(Transcript from World News Australia Radio)
The voters of the House of Representatives seat of Griffith are set to head back to the polls early next year after the retirement of their local member, Kevin Rudd.
Mr Rudd says his future will involve building upon the legacy of his apology to Indigenous Australians.
Thea Cowie reports.
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Kevin Rudd received a standing ovation from fellow Members of the House of Representatives after announcing his retirement last night.
The tributes have come in thick and fast, even from some of his greatest critics in the Coalition - and in the Labor Party.
Julia Gillard supporter and now deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek was among them.
"He spoke to every expert. He read every piece of work. He asked every question and he investigated every issue as deeply as he possibly could. Colleagues will remember that we started to call it 'kevidence' because it was the most evidence-based approach to these large questions of public policy that we had ever had in Australia."
Brendan O'Connor was one of a number of senior Labor MPs calling for Mr Rudd's resignation following Labor's thrashing in the September federal election.
"I have had some good times and I've had some times with Kevin that haven't been as good. That happens with most of your colleagues during a long period. I have never denied his contribution."
According to the first indigenous member of the House of Representatives, Liberal MP Ken Wyatt, Kevin Rudd's greatest contribution to Australia was his apology to the nation's first people.
Mr Wyatt welcomes Mr Rudd's stated intention to continue to be involved in Indigenous affairs.
"Look I was pleased to hear him say that. I think Kevin's commitment to Aboriinal and Torres Strait Islander people doesn't finish today. I think the work he has done, his passion and his friendships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across this nation and our leadership means that he will continually to be involved."
As Mr Rudd looks to move on from federal politics, the electorate of Griffith is looking to move on from Mr Rudd.
The earliest possible date for a by-election is the 21st of December, but voters are more likely to go to the polls in the new year.
Two names being mentioned as potential Labor candidates are environmental lawyer Terri Butler and former Queenslan dstate MP Di Farmer who is expected to receive Mr Rudd's backing.
The pre-selected candidate may face formidable opposition in former Australian Medical Association president Bill Glasson, who says he's still weighing up his options.
Mr Glasson took on Kevin Rudd at the September federal election and managed to secure a 5.5 per cent swing to the Liberal National Party, reducing Labor's hold on the seat to a margin of just three per cent.
But Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese is confident Labor can retain the seat.
"By-elections are difficult. Certainly don't take them for granted. The LNP threw bucket loads of money at that seat in the election that we've just seen and they weren't successful in that campaign. I think the good voters of Griffith will be very wary about giving Tony Abbott an even bigger majority than he has now. They've seen what (Premier) Campbell Newman has done with the large majority in the Queensland parliament with the cuts to jobs and services."
Except for the three years immediately before Mr Rudd won the seat of Griffith, the electorate has been held by Labor for nearly 50 years.
Election analyst Antony Green has told the ABC another thing in Labor's favour is that traditionally by-elections go against the party holding office.
"The last time the government won a seat off an opposition was in 1920 at a federal by-election so it doesn't happen very often. I think Labor lost a by-election as opposition in 2002 in New South Wales."
The Labor Party administration will call for a pre-selection ballot by Monday at the latest.
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