57-628: Prime Minister of Australia First term of government (2007–2010) Second term of government (2013) Ministries Elections [REDACTED] The second Rudd ministry ( Labor ) was the 67th ministry of the Australian government, led by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd . It succeeded the second Gillard ministry after a leadership spill within the Australian Labor Party that took place on 26 June 2013. Three members of
114-448: A motivating factor in his replacement. At the 2007 election, Rudd stated: You'd turn them back. ... You cannot have anything that is orderly if you allow people who do not have a lawful visa in this country to roam free. That's why you need a detention system. I know that's politically contentious, but one follows from the other. Deterrence is effective through the detention system but also your preparedness to take appropriate action as
171-625: A new suite of scholarships was developed; the Student Start-Up Scholarship and the Relocation Scholarship. These scholarships were developed as part of the Rudd government's response to the Bradley Review of Higher Education , and its recommendation to tighten eligibility for Youth Allowance by reforming the 'work test' coupled with a loosening of the parental income test. The government abolished
228-577: A raft of new coal-mining projects worth about $ 11 billion. The government also had plans to support growth of the renewable energy industry. The Rudd government attempted to increase Australia's international influence. Prime Minister Rudd announced in March 2008 that Australia would seek a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2013–14, which the country had last held in 1985–86. In November 2009,
285-571: A simpler awards system as a safety net, the restoration of unfair dismissal laws for companies with under 100 employees (with a probation period of 12 months for companies with less than 15 employees), and the retention of the Australian Building and Construction Commission until 2010. It retained the illegality of solidarity action , the right of employers to lock workers out, restriction of union right of entry to workplaces, and restrictions on workers' right to strike. Rudd also outlined
342-529: A system of "temporary protection visas" for unauthorized arrivals, and a policy of turning back boats where possible. The Rudd government dismantled all three components, dubbing them "ineffectual and wasteful". The government adjusted the mandatory detention policies established by the Keating and Howard governments and on 8 February declared an end to the Pacific Solution. The policy had involved
399-581: A ten-year jail sentence for paying bribes. The Rudd government's 2009 Defence white paper identified the rise of China as a potential threat to Asia Pacific security, and during the WikiLeaks affair, confidential diplomatic cables were released which purported to show that Rudd had warned the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that the Communist Party was "paranoid" about Taiwan and that
456-568: The Age newspaper reported that $ 11 million had been spent campaigning for the seat, and had added twenty-seven votes for Australia; the majority of the votes came from small island nations in the south Pacific and six African nations. The Rudd government lobbied for the G20 Forum to replace the G7 as the premier forum for global governance and economic management and secured a seat for Australia at
513-654: The MV Oceanic Viking was involved in an emergency operation rescuing 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers in international waters within the Indonesian sea rescue zone. Those rescued were due to be landed in Indonesia, for transfer to an Australia-funded immigration detention centre on the Indonesian island of Bintan. However, the asylum seekers refused to disembark until 18 November, following assurances of fast-tracked processing of their cases for resettlement. In
570-523: The Abbott ministry was sworn in. Rudd government (2007%E2%80%932010) Prime Minister of Australia First term of government (2007–2010) Second term of government (2013) Ministries Elections [REDACTED] The first Rudd government was the executive Government of Australia formed by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and led by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd . The Rudd government commenced on 3 December 2007, when Rudd
627-675: The G20 Forum was, the press reported that Rudd received a frosty welcome from Bush at the White House dinner that opened G20 summit in Washington in November 2008. Bush's successor, Barack Obama , had a warmer relationship with Rudd, telling the Australian media in April 2010 that Rudd was "smart but humble" and the political leader he was closest to on the world stage. Chris Evans served as Minister for Immigration and Citizenship in
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#1732791950388684-554: The replacement for the Navy's Collins- class submarines . The Rudd government altered the number of Australian troops deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. The 550 combat troops deployed on an overwatch mission in central-southern Iraq were withdrawn in mid-June 2008, fulfilling an election promise. This reduced the Australian Defence Force presence in the region to 800–900 support personnel, including 440 either on
741-577: The 1.5% target set by the government in January. Labor supported improving the federal–state funding process through a reform of the Council of Australian Governments . Three nation-building investment funds were established – the infrastructure fund, "Building Australia", was designated $ 20 billion of federal funding. Education received $ 10 billion as part of Rudd's "education revolution", while health also received $ 10 billion. In
798-516: The 2007–08 financial year. At the same time, the RBA cut official interest rates by a percentage point, lowering them to 3.25%, the lowest since 1964 (a 43-year low). The package was welcomed by state governments and many economists, as well as the OECD . The Malcolm Turnbull -led coalition opposed the package, stating that they believed additional tax cuts to those which had been planned the next few years
855-621: The 2008–09 budget, the Rudd government cut $ 63.4 million over four years from the CSIRO , forcing the closure of two laboratories and the loss of 100 jobs. It also cut $ 20 million from the Australian Bureau of Statistics . In response to the 2007–2008 financial crisis , the Rudd government announced in October 2008 that it would guarantee all bank deposits. The government initially ignored Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) advice to cap
912-623: The Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030 , was released on 2 May 2009 and outlines a significant expansion to the Australian Defence Force , intended to maximize the military's capacity to act independently in Australia's region. Other defence policies enacted by the Rudd government include cancelling the contract to purchase 11 Seasprite helicopters in March 2008, and beginning the process of planning
969-512: The Australian Parliament, Rudd described this assurance as "non-extraordinary". Opposition frontbencher Tony Abbott said that Rudd was inept and hypocritical in his handling of the issue during the affair. According to Geoff Kitney, a Fairfax journalist who has covered immigration since the 1980s, his explanation of the terms of the agreement left the impression that, at the very least, he knew it would be difficult to show that
1026-540: The Liberals and secure passage of the bill, Education Minister Julia Gillard loosened some aspects of the changes to rural arrangements. This allowed students from remote areas to access the workforce test with the additional requirement that their parents earned less than $ 150,000. The Student Start-Up Scholarship was cut (by about $ 200) to just above $ 2000 to pay for these changes. However, the impasse meant that, in mid-February, an estimated 150,000 students were waiting for
1083-547: The Liberals' policy. At the time, econometric research suggested that providers of carbon credits under the voluntary Australian Greenhouse Office trading scheme were capable of stabilising emissions, due to the demand from households for carbon-neutral products. On 3 December 2007, hours after being sworn in, Rudd signed the Kyoto Protocol . Rudd described this action as a "significant step forward in our country's efforts to fight climate change domestically – and with
1140-745: The Prime Minister's decision. The government articulated its stance on energy management in October 2009. Writing in The Australian Financial Review , the resources minister, Martin Ferguson , acknowledged that withholding resources such as coal (either black or brown ) is unlikely to do much to assist in reducing emissions or alter demand. The government instead hoped to become a world-leading investor in carbon capture and storage technologies, and expand Australia's natural gas production, while continuing to support
1197-596: The Rudd government, which maintained Australia's bipartisan policy in support of the multi-ethnic annual intake of immigrants. Rudd said that he believed in a "Big Australia" and projected a population of 35–36 million by 2050. The Rudd government moved in its early months to dismantle several components of the Howard government 's approach to unauthorized arrival immigration policy – it abandoned offshore processing of asylum seekers and temporary protection visa arrangements. The Coalition said that these practices had halted
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#17327919503881254-571: The US should be prepared to use force against China "...if everything goes wrong". Responding to the New South Wales coroner's late November 2007 finding that the Balibo Five had been deliberately murdered by the Indonesian military in 1975, Rudd commented that "those responsible should be held to account. ... You can't just sweep this to one side". As opposition leader he had argued for
1311-533: The bill to pass in time for the start of the Australian academic year. Ultimately, the government secured passage as a result of the changes and the new scholarship was provided in the first semester of this year. In 2013, the Labor government proposed a cut to the value of the Student Start-Up Scholarship, to turn it into a loan which would fund the Gonski Reforms. However, after losing the election and forming
1368-479: The cessation of the detention of children and the provision of legal advice to unauthorized arrivals. In April 2009, following the relaxation of border protection policies, there was an increase in asylum seeker vessels which culminated in a fatal explosion due to sabotage on one of these vessels . In response, the government announced a new strategy of offering financial support to Indonesia to assist in their efforts to reduce people smuggling to Australia. After
1425-476: The changes to pass parliament two weeks before the start of the academic year in March. The new scholarship system was a massive extension of the system of support, provided as an entitlement, based on parental income and administered by Centrelink . Criticism of the new system centred on claims that it would disadvantage regional students. One university in Queensland topped up its food bank, anticipating that
1482-450: The country without visas. While it remained committed to the policy of mandatory detention as an "essential component of strong border control", the Rudd government announced that detention would be restricted to unlawful non-citizens who posed a threat to the community, those who refuse to comply with visa conditions, or those who need to be detained for the period of conducting health, identity and security checks. The government announced
1539-487: The day before. The main contributors to this result were the large fall in the current account deficit and increasing household consumption. Apart from the manufacturing sector, the Australian economy avoided a technical recession. RBA economists endorsed the first two phases of stimulus a year later, saying that it was "undeniable" that government spending had supported the economy. RBA governor Glenn Stevens remained cautious of American-style fiscal policy, casting doubt on
1596-1049: The deal was not a cave-in. The Sri Lankan Government said that the deal would encourage more people to risk the ocean journey to Australia. A UNHCR representative told The Australian that the deal was bad practice and would encourage similar behaviour. By March 2010, 100 asylum seeker boats had been intercepted within Australian waters under the Rudd government. In April, the Rudd government suspended processing new claims by Sri Lankan and Afghan asylum seekers, who comprised 80 percent of all boat arrivals, for three and six months, respectively. A boatload of refugees arrived daily in May 2010, causing overcrowding on Christmas Island. West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has been told by Evans that up to 90 asylum seekers would move to an unused mining camp near Leonora , more than 800 kilometres (500 mi) north-east of Perth. Government policy towards unauthorised boat arrivals remained controversial for
1653-573: The detention centre there was becoming crowded. In 2010, as the Christmas Island facility reached its official capacity, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) noted in its annual report that despite global refugee numbers remaining steady, there was a 29% increase in asylum claims for 2009. This supported claims that the government's policy changes had led to the increase. In October 2009,
1710-691: The establishment of offshore processing centres on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea (closed 2004) and at Nauru . In announcing the demise of the policy, Evans described it as "a cynical, costly and ultimately unsuccessful exercise", and the 21 people housed at the Nauru detention center were transferred to Brisbane. In May 2008, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre said that the Department of Immigration and Citizenship
1767-636: The explosion, Rudd said: "People smugglers are the vilest form of human life." Unauthorised boat arrivals in Australia increased from 161 people in 2008 to nearly 3,000 people in 2009. The opposition said that this was due to the government's policy adjustments, while the government said that it was due to "push factors". Rudd had a conversation with Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono , the President of Indonesia , on 20 October to intercept vessels bound for Australia. The government had made provisions to house refugees in spare demountable housing on Christmas Island , as
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1824-415: The federal government's climate change advisor, Professor Ross Garnaut . Garnaut said that the government's conditional 2020 emission targets were too low, and that the planned assistance measures for emissions-intensive industries pose "profound" financial risk for the government. In May 2009, Rudd announced an increase of the scheme target to a 25% reduction from levels of 2000, but that the introduction of
1881-464: The first six months of 2009. They were quietly resettled in northern Brisbane , in spite of a nationalist backlash against refugees that was developing in Queensland. WorkChoices , the industrial relations regime introduced by the Howard government, was overhauled. Rudd's 2007 policy included the phasing out of Australian Workplace Agreements over a period of up to five years, the establishment of
1938-624: The forum. The Rudd government sought to improve relations with China. Trade developments including the Gorgon gas project saw major deals between Australia and China. In an April 2008 visit to China, Rudd addressed an audience in Mandarin at Beijing University , in which he told students that Australia had concerns over human rights issues in Tibet and later repeated the comments to Premier Wen Jiabao . The Chinese Communist Party reacted angrily to
1995-569: The ground in Iraq or patrolling the coastline. As of early 2009, around 150 support personnel remained in Iraq. In contrast, the Australian force in Afghanistan was expanded, with Rudd announcing in April 2009 an increase from 1,100 to 1,550 personnel. Fitzgibbon became the first Rudd government minister to resign, on 4 June 2009. He quit after admitting that meetings concerning business opportunities held between defence officials and his brother,
2052-577: The guarantee. With the economy experiencing its biggest slowdown since the early 1990s and facing a recession, the government announced an economic stimulus package worth $ 10.4 billion. A second economic stimulus package worth $ 42 billion was announced in February 2009, consisting of an infrastructure program worth $ 26 billion, $ 2.7 billion in small-business tax breaks, and $ 12.7 billion for cash bonuses, including $ 950 for every Australian taxpayer who earned less than $ 80,000 during
2109-543: The head of nib Health Funds , had breached the Ministerial Code of Conduct. John Faulkner was appointed to succeed in the Defence portfolio. One of the Rudd government's key proposals in the 2007 election campaign was the implementation of an "education revolution". This was to include the provision of computers for every school student in years 9–12 and the implementation of a national curriculum. In 2010,
2166-570: The idea that Australia should have a higher inflation target to repair its public accounts. The Rudd government established a review of the tax system by the head of the Department of the Treasury , Ken Henry . Among other suggested reforms recommended by the Henry review and adopted by the Rudd government was a Resource Super Profits Tax on the extractive industry . The proposal met resistance from mining industry bodies and mining companies, and
2223-452: The international community". After a year of accounting of " emissions " and " sinks ", the government published its climate change policies in a white paper released on 15 December 2008. This defined a plan to introduce an emissions trading scheme in 2010 and recommended a target range for Australia's greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, which would be a 5% to 15% reduction from levels in 2000. It drew criticism from environmental groups and
2280-664: The life of the Rudd government. During the 2010 Labor leadership spill that resulted in Gillard replacing Rudd as prime minister, Rudd told media on 23 June: "This party and government will not be lurching to the right on the question of asylum seekers, as some have counseled us to do." The Gillard government made a further series of adjustments to Labor policy and moved to restore offshore processing of asylum seekers in 2011. Despite an election promise to process 90 percent of claims for protection visas within 90 days, Immigration Department figures in October 2009 showed no improvement in
2337-480: The ministry were sworn in by Governor-General Quentin Bryce on 27 June 2013. These were Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister; Anthony Albanese , Deputy Prime Minister; and Chris Bowen , Treasurer. The remainder of the ministry were sworn in on 1 July 2013. The Labor Party lost the general election held on 7 September 2013, paving the way for Coalition leader Tony Abbott . The ministry concluded on 18 September 2013 when
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2394-561: The number of students regularly going without food would increase. In 2009, the Coalition and Senator Fielding had blocked changes to the Youth Allowance and Austudy system , stating they were unfair to rural and regional students and would leave 26,000 students worse off. The bill would have tightened regulations around the work requirements these students needed to fulfill to be considered independent of their parents. However,
2451-549: The old scholarship system, which helped about 21,000 students per year, due to concerns that it was not adequately means tested and that many scholarships were not allocated as a result of being administered by the universities. However, the new system was stalled in the Senate as a result of opposition by the Liberal-National Opposition and Senator Fielding. This left an estimated 150,000 students waiting for
2508-545: The opposition, Labor changed its position and opposed these cuts which became supported by the Liberal government. These changes are yet to pass the Senate. In opposition, Rudd had called climate change "the greatest moral, economic and social challenge of our time" and called for a cut to greenhouse gas emissions by 60% before 2050. In October 2007, John Howard, Prime Minister at the time, said that Labor's policy on climate change negotiations had no significant differences to
2565-568: The proposal was later heavily modified when Julia Gillard replaced Rudd as prime minister. In December 2007, the Minister for Defence , Joel Fitzgibbon , ordered the Department of Defence to develop a new white paper to guide Australia's defense policy. While the white paper was originally due to be completed in December 2008, it was delayed until 2009 due to the volume of work required. The white paper, entitled Defending Australia in
2622-500: The remarks, describing Tibet as "purely an internal affair". The Rudd government's relations with the Communist Party were further strained by the Stern Hu Affair , in which, following a failure by China to secure the purchase of Australian mining assets, Australian businessman Stern Hu was accused of "stealing state secrets" during trade negotiations on behalf of Australian mining company Rio Tinto , and subsequently received
2679-533: The repatriation of their remains. However, no meaningful action was taken when Rudd became PM, and he refused the requests of relatives of the slain journalists to visit their graves while in Indonesia. Rudd's term in office coincided with the final months of the Bush administration in the United States. After reports in domestic media that Rudd had joked with journalists that George W. Bush did not know what
2736-399: The scheme would be delayed until July 2011. In June 2010, the environment minister, Peter Garrett , revealed in an interview with Sky News that he first learned of the change in policy when he read it in a newspaper after being leaked by a government source. This followed damaging comments by Professor Tim Flannery , a strong supporter of Labor's scheme, that he felt "betrayed" by
2793-628: The speed of processing claims since the change of government. As a proportion of the immigration intake, Australia accepted fewer refugees in 2009 than it did at any time under the Howard government. The government had accepted more refugees from regional conflicts as the number of Africans fleeing to Australia declined. There had been a notable spike in Chin Burmese and Rohingya Burmese refugees being accepted from camps in Thailand and Bangladesh . Almost 1,400 Burmese refugees were accepted in
2850-462: The trade in people smuggling from Indonesia to Australia, but the Labor Party said these were ineffective and inhumane. The issue of asylum seeker policy remained controversial through the term of the Rudd government. The number of asylum seeker boat arrivals increased throughout the period and the handling of the issue was identified by supporters of Julia Gillard's challenge to Kevin Rudd as
2907-512: The two country independents in the House of Representatives, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott, supported the changes. The Bradley Review had found that the old system had been accessed disproportionally by students from high-income families despite being intended to support those from disadvantaged backgrounds. To win the support of the Greens and Senator Nick Xenophon and to mitigate the opposition of
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#17327919503882964-635: The vessels approach Australian waters on the high seas. Chris Evans was appointed Minister for Immigration and Citizenship in the First Rudd ministry and retained this portfolio in the First Gillard Ministry . The newly elected Rudd government announced a series of measures aimed at achieving what it described as a more "compassionate policy". Howard's policy, called the Pacific Solution , had involved offshore processing,
3021-513: Was a better way to prevent a recession. The package was passed in the Senate on the 13 February with support from minor parties and independents, following amendments that reduced the cash bonuses in the package to fund investment in the environment and water supply. National accounts released on 4 March 2009 showed that Australia's non-farm sector shrunk for the September and December 2008 quarters. The 2009 Australian federal budget
3078-470: Was re-elected leader of the Labor Party in 2013 and served a second term as prime minister . The Rudd government issued its first budget in May 2008, which was initiated to fight inflation . The total expenditure, as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) , was lower than any of the previous governments, despite including many of the expensive election promises for " working families ". The projected surplus of 1.8% of GDP, or $ 21.7 billion, exceeded
3135-412: Was rejecting asylum-seeker applications at a higher rate than under the previous government, noting 41 of 42 applications had been rejected. Evans claimed a denial rate of 77 percent, based on his acknowledgment that of a caseload of 730 appeals, he has intervened in 170. In July 2008, the Australian government announced that it was ending its policy of automatic detention for asylum seekers who arrive in
3192-415: Was released on the evening of 12 May 2009. Labor decided not to extend the investment allowance, and it was phased out by the end of the year. Other measures to support employment – augmenting a first-home buyer's scheme – were initiated. During the March quarter, the Australian economy grew by 0.4%, a number not foreseen by many until the positive balance of trade statistics released
3249-548: Was sworn in along with his ministry . This took place just nine days after the defeat of the Howard government , which was a Coalition of members of the Liberal and National parties, at the 2007 federal election . The Rudd government concluded on 24 June 2010 when Rudd, under pressure from an impending leadership caucus ballot , stepped down from the leadership of the ALP and was succeeded by his deputy, Julia Gillard . Rudd
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