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Kevin Rudd

Personal Profile

Kevin Rudd
  • Date of Birth:
    September 21, 1957
  • Zodiac Sign:
    Virgo
  • Place of Birth:
    Nambour, Queensland, Australia
  • Sex:
    Male
  • Nationality:
    Australian
  • Education:

    Marist College Ashgrove in Brisbane

    Nambour State High School

    Australian National University in Canberra

    Burgmann College

Family

Kevin Rudd
  • Spouse:
    Thérèse Rein

Career

Kevin Rudd

Trivia

Kevin Rudd
  • Kevin Rudd grew up on a farm in Eumundi, Queensland.
  • Politically active from his youth, Rudd joined the ALP in 1972.
  • From 1981 to 1988, Rudd served in Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, holding embassy posts in Stockholm and Beijing.
  • Kevin Rudd left the department to become chief of staff for Queensland opposition leader Wayne Goss—a position he retained after Goss became premier of Queensland in 1989.
  • Rudd served as director general of the state cabinet office from 1992 to 1995. Entering the private sector, he worked for two years as a senior consultant for the accounting firm KPMG Australia.
  • Rudd was first elected to the federal House of Representatives—as the member for Griffith, Queensland—in 1998 and was twice reelected (2001 and 2004).
  • In Parliament he held a series of positions that gave him increasing responsibility within the Labor Party. After the 2001 election, in which Prime Minister John Winston Howard's coalition secured a strong working majority, Rudd was appointed shadow minister for foreign affairs.
  • Frequently appearing in televised interviews and on political talk shows, Rudd became known as a vocal critic of the Howard government's handling of the Iraq War.
  • Kevin Rudd was given the additional shadow ministry portfolios of international security in 2003 and trade in 2005.
  • At the ALP caucus held on Dec. 4, 2006, he was chosen party leader, defeating former head Kim Beazley by a vote of 49–39.

Quotes

Kevin Rudd
  • "The Australian government has significantly increased its engagement with Pakistan over the past 20 months, including through increased defense and law enforcement cooperation."
  • "The remuneration structures and how they're calibrated in various markets around the world have a profound impact on Australia."
  • “John Howard established this inquiry in order to bring about his own absolution, not to bring about any form of accountability.”
  • “Mr. Downer read none of the cables which were relevant to this scandal.”
  • “That's where Australia's efforts should lie at the moment ? through the UN process and through our own bilateral pressure on the Iranian Government.”
  • “If he has any self respect he would resign over this matter. The negligence is so gross.”
  • “(Indonesia is) important because of our common interests with counter-terrorism, our common interest in the effective control of illegal immigrants. We need to make sure this relationship is back on an even keel as soon as possible.”
  • “Given the size of India's population, Australia is clearly underperforming in its provision of these services.”
  • “If John Howard has nothing to hide, he would widen the terms of reference to cover his Government, ministers, and advisers. He shouldn't put commissioner Cole in the position of, at some stage, having to make such a request.”
  • “It seems the whole world knew, except for the Howard Government. This is getting ridiculous. This is becoming a farce.”
View all Quotes: Kevin Rudd

Biography

Kevin Rudd
Last Updated: Friday, September 25, 2009

Kevin RuddKevin Rudd was born in Nambour, Queensland and spent much of his childhood on a dairy farm before attending Marist College Ashgrove in Brisbane. Following his primary education, Rudd attended Nambour State High School. During his high school years, when Rudd was only 15, he joined the Australian Labor Party. He continued to be a member well past his high school graduation in 1974.

Following his graduation, Rudd attended the Australian National University in Canberra where he majored in Chinese history and Chinese language. His studies left him proficient in Mandarin and his work awarded him First Class Honours upon graduation. After leaving the university, Rudd continued his studies in Chinese language and history at the National Taiwan Normal University in Taiwan.

Although he met his future wife, Therese Rein, at the University in Canberra, Rudd and Rein did not marry until 1981. That same year, Rudd joined the Department of Foreign Affairs which sent he and his wife overseas to serve in Sweden and later China. Rudd continued to work with the Department until 1988 when he returned to Australia to become Chief of Staff to the Labor Opposition Leader in Queensland.

The Leader at the time was Wayne Goss who later became Premier when the Labor party won the office the following year. Kevin Rudd naturally moved up in office with the win and became Chief of Staff to the Premier. He continued in this position until 1992 when he became Director-General of the Office of the Cabinet. Rudd's position was of great influence to Australia's education system and he used his power to push for better foreign language programs in schools. He pushed for Asian language and culture programs which were widely accepted by both government and non government agencies.

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