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Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian diplomat and former politician who served as the 26th prime minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010 and from June to September 2013, holding office as the leader of the Labor Party. From 2023 to 2026, Rudd was the ambassador of Australia to the United States.
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politics · Prime Minister of Australia (2007–2010; 2013) · politician · diplomat · political scientist · head of government · also Kevin Rudd, Kevin Michael Rudd, The Honorable Kevin Rudd, Lu Kewen, The Honorable Kevin Rudd AC, Rudd
Born 21 September 1957 · Q43135
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s coalition - but other results suggested heavy swings against Labor, in particular in the key states of Queensland and New South Wales. Voting is compulsory in Australia, with 14 million registered voters. Snap election Mr Abbott worked through the final night of the campaign. Correspondents say he has tried to exploit the Labor party
I remember writing out my feelings the day after the speech and I called it:
88%BBCSource
“s coalition - but other results suggested heavy swings against Labor, in particular in the key states of Queensland and New South Wales. Voting is compulsory in Australia, with 14 million registered voters. Snap election Mr Abbott worked through the final night of the campaign. Correspondents say he has tried to exploit the Labor party”
“I remember writing out my feelings the day after the speech and I called it:”
“strengthening the bonds between our two countries”
“building relationships with Republicans and Democrats across politics”
“For me and for the reasons I have outlined, the life of the unborn is of great importance. And having tested these reasons with men and women of faith, and men and women of science, that I”
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One Nation: Kevin Rudd's Attack on One Nation Backfires
Daily Mail: Worrying new poll for Anthony Albanese shows Labor's primary vote sinking to levels not seen since Kevin Rudd knifed Julia Gillard - only this time it's One Nation rather than the Coalition that has them sweating
ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation: VIDEO: Kevin Rudd takes to the stage at a charity event.
news24.com.au: World’s Gone Mad: Kevin Rudd explains why popular Hanson is unsuitable to be PM
Encyclopaedia Britannica: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology to the Indigenous peoples of Australia
Published video “Kevin Rudd on China under Xi Jinping: ABC 7.30”.
Australian Institute of International Affairs: Kevin Rudd to Headline AIIA ACT Branch Dinner
Public attention spiked: 4,336 Wikipedia readers in one day, 6.6× the usual 659, with 0 article edits.
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Published video “Kevin Rudd at the Asia Society Paris Summer Summit”.
Published video “Commencement Address - University of Southern California, Sol Price School of Public Policy”.
Published video “Kevin Rudd discusses Trump-Xi Summit with Bret Baier on Fox News”.
Published video “Kevin Rudd's address to University of Newcastle graduates in 2025”.
AAP rated the claim “Donald Trump called Kevin Rudd a "total loser" in a Truth Social post.” False. The post is a fake..
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Published video “Villers-Bretonneux ANZAC Day 2011 Dawn Memorial Service”.
Published video “Kevin Rudd remarks on ANZAC Day 2025”.
Published video “Ambassador Kevin Rudd talks about Trump Administration tariffs - ABC 7.30”.
Published video “Kevin Rudd’s remarks to the National Apology Breakfast, 13 February 2025”.
Claimed: “The budget deficit and government debt are both five times higher under the coalition than they were under the previous Labor government.” — rated Mostly false. Net government debt in 2021/22 is expected to be around four times higher than when Labor left office, and the deficit about twice the size of Labor's biggest deficit. by AAP.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Published video “Kevin Rudd on China, America, Taiwan and Deterrence in Scenarios Short of War”.
Career landmark: Australian Ambassador to the United States of America (2023).
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ABC News rated the claim “"... when we compare the Howard years with the Rudd-Gillard years, both — all governments spent 1.7 per cent to 1.8 per cent of GDP [on defence] on average."” Fair call.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Rudd was conferred with a Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Oxford
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Claimed: “"70 per cent of Australia's trade [is] now with countries committed to net zero."” — rated Fair call by ABC News.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Awarded Companion of the Order of Australia (2019).
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ABC News rated the claim “"It has been nearly a decade since Kevin Rudd's apology, yet child removal rates have increased by 400 per cent."” Yes, but more to it.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Rudd began studying for a doctorate on Xi Jinping at Jesus College, Oxford
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Rudd asked the Government of Australia (then a government of the Liberal-National Coalition) to nominate him for Secretary-General of the United Nations
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Twinings stopped donating the proceeds from the sales of this tea variety to the RSPCA
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Election lost: 2013 election.
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Career landmark: Commonwealth Chair-in-Office (2013–2013).
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Campaign: 2013 election.
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Career landmark: Prime Minister of Australia (2013–2013).
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“s failure to counter character attacks launched by Simon Crean and”
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Rudd underwent a second cardiac valve transplant operation, making a full recovery from the surgery
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In 2011, Rudd underwent a second cardiac valve transplant operation, making a full recovery from the surgery.
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Rudd won a tea-making competition in a competition to create Twinings' Australian Afternoon variety and announced that the proceeds from the sales of this blend will be donated to the RSPCA
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Election lost: 2010 election.
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Career landmark: Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia) (2010–2012).
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Published material about Kevin Rudd's term as prime minister, included United States diplomatic cables leak
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Rudd appointed Tony Burke as population minister to examine population goals
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Campaign: 2010 election.
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Known as the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, and gave a target range for Australia's greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 of between 5% and 15% less than 2000 levels
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Announced at the National Disability Awards in Canberra
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“that the great neo-liberal experiment of the past 30 years has failed”
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“People smugglers are the vilest form of human life.”
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“A measured increase in Australian forces in Afghanistan will enhance the security of Australian citizens, given that so many terrorists attacking Australians in the past have been trained in Afghanistan.”
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“We from Australia will remain for the long haul.”
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And used the meeting to rally support for the Copenhagen summit
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And the application of a Millennium Development Goals framework to Australian aid programs with development partners across the Pacific
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The government adjusted the mandatory detention policies established by the Keating and Howard governments and declared an end to the Pacific Solution
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Rudd advised the appointment of Quentin Bryce as the first female Governor-General of Australia to Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia
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Election won: 2007 election.
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Campaign: 2007 election.
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“the greatest moral challenge of our time”
Career landmark: Prime Minister of Australia (2007–2010).
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Rudd supported legislation to transfer regulatory authority for the abortion-inducing drug RU486 from the federal Minister For Health to the Therapeutic Goods Administration, removing the minister's veto on the use of RU
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“I had had too much to drink, I have no recollection, and nor does Mr Snowdon, of any incident occurring at the nightclub – or of being asked to leave...it is our recollection that we left within about an hour”
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Described himself as "an old-fashioned Christian socialist"
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And accused his predecessor of abusing pre-war intelligence, some of which indicated that an attack on Iraq would increase the threat of terrorism
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Met with British intelligence and helped define the position that Labor would take in regards to the 2003 invasion of Iraq
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Rudd outlined his belief in the need for governments to take an active role in the economy, particularly to assure equality of opportunity
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Career landmark: member of the Australian House of Representatives (1998–2013).
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And the second to make no mention of the monarch when taking his oath of office
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Before losing it altogether after a by-election one year later
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In 1993, Rudd underwent a cardiac valve transplant operation (Ross procedure), receiving a cadaveric aortic valve replacement for rheumatic heart disease.
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Rudd underwent a cardiac valve transplant operation (Ross procedure), receiving a cadaveric aortic valve replacement for rheumatic heart disease
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And later chaired a high-level working group which provided the foundation of the strategy in its report, which is frequently cited as "the Rudd Report"
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A position he held until 1992 when Goss appointed him Director-General of the Office of Cabinet
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Was appointed chief of staff to the opposition leader in Queensland, Wayne Goss
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And was assigned to the Policy Planning Branch, then the Staffing Policy Section, and was selected to serve as the Office of National Assessments Liaison Officer at the Australian High Commission in London commencing in
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Rudd was appointed Second Secretary at the Australian Embassy in Beijing, and promoted to First Secretary in 1985, where he was responsible for analysing Politburo politics, economic reform, arms control and human rights
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Rudd married Thérèse Rein whom he had met at a gathering of the Australian Student Christian Movement during his university years
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With honours in Chinese studies, and is fluent in Mandarin
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Continued his Chinese studies at the Mandarin Training Center of National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei, Taiwan
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Deferring his honours component for a year during which time he took a study trip to Taiwan
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Studied at Nambour State College (1974).
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Born 1957-09-21.
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