Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who narrowly won elections weeks after toppling Rudd in an internal Labour Party insurrection, had publicly promised him a senior post in her government if it were re-elected.
Gillard was Rudd’s deputy until June when she unseated him, saying the government had lost its way. Last week Gillard completed a deal with independents and minor party lawmakers that allowed her to lead Australia’s first minority government in almost 70 years.