Australian Prime Minister announces new cabinet

Australia's first woman prime minister (PM), Julia Gillard, has announced the cabinet she'll be taking to the federal election, with no mention of former PM Kevin Rudd.

The Australian Labor Party (ALP) voted Mr Rudd out of parliamentary leadership in a special caucus election last week. "The new leader elected unopposed is Julia Gillard and the deputy will be Wayne Swan," Senator Michael Forshaw told media after the caucus.

The key differences between Ms Gillard's and Mr Rudd's cabinet are Simon Crean becoming Minister of Education, Workplace Relations and Social Inclusion, replacing Gillard; and Stephen Smith adding Minister for Trade, replacing Crean, to his position as Minister for Foreign Affairs.

In a statement Mr Rudd said, "[u]ltimately, decisions on Cabinet appointments are a matter for the Prime Minister" and he is respectful of her decision. Ms Gillard said, however, that she would be happy to include Mr Rudd as a senior cabinet minister after the election.

The next election is constitutionally due in early 2011 but Ms Gillard has indicated that it will be held this year.