Rudd offers congratulations for UN bid

19 Oct 2012, 1:54 pm   -   Source: AAP

Former PM Kevin Rudd, who launched Australia's bid for a UN security council seat in 2008, has praised the government after winning the UN vote.

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Kevin Rudd has congratulated everyone involved in helping Australia win a seat on the United Nations security council.

The former prime minister and foreign minister kicked off Australia's bid for a non-permanent council seat in 2008, before being replaced by Julia Gillard as prime minister and Labor leader two years later.

Australia won a seat on the council after defeating competitors Luxembourg and Finland in a vote at the UN General Assembly in New York early on Friday (AEDT).

It's the fifth time Australia has held a non-permanent seat, the last being in 1986.

Mr Rudd said the victory was a credit to Australia and the professionalism of the diplomatic service, according to a statement from his spokesman.

"Mr Rudd also congratulates the prime minister, the foreign minister and the parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs for their strong and successful advocacy for Australia," the spokesman said.

Mr Rudd also thanked the members of the international community who placed their confidence in Australia to "uphold the global rules-based order".

Senator Carr earlier acknowledged Mr Rudd's role in the bid, adding he would telephone the Queensland Labor backbencher to discuss the victory.

"I think Kevin Rudd's judgment in getting us involved in this has been vindicated," he told the Nine Network.

"Kevin Rudd deserves acknowledgement for saying we will go for this and we'll do it for this year."

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said Australia's successful bid "probably owes as much to Kevin Rudd" as it did to Ms Gillard.

Australia needed at least 129 votes to win the non-permanent seat, but received an overwhelming 140 nods from member states, with Luxembourg finishing second ahead of Finland, which missed out on a place.

Australia's two-year term on the council begins on January 1 next year.

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