Labor MPs and senators this morning started their first caucus meeting since the election by giving Prime Minister Julia Gillard a standing ovation.
Former prime minister Kevin Rudd, who's likely to be given the foreign ministry in Ms Gillard's minority government sat at the side of the room next to outgoing Defence Minister John Faulkner.
In accordance with Labor tradition, newly-elected MPs signed the dark red caucus book with Ms Gillard standing to their left, the loudest applause going to Australia's first MP with a Muslim backgroun, Ed Husic from Sydney's west, and the and the new Tasmanian MP Geoff Lyons.
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Meanwhile, Liberal MPs and senators have gone into their first party room meeting since the federal election buoyed by the narrowest of losses.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott singled out several MPs for special mention at the Parliament House meeting in Canberra.
Coalition members applauded as Mr Abbott praised the efforts of the first indigenous lower house MP Ken Wyatt from Perth, as well as John Alexander, who snatched the Sydney seat of Bennelong back from Labor, plus Queenslanders Warren Entsch and Teresa Gambar, who won back their seats.
