Kevin Rudd resigns from Parliament
Updated: 2013-11-14 07:39
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||
CANBERRA - Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who has served as the member for Griffith in the House of Representatives since 1998, has announced his retirement from politics on Wednesday night with a speech in the House of Representatives.
|
Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, pictured in Sydney in early June. [Agencies] |
"For our family, recent statements since the September election have been particularly hurtful," he said.
"The decision that I have made has not been taken lightly, particularly given the big attachment I have for the community I proudly represented in this place these past 15 years," he said in the speech. "But for me, my family is everything, always has been, always will be, which is why I will not be continuing as a member of this parliament beyond this week."
He also thanked the people of Australia for electing him as their prime minister.
"To have served as prime minister of Australia has been a great honor afforded to very few in our country's history," he said, as he wished the current Prime Minister Tony Abbott luck, saying the office of prime minister was the "hardest job in the land."
"The prime ministership of this Commonwealth is not easy; it is the hardest job in the land," he said.
"I wish Tony, his wife Margie and their family all the best for the rigors of high office that inevitably lie ahead," he said.
First elected as MP for Griffith in 1998, Rudd became Prime Minister in 2007, defeating then Prime Minister John Howard, taking the Australian Labor Party back to office.
But his time as prime minister came to an abrupt end in June 2010 when he was dumped by his party colleagues in favor of Julia Gillard.
Rudd reclaimed the job of prime minister in June this year when he defeated Gillard in a party-room showdown. But he went on to lose the September 7 election to Tony Abbott.
- Rare bird finds sanctuary
- Government leaders to be held accountable for school safety
- Deadly looting in Philippines
- Graduation celebration for Santas
- One World Trade Center deemed tallest US skyscraper
- Xiamen Airlines gets milestone 100th Boeing
- PANDA! set to debut in Las Vegas
- Lest we repeat the horrors of the past
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Intl attention on reform agenda for China |
A second opportunity |
Luxury giants tap into mainland market |
Aiming for 100,000 |
Tourism opens the road to riches |
Ancient, modern under same roof |
Today's Top News
Chinese opera looks to the West
SAT alternative makes bid for Chinese takers
GM international office moves to Singapore
Leader honored for improving cross-Strait ties
Government leaders accountable for school safety
Banks'nonperforming loans up slightly in Q3
Investment treaty with US offers risks and rewards
Quality growth 'to be achieved'
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |