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Australia's Rudd sworn in as PM Australia's Rudd sworn in as PM
(about 6 hours later)
Australian Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd has been sworn in as prime minister, following a landslide victory in parliamentary elections last week.Australian Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd has been sworn in as prime minister, following a landslide victory in parliamentary elections last week.
Mr Rudd and 29 ministers took the oath of office at a ceremony in Canberra.Mr Rudd and 29 ministers took the oath of office at a ceremony in Canberra.
His appointment ends more than 11 years of conservative government under his predecessor John Howard. Immediately afterwards, Mr Rudd signed documents to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, reversing the previous administration's policy.
The incoming government is committed to ratifying the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse emissions and withdrawing Australia's combat troops from Iraq. "This is the first official act of the new Australian government," he told reporters.
"It's an important day for us because we turn a new page into the future," Mr Rudd said ahead of the swearing-in ceremony. Mr Rudd's appointment ends more than 11 years of conservative government under his predecessor John Howard.
"It's getting down to work on the agenda we put to the people during the election period. I'm really looking forward to that." As well as signing up to the Kyoto Protocol, the new government is committed to withdrawing Australia's combat troops from Iraq.
A new approachA new approach
The 50-year-old former diplomat is the first man born after the end of World War II to hold office. Mr Rudd, a 50-year-old former diplomat, is the first Australian born after the end of World War II to hold office.
LABOR'S CABINET Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education and Workplace Relations: Julia GillardTreasurer: Wayne SwanForeign Minister: Stephen SmithEnvironment, Heritage and Arts Minister: Peter GarrettClimate Change and Water Minister: Penny WongMinister of Defence: Joel FitzgibbonAttorney-General: Robert McClellandLABOR'S CABINET Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education and Workplace Relations: Julia GillardTreasurer: Wayne SwanForeign Minister: Stephen SmithEnvironment, Heritage and Arts Minister: Peter GarrettClimate Change and Water Minister: Penny WongMinister of Defence: Joel FitzgibbonAttorney-General: Robert McClelland
Mr Rudd's Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard is the first woman to hold the post, and his government also includes a former rock star, Peter Garrett, as the environment minister. Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard is the first woman to hold the post, and his government also includes a former rock star, Peter Garrett, as the environment minister.
The minister with responsibility for climate change, Penny Wong, is not only the country's first openly gay minister but the first to be born in Asia. The BBC's Nick Bryant, in Sydney, says a new approach to the environment is one of the main ways in which Mr Rudd is signalling a definitive break with the past. The minister with responsibility for climate change, Penny Wong, is not only the country's first openly gay minister but the first to be born in Asia.
Mr Rudd plans to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and will also attend the UN climate change conference in Bali on Monday. The BBC's Nick Bryant, in Sydney, says a new approach to the environment is one of the main ways in which Mr Rudd is signalling a definitive break with the past.
Mr Rudd will attend the UN climate change conference in Bali next week, and now he has signed the paperwork ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, it will officially come into force in Australia in 90 days.
If history offers any guide, Kevin Rudd can look forward to at least two terms as prime minister, our correspondent says.If history offers any guide, Kevin Rudd can look forward to at least two terms as prime minister, our correspondent says.
No incoming government has ever been sacked by the electorate after just three years in charge.No incoming government has ever been sacked by the electorate after just three years in charge.