Gillard axes Rudd’s supporter from Cabinet

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard pulled a veteran politician out of retirement and named him foreign minister on Friday in place of Kevin Rudd who tried to oust her during a chaotic, short-lived rebellion in the ruling Labour Party.

Mr. Rudd resigned as Foreign Minister last week, making it necessary for Ms. Gillard to reshuffle her Cabinet. In the process she also demoted Emergency Management Minister Robert McClelland, who publicly backed Mr. Rudds effort to remove her as Prime Minister.

The appointment of Bob Carr, former premier of New South Wales state, as Mr. Rudds replacement was a surprise. He retired from politics in 2005 and said he initially wrestled with whether to return to public service.

But in the end, when the distinctive voice of the Prime Minister rouses you from your slumber and says, Will you be Foreign Minister of Australia? I couldnt have found it in me to have said no, Mr. Carr said.

Many political observers had expected that Defence Minister Stephen Smith, who held the Foreign Ministry post before Mr. Rudd, would be given the coveted job. Mr. Smith said he wasnt upset about being passed over and was happy to continue in his role.

There are no entitlements in public life, he said. I dont have any entitlement to be disappointed.

After quitting, Mr. Rudd attempted to oust Ms. Gillard in vote of Labour Party lawmakers on Monday. Ms. Gillard, who deposed Mr. Rudd as Prime Minister two years ago in an internal party coup, easily defeated him and has been trying since to reunite her fractured party and Cabinet.

Strongest possible team

At a press conference on Friday in the capital, Canberra, Ms. Gillard insisted the drama-riddled power challenge did not play a role in the Cabinet reshuffling.

Asked whether Mr. McClellands support of Mr. Rudd had affected her decision to drop him from the ministry, Ms. Gillard replied, The decisions Ive made about my team are about merit, about the strongest possible team.

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Gillard axes Rudd’s supporter from Cabinet