Kevin Rudd sworn in as Australian new PM

 

Kevin Rudd has been sworn in as Prime Minister of Australia, a day after he ousted Julia Gillard as leader of the Labour Party, BBC reports.

Mr. Rudd took the oath at Government House in front of Governor-General Quentin Bryce.

He then addressed parliament briefly, paying tribute to Ms. Gillard, who is stepping down from politics.

The leadership change comes ahead of an election scheduled for September 14, which polls suggest Labour will lose.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott called on Mr. Rudd to clarify whether the election would be brought forward.

“I congratulate the prime minister on his restoration to high office,” he said. “May he elevate that office… by telling the Australian people when will they get the chance to decide who the prime minister of this country should be and who should form the government of this country?”

Mr. Rudd said he would “identify a date for an election”, suggesting that he would not stick with the date set by Ms. Gillard.

“There’s going to be an election, it will be held consistent with the constitution and… there’s not going to be a huge variation one way or the other,” he said.

Mr. Rudd returned to lead Australia’s government three years and three days after he was toppled in a similar Labour leadership contest by Ms. Gillard, then his deputy