personnel operating within Iraq).cite news
last =Shanahan
first =Dennis
title =Labor Iraq troop policy is a big con
publisher =The Australian
date= 2007-09-21
url =http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22455287-17301,00.html
accessdate =2007-10-18 ] Rudd is also in favour of Australia's military presence in Afghanistan. [cite web
first=AAP
title = Afghan, Iraq wars are not the same: Rudd
publisher = The Age
date= 23 February 2007
url =http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Afghan-Iraq-wars-are-not-the-same-Rudd/2007/02/23/1171733986257.html
accessdate =2007-02-24]

Rudd backs the road map for peace plan and defended Israel's actions during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, condemning Hezbollah and Hamas for violating Israeli territory. [cite web
title = Rudd: Hamas, Hezbollah and Lebanon in 'violation'
publisher = Australian Jewish News
date= 18 July 2006
url =http://www.ajn.com.au/news/news.asp?pgID=1130
accessdate =2006-12-04 ]

The Prime Minister also pledged support for East Timor stating that Australian troops will remain in East Timor for as long as East Timor's government wants them to. [cite web
title = Rudd pledges support for East Timor
publisher = The Sydney Morning Herald
date= 15 February 2008
url =http://news.smh.com.au/rudd-pledges-support-for-east-timor/20080215-1sdr.html
accessdate =2006-02-28 ]

Rudd also gave his support for the independence of Kosovo from Serbia, [cite web
title = Rudd backs independent Kosovo
publisher =News Ltd
date= 18 February 2008
url =http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23231533-29277,00.html] before Australia officially recognised the republic. [cite web
title = Australia Recognizes the Republic of Kosovo
publisher = Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
date= 19 February 2008
url =http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2008/fa-s034_08.html
accessdate =2008-02-23 ]

Industrial relations

Rudd opposed certain aspects of the Howard government's WorkChoices industrial relations legislation, but indicated, during the 2007 election campaign, plans to retain other parts of it (including illegality of secondary boycotts, the right of employers to lock workers out, restriction of union right of entry to workplaces, and restrictions on workers' right to strike). Rudd's policy included the phasing out of Australian Workplace Agreements over a period of up to five years, the establishment of a simpler awards system as a safety net, the restoration of unfair dismissal laws for companies with under 100 employees (probation period of 12 months for companies with less than 15 employees), and the retention of the Australian Building and Construction Commission until 2010.cite news
author=Ross Gittins
title=Coalition and Labor narrow industrial relations gap
url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/coalition-and-labor-narrow-industrial-relations-gap/2007/09/02/1188671793954.html
publisher=The Age
date=2007-09-03
accessdate=2007-11-13] Rudd also outlined the establishment of a single industrial relations bureaucracy called Fair Work Australia. cite news
title=PM promises not to extend Work Choices
url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Fielding-noncommittal-on-ALPs-IR-plan/2007/10/15/1192300644672.html
publisher=Fairfax
work=The Age
date=2007-10-15
accessdate=2007-11-13]

Environment

On 3 December 2007, hours after being sworn in, Rudd signed the Kyoto Protocol.cite web | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/rudd-signs-kyoto-deal/2007/12/03/1196530553203.html | title=Australia ratifies Kyoto Protocol | publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=2007-12-03 | accessdate=2007-12-03] Rudd stated that:

Australia's official declaration today that we will become a member of the Kyoto Protocol is a significant step forward in our country's efforts to fight climate change domestically - and with the international community.

In October, the then Prime Minister John Howard said that Labor's policy on climate change negotiations had no significant differences to the Liberals' policy. The Liberal policy was a 15 percent cut in emissions by 2020, whilst the Labor policy is a 20 percent cut in emissions by 2020.cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/rudds-renewable-2020-vision/2007/10/30/1193618883930.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 |title=Rudd's renewable 2020 vision | accessdate=2007-11-01 | date=2007-10-31 |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald ]

Rudd supports the construction of the Bell Bay Pulp Mill in the Tamar Valley, Tasmania, and has pledged not to protect old growth forests from further logging.cite web | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Rudd-backs-proposed-2b-Tassie-pulp-mill/2007/07/24/1185043108264.html | title=Rudd backs proposed $2b Tassie pulp mill | publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=2007-07-24 | accessdate=2007-11-22]

ociety and religion

Some commentators have described Rudd as a social conservative.cite news |first=Gerard |last=Henderson |authorlink=Gerard Henderson |title=Luvvies Labor's loss over Henson |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/gerard-henderson/luvvies-labors-loss-over-henson/2008/06/02/1212258733548.html |publisher="The Sydney Morning Herald" |date=2008-06-03 |accessdate=2008-09-09 ] cite news |first=Michael |last=Gawenda |authorlink=Michael Gawenda |title=Desperately seeking Kevin |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/desperately-seeking-kevin/2007/11/16/1194766958567.html?page=5 |publisher="The Age" |date=2007-11-17 |accessdate=2008-09-09 ] While moving to remove financial discrimination against lesbian and gay couples, he has remained strongly opposed to same-sex marriage:

I have a pretty basic view on this, as reflected in the position adopted by our party, and that is, that marriage is between a man and a woman.

In a conscience vote in 2006, Rudd supported legislation to transfer regulatory authority for the abortion-inducing drug RU486 from the federal Minister For Health to the Therapeutic Goods Administration, removing the minister's veto on the use of RU486 in Australia. [cite web
title = MPs to vote on RU486 control
url = http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2006/s1571075.htm
date= 16 February 2006
accessdate =2008-09-11
publisher = "ABC" ] [cite web
title = RU486 for Australia?
url = http://www.aph.gov.au/Library/pubs/rn/2005-06/06rn19.htm
date= 29 November 2005
accessdate =2007-01-27
publisher = "Australian Parliamentary Library" ]

Rudd and his family attend the Anglican church of St John the Baptist in Bulimba in his electorate. Although raised a Roman Catholic, Rudd began attending Anglican services in the 1980s with his wife. Like John Howard, Rudd has addressed congregations of the Hillsong Church.

"Personal faith also provides a compass point for my life. It also therefore helps shape the view I try to bring to the public space as well."cite news
last =Donald
first =Peta
title =Howard, Rudd make pitch to Christian voters
publisher =AM (ABC Radio)
date= 2007-10-18
url =http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2007/s2001400.htm
accessdate =2007-10-18 ]

Rudd is the mainstay of the parliamentary prayer group in Parliament House, Canberra.cite web
title = Abbott attacks Rudd on religion in politics
publisher = "The Age"
date= 2007-01-27
url =http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/abbott-attacks-rudd-on-religion-in-politics/2007/01/27/1169788728527.html?s_cid=rss_age
accessdate =2007-11-26 ] He is vocal about his Christianity and has given a number of prominent interviews to the Australian religious press on the topic. [cite web
first=Helen
last=Woodall
title = Kevin Rudd talks about his faith
publisher = "The Melbourne Anglican"
month= November | year= 2003
url =http://www.media.anglican.com.au/tma/2003/11/rudd.html
accessdate =2006-12-04 ; cite web
first=Carmel
last=Egan
title = Kevin Rudd
publisher = "The Age"
date= 3 December 2006
url =http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/kevin-rudd/2006/12/02/1164777852646.html
accessdate =2006-12-04 ] Rudd has defended church representatives engaging with policy debates, particularly with respect to WorkChoices legislation, climate change, global poverty, therapeutic cloning and asylum seekers.cite web
first=Kevin
last=Rudd
title = Faith in Politics
publisher = The Monthly
month=October | year=2006
url =http://www.themonthly.com.au/excerpts/issue17_excerpt_001.html
accessdate =2006-12-09 ; cite web
title = Christianity and Politics
first=Kevin
last=Rudd
url =http://www.kevinrudd.com/_dbase_upl/051026%20New%20College%20Lecture.pdf
date= 26 October 2005
pages = 9
accessdate =2006-12-04 |format=PDF; cite web
title = Anglican leader joins IR debate
url =http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1411059.htm
date= 11 July 2005
accessdate =2006-12-04
publisher = "ABC news" ] In an essay in "The Monthly", [cite web
first=Kevin
last=Rudd
title = Faith in Politics
publisher = The Monthly
month=October | year=2006
url =http://www.themonthly.com.au/excerpts/issue17_excerpt_001.html
accessdate =2006-12-09 ] he argued:

A [truly] Christian perspective on contemporary policy debates may not prevail. It must nonetheless be argued. And once heard, it must be weighed, together with other arguments from different philosophical traditions, in a fully contestable secular polity. A Christian perspective, informed by a social gospel or Christian socialist tradition, should not be rejected contemptuously by secular politicians as if these views are an unwelcome intrusion into the political sphere. If the churches are barred from participating in the great debates about the values that ultimately underpin our society, our economy and our polity, then we have reached a very strange place indeed.

He cites Dietrich Bonhoeffer as a personal inspiration in this regard. [cite web
title = Tony Jones speaks to Kevin Rudd
url =http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2006/s1753915.htm
date= 2 October 2006
accessdate =2006-12-04
publisher = "Lateline" ]

ee also

* First Rudd Ministry
* Next Australian federal election
* List of Prime Ministers of Queen Elizabeth II

References

External links

* [http://www.pm.gov.au/ Prime Minister of Australia's website]
* [http://www.aph.gov.au/K_Rudd_MP/ Official Parliamentary homepage for Kevin Rudd]
* [http://www.alp.org.au/people/qld/rudd_kevin.php Official ALP homepage for Kevin Rudd]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7043713.stm BBC Profile - Kevin Rudd]
* [http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/gallery/0,22056,5025871-5010140,00.html "Kevin Rudd: The early years | Daily Telegraph" - Images]
*MySpace|200637520|Kevin Rudd

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