The Hon Anthony Albanese MP Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Shadow Minister for Tourism Member

for Grayndler

KEVIN RUDD

I pay tribute to former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on the day of his announcement that he will be leaving the Parliament.

Kevin Rudd led Labor to a historic victory from Opposition in 2007. Only Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke have managed that feat since World War II.

The apology to indigenous Australians, ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, the largest-ever increase in the pension and the expansion of affordable housing in Australia are all part of the Rudd Government legacy.

Kevins most-significant achievement was seeing Australia through the Global Financial Crisis by devising what economists have recognised as the worlds most-effective stimulus plan.

The Treasury has calculated that the stimulus package saved the jobs of 200,000 Australians.

For a Labor Prime Minister, there can be no greater achievement than to have safeguarded the

jobs of working Australians.

Kevins greatest foreign policy achievement was his international leadership in elevating the status of the G20 during the GFC so that it became the globes key body for international cooperation on economic policy.

This important move gave Australia a seat at the top table of international economic debate.

Kevins determined advocacy also saw Australia gain a seat on the United Nations Security Council.

His dedication to nation-building infrastructure saw Labor double the roads budget, increase the rail budget by more than ten times and commit to more investment in urban public transport infrastructure than all previous Australian governments combined.

I am proud to have served as Deputy Prime Minister when Kevin returned to the prime ministership earlier this year.

I am also proud to have worked with Kevin to begin democratising Australian Labor Party processes, leading to our partys first national leadership ballot involving rank-and-file party members.

More than 30,000 party members participated in this historic election and I believe these democratic reforms must be extended further.

Kevins courageous leadership during the difficult 2013 election produced a better-than-expected result and left Labor in a competitive position for the next federal election.

He leaves the Parliament with my best wishes and my enduring friendship.

I also extend my thanks to Therese and other members of Kevins family for their contribution to the cause of Labor.

13 November, 2013