Carr to be sworn in as Australia's new FM

Bob Carr is set to be sworn in as Australia's new Foreign Minister. Carr was named by the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard over a week ago to replace Kevin Rudd, who resigned last month in the lead-up to a leadership vote, according to the (BBC). Carr, a former New South Wales premier, will officially join the Senate before being sworn in as Foreign Minister. His appointment came amid intense speculation over the new cabinet line-up after Gillard defeated Rudd in a party leadership vote. Gillard, who became Australia's first female prime minister in June 2010 after ousting Rudd, now a backbencher, had kept Australian media and political watchers guessing who she would appoint to the role. The Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith, a former foreign minister, was tipped as the front-runner for the post, but he remained in his current job. Instead, Carr, who had retired from politics for six years, was named. He served as New South Wales (NSW) premier for ten years from 1995 and was seen as a driving force behind the successful 2000 Olympics in Sydney.