Kevin Rudd just proud to be part of Australian government team

FOREIGN MINISTER Kevin Rudd says he’s proud to be a member of Labor’s federal ministry, a day after a senior MP warned he could not return to the prime ministership.

Asked for his response to the remarks by frontbencher Simon Crean, Mr Rudd said he would continue to play his part in cabinet.

“I am proud to be a member of this ministerial team, which is very strong, very dedicated, very hardworking and in which Simon himself plays a very positive role,” he told reporters in Brisbane on Wednesday.

“I play my own part and will continue to do so.”

Mr Rudd avoided a direct response to Mr Crean’s very pointed comment on Tuesday that “he can’t be prime minister again”.

Mr Rudd noted Prime Minister Julia Gillard had delivered a speech on the economy in Melbourne on Wednesday, which followed a similarly themed speech by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott on Tuesday.

“The challenges facing Australia are great,” Mr Rudd said.

“The government is dealing with those challenges, we got through the global financial crisis.

“I think it’s important that when it comes to those challenges Mr Abbott stops being Captain Negative, and stops being Captain Trivial, and starts getting on the with main game of contributing real economic policy to the country’s future.” - aap