Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced that former NSW Premier Bob Carr is to enter the Senate and become Foreign Minister.
After several days of uncertainty and denials, the announcement came as a surprise today when Gillard announced the ministerial reshuffle arising from the resignation of Kevin Rudd and his failed leadership challenge.
Carr will fill the casual Senate vacancy created by the resignation of Mark Arbib.
Gillard made minimal changes in the reshuffle. She sacked Robert McClelland and promoted David Bradbury to Assistant Treasurer.
- Mar 02: Julia Gillard announces Bob Carr’s appointment
- Mar 02: Defence Minister Stephen Smith comments on Bob Carr’s appointment
- Mar 02: Tony Abbott comments on Bob Carr’s appointment
- Mar 06: Bob Carr is heckled outside the NSW Parliament as he speaks to the media shortly before a joint sitting appoints him to the NSW Senate vacancy
- Mar 06: The NSW Parliament votes to appoint Bob Carr to the casual senate vacancy
- Mar 13: Bob Carr’s doorstop at Parliament House on the morning of his swearing-in. He attacks Tony Abbott as a “cheapskate hypnotist in a rundown circus”.
- Mar 13: Bob Carr is sworn in as a senator
- Mar 13: Senator Bob Carr is sworn in as Foreign Minister
- Mar 21: Senator Bob Carr’s maiden speech to the Senate (31m)
