Bob Carr Named Australia's New Foreign Minister

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Friday named former state premier Bob Carr as foreign minister as she asserted her authority following a leadership challenge.

Carr, the ex-leader of New South Wales, will become the nation's top diplomat after Kevin Rudd suddenly resigned last week in order to take on Gillard and Senator Mark Arbib quit in the wake of Labor Party infighting.

"I have put together a team that will best equip my government to pursue our priorities for the nation," Gillard told reporters about the forced reshuffle.

"Bob Carr will join the Senate, and will take on the role of Minister for Foreign Affairs."

Defense Minister Stephen Smith, who had been considered the frontrunner for Rudd's old job, said the ministry make-up was a matter for Gillard and he was happy to continue to serve in his current position.

The move follows a period of unprecedented rancor within Labor, with ministers dividing between the two candidates for the party leadership.

Several ministers who backed Rudd -- including Immigration Minister Chris Bowen and Resources Minister Martin Ferguson -- kept their jobs but Robert McClelland was dumped as minister for emergency management.

Carr said he admired Rudd, who lost the leadership ballot 71-31 and returned to the backbenches, and would be seeking his advice on the role which sees him come back to politics after a six-year break.

"In the end when the distinctive voice of Prime Minister Gillard rouses you from your slumber and says will you be foreign minister of Australia, I couldn't have found it in me to have said no," he said.

"I was offered the opportunity to sign on for more public service and I couldn't say no."

A former journalist, Carr was considered one of Australia's most influential politicians when he stepped down in 2005 after a decade as leader of New South Wales, which includes Sydney and is the country's most populous state.

He pulled the New South Wales Labor Party out of the dumps to first be elected premier in 1995 and he is set to enter federal politics as ruling Labor is lagging behind the conservative opposition in opinion polls.

Rudd described Carr, 64, as an "excellent choice" for foreign minister.

"I have known Bob for 20 years and regard him as a good friend," Rudd said in a statement. "Throughout that time he has demonstrated a strong continuing interest in international affairs.

"He has also been actively engaged with the US across that period and will be well regarded in Washington."

In other changes, Brendan O'Connor moves into cabinet as Minister for Small Business, and for Housing and Homelessness and Kate Lundy takes Arbib's spot as Minister for Sport. David Bradbury becomes Assistant Treasurer.