Rudd is new Australian foreign minister

Melbourne: Australian PM Julia Gillard announced her new ministry for the Labour Government Saturday in Melbourne bringing Kevin Ruud back into her government, in a senior cabinet post. Ruud was the man she overthrew in June in an internal party coup.

Gillard named Kevin Rudd as foreign affairs minister.

In June, when Ruud was toppled on the grounds of declining popularity, Gillard was Rudd's deputy prime minister.

Trying to cash in on an immediate boost in her popularity rankings, Gillard soon called for an election in August. It ran closer than Gillard and her party bosses had expected with the outcome finally decided this week when she commences Labour's second term in power with the support of two independent members of parliament.

Labour clings to power with a razor thin majority of  76-74 in a house of 150.

Rudd was a career diplomat before entering parliament and is fluent in Mandarin having done professional stints in China while in service.

He displaces Stephen Smith, who was foreign affairs minister under him as well as Gillard. Smith becomes the new defence minister.