Bob Carr is Australia’s new foreign minister

Former New South Wales Premier Bob Carr will join the Senate and become Australia’s new foreign affairs minister, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said here Friday.

This is her second ministerial reshuffle in three months.

Until Carr takes his place in the Senate, Craig Emerson will continue to act as minister for foreign affairs, reported Xinhua.

Former foreign minister Kevin Rudd now sits on the back bench after failing to win a leadership ballot against Prime Minister Gillard.

Kate Lundy has been promoted to minister for sport and multicultural affairs, as well as assistant minister for industry and innovation.

David Bradbury has also been promoted to the ministry as assistant treasurer, and to the newly-created position of minister assisting for deregulation.

Jason Clare will take on the additional portfolio of minister for defence materiel.

Kim Carr will move to the human services portfolio.

Kevin Rudd supporter Robert McClelland has been demoted to the back bench.

Gillard said Stephen Smith would remain as defence minister.