Kevin Rudd Sworn In As Australia's 26th Prime Minister
December 3, 2007 - 10.00am
Kevin Rudd has been sworn in as Prime Minister by the Governor-General, Michael Jeffery, in a ceremony at Government House, in Canberra.
Rudd becomes the nation's 26th prime minister and the head of the first Labor administration since 1996. He replaces the second-longest serving prime minister in the nation's history, John Howard.
At the ceremony, the Governor-General asked Rudd for an assurance "that you have been elected leader of the party holding a majority in the House of Representatives, that you can form a government and that you will have the confidence of the House of Representatives."
Rudd gave this assurance and on that basis the Governor-General accepted the resignation of John Howard, which had been tendered last Friday. Accepting Howard's resignation also terminated the commissions of all the previous government's ministers.
Rudd was first sworn as an Executive Councillor. He was then sworn in as prime minister, bringing an end to the Howard government after 11 years, 8 months and 22 days in office.
Julia Gillard has also been sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister, the highest executive position ever held by a woman in the Australian government.
The remainder of the ministry is now being sworn in.
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