Kevin Rudd will be sworn in as Australian Prime Minister – again – by the Governor-General Quentin Bryce this morning following Julia Gillard’s ousting as Labor leader last night.
Rudd will lead Labor to the federal election after defeating Gillard in a leadership ballot yesterday. Six key ministers also resigned in the aftermath.
The Governor-General’s office has confirmed it believes Mr Rudd should be commissioned as prime minister, and it’s expected he will be sworn in on Thursday at around 09:30 (9am, SA time).
His new deputy Anthony Albanese is expected to be present at the meeting with the Governor-General will be sworn in to replace Wayne Swan, who was one of the ministers to quit cabinet.
The Governor-General has confirmed Chris Bowen will be sworn in as Treasurer.
Bryce on Wednesday sought the advice of her solicitor-general as how to proceed with appointing Rudd, after Gillard recommended the Governor-General appoint him Prime Minister.
The Acting Solicitor-General Robert Orr QC said Bryce would seek an assurance from Rudd that he would announce his appointment to the House of Representatives “at the first possible opportunity”.
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This would give the lower house the opportunity for “whatever, if any, action it chooses to take”.
“I confirm that in my opinion the Governor-General should commission the Honourable Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister,” Orr said in a letter dated June 26.
Rudd could face his first parliamentary test on Thursday, if the Opposition moves a motion of no confidence in the minority government.
Should that happen he is likely to get support from crossbenchers Andrew Wilkie, Peter Slipper, Craig Thomson, Bob Katter and Adam Bandt.
