Sidelined Rudd takes a holiday

There's no place for former prime minister Kevin Rudd in Julia Gillard's retweaked cabinet - and Rudd says its time for a holiday.

Julia Gillard announced one or two retweakings to cabinet posts, but there was no front bench responsibility for the former PM, despite some speculation that he may be given Foreign Affairs.

Rudd says he plans to take a family break before heading to his Queensland electorate to work for re-election.

In his farewell press conference after being dumped as Labor leader, he said he planned to recontest the election later this year.

"I also said I would be prepared to serve the government in an appropriate way in the future and that I would do so in the interests of the government and the country," he said in a

statement.

"I have indicated to the prime minister in subsequent discussions that this remains my position."

On announcing the alterations to cabinet positions, Ms Gillard said on Monday she would offer Mr Rudd a cabinet position in a re-elected Labor government.

She said she'd be delighted to do so, but would not be drawn on speculation as to whose decision it ultimately was - his to step down in the meantime, or her decision to sideline him.

Mr Rudd had reportedly lobbied for the foreign affairs portfolio but Ms Gillard said the former diplomat needed to spend more time with his wife Therese Rein and their children.

"It would enable him ... to spend more time with his family, which I know is one of his key priorities in life," she said.

"There is nothing, nothing about this period that is happy or easy for Mr Rudd. It's obviously a very, very stressful, difficult time

Rudd said decisions on cabinet appointments were a matter for the prime minister, which he respected.

"For the immediate future, my family and I have decided to take a break," he said.

"Following that, I will be working in my own electorate of Griffith and in any other way deemed appropriate to support the re-election of the government."