Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has praised Julia Gillard in his first speech to parliament since re-taking the Labor leadership last night.
Rudd told parliament on today he had been commissioned as prime minister by Governor-General Quentin Bryce.
“Through the difficult years of minority government the former prime minister has achieved major reforms for our nation that will shape our nation’s future,” he said.
Rudd said he acknowledged Gillard’s great achievements in taking the Fair Work Act through parliament and in introducing a national scheme for testing of literacy and numeracy, something once believed impossible.
“Now the parents of Australia know the results of their schools and know the results of their kids and as a result can intervene as appropriate,” he said.
Rudd said he also acknowledged her achievements in gaining greater funding for Australian schools.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott agreed with Rudd that politics was a tough business.
“But sometimes it’s far more brutal than it should be,” he said.
“Why was she (former prime minister Julia Gillard) dragged down last night?”
Abbott described it as a fraught moment in the life of the nation.
“A prime minister has been dragged down, her replacement owes the Australian people and the Australian parliament an explanation,” he said.
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Speaker Anna Burke warned the opposition leader that there were other parliamentary forms to pursue his line of attack.
Abbott again congratulated Rudd.
“May he elevate that office,” he said, adding the best way would be to explain the events of Wednesday night.
MORE TO COME
