(Transcript from World News Australia Radio)
Fellow MPs from both sides of politics have lined up to pay tribute to Kevin Rudd, following his decision to quit federal parliament.
The former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister made his surprise retirement announcement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday night.
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In an emotional speech, Kevin Rudd said he had made his decision to retire from politics after consulting his family.
He says it's time for his family to stop paying a price for him being in public life.
"My family have given their all for me in public life - for me, and for the nation, and it's now time that I gave something back to them. This has been the product of much soul-searching for us as a family over the last several months, and the decision that I have made has not been taken lightly, particularly given the deep attachment that I have for the community I have proudly represented in this place for these last 15 years. But for me, my family is everything - always has been, always will be - which is why I will not be continuing as a member of this parliament beyond this week."
First elected as MP for the Brisbane seat of Griffith in 1998, Mr Rudd became Prime Minister in 2007, defeating John Howard.
But his first term as PM came to an abrupt end in June 2010 when he was dumped as Labor leader in favour of Julia Gillard.
Mr Rudd reclaimed the job in June this year when he defeated Ms Gillard in a party-room showdown.
But he went on to lose the September election to the Coalition led by Tony Abbott.
Mr Rudd says he's been proud to serve the people of Griffith, and to have led the country.
"To have served as Prime Minister of Australia has been a great honour afforded to very few in our country's history. For the future, I wish the Prime Minister and his government well. I do that because I wish Australia well. The prime ministership of this Commonwealth is not easy. It is the hardest job in the land. The expectations of whoever holds the office are infinite while the resources available are finite."
Mr Rudd says after his retirement, he plans to spend some time out of the public spotlight.
But he has some ideas for a busy future.
"For the future, my passion remains with Indigenous reconciliation. In the year ahead, I plan to establish a national apology foundation, to keep alive the spirit and substance of the apology. I will also continue to support the great causes of homelessness, organ donation, and the future of multicultural Australia, including foreign language education and interfaith dialogue. As members of this House will know, I am both passionately Australian and passionately a citizen of the world. I intend to be active in the international community in areas where I can make a genuine contribution, to peace and stability, global economic governance, and sustainable development, including climate change."
Mr Rudd says as Prime Minister he navigated Australia through the great financial crisis without a recession or mass unemployment, and maintained the nation's AAA credit rating.
His government had introduced a national curriculum, Australia's first paid parental leave scheme, and a pension increase.
But he says it was the official apology to indigenous Australians in 2008 that remains a highlight of his political career.
"Nothing has brought me greater joy in political life than the smiles I have seen on the faces of our Aboriginal brothers and sisters, young and old, country and city, as a result of the apology. I hope though that what we've achieved through some healing of the soul will be the first step, the second of course is closing the gap to achieve a healing of broken bodies as well."
Leading the tributes to Mr Rudd was Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
"There were many things to celebrate in his Prime Ministership, but certainly that which I celebrate most of all, and I'm sure that every single Member of this House celebrates, is that extraordinary apology on the first day of the parliamentary sitting in 2008. Ancient wrongs were addressed. Ancient injustices were at least in part atoned for. And our country had a unifying and healing moment, the like of which we rarely, very rarely see. It was a great moment in our history, and to the credit of the Member for Griffith, it happened because of him."
Other government MPs to pay tribute to Mr Rudd included the Minister for Communications, Malcolm Turnbull.
"When you became Prime Minister, there were quite a few things we disagreed about as you know. But your apology to the Stolen Generation is as the Prime Minister tonight has said one of those signal moments, one of those moments when a leader is able with his imagination to capture the tenor of the times and make a mark in history. A mark that will never be erased. That apology to the Stolen Generation will never be forgotten. It is just one of those marks, not in the sand of history to be blown away or washed away by time but that is carved into the granite, into the bedrock of history and that is your achievement."
A by-election will now have to be held in Griffith to select Mr Rudd's replacement.
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