Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard shuffled her ministerial cabinet Friday, March 2 appointing Bob Carr as Foreign Minister to replace Kevin Rudd, who resigned to challenge her leadership of the ruling Labor party, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Other changes included the exit from executive government of Robert McClelland, one of five ministers who backed Mr. Rudd's challenge that was defeated in a caucus vote Monday.
Mr. Carr is a Labor party heavyweight, having formerly served as state premier of New South Wales, and he takes on the foreign ministry portfolio at a time when the country is competing against Finland and Luxembourg for a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Naming Mr. Carr to a crucial post in government will help to restore confidence in Ms. Gillard's authority within Labor Party after she was shaken by an attempt to seize power by her rival Mr. Rudd.
