Kevin Rudd sworn in as Australian PM

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Governor-General Quentin Bryce commissioned Mr Rudd within half an hour of parliament resuming today for what is likely to be its last day before elections.

Mr Rudd faces a potential no-confidence vote in the parliament which he would be likely to survive. But a loss could trigger an election as early as August.

Mr Rudd, a Mandarin-speaking former diplomat, forced Julia Gillard out Wednesday in nearly the same way she ousted him in 2010.

Each faced a party leadership vote in the face of a revolt from Labor Party lawmakers, but while Mr Rudd did not contest Ms Gillard’s earlier challenge, she went ahead with a vote that she lost 57-45.

Ms Gillard tendered her resignation on Wednesday night.

In a brief statement to parliament two hours after he was sworn in as national leader, Mr Rudd praised Ms Gillard’s “major reforms” on issues such as industrial law and school literacy testing, as well “her great work as a standard bearer for women.”

Mr Rudd’s ouster had created a rift in the Labor Party and endless infighting. He had tried twice previously to oust Ms Gillard, last year and in February.

Many took the fact that he never posed for a parliament house portrait, as other former prime ministers had done, as a sign that he never gave up on returning.

“As we all know in this place, political life is a very hard life; a very hard life indeed,” Mr Rudd told parliament.

“Let us try – just try – to be a little kinder and gentler with each other in the further deliberations of this parliament,” he added.