After an upbeat week, Julia Gillard is flying high

Mia Freedman Julia Gillard hasn't had a day off since she became Prime Minister on June 24. Not even half a day.

On tour with Julia Gillard

MULTIMEDIA: Chief photographer Andrew Meares documents Julia Gillard's election campaign with his iPhone polaroid-style commentary.

Josh Gordon

The incredible shrinking Julia Gillard

Josh Gordon Since she took the leadership a month ago, the Prime Minister’s policy agenda has kept getting smaller, writes Josh Gordon.

Game on: Julia Gillard calls Federal election

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has left her Melbourne home and is believed to be heading to Canberra where she is expected to ask Governor-General Quentin Bryce for permission to call an election.

Michelle Grattan

Rudd's return casts a silent shadow

Michelle Grattan Former prime minister Kevin Rudd returns from the US and immediately turns into an irritant for Julia Gillard's campaign - without saying anything about politics.

Rudd forced to back down on Timor

Phillip Coorey One of Kevin Rudd's first tasks as Foreign Minister will be to negotiate with East Timor to establish a processing centre for asylum seekers there - a policy about which he had deep misgivings when...

'Number one' diplomat steps out with US

Rachel Browne An hour after being named Foreign Affairs Minister, Kevin Rudd strolled around Lake Burley Griffin with the US ambassador, Jeffrey Bleich.

Any good seating plan must always involve compromise

Josh Gordon Ministerial reshuffles are a bit like wedding seating plans. You only need to shift one person to a different table and it can upset a delicate balance.

Queen-makers rewarded as Gillard names new-look ministry

Josh Gordon JULIA Gillard has moved to stamp her authority on the Labor Party with an overhaul of her frontbench that will place Penny Wong in charge of the nation's finances and Peter Garrett in charge of...

After all the talking, the spoils go to...

The PM's new cabinet.

Rudd renews his foreign affair

Rachel Browne AN HOUR after being named Foreign Affairs Minister, Kevin Rudd took a stroll around Lake Burley Griffin with the US ambassador, Jeff Bleich.

That's my team: the PM unveils her playmakers

Josh Gordon JULIA GILLARD has moved to stamp her authority on the Labor Party with an overhaul of her frontbench that will put Penny Wong in charge of the nation's finances and Peter Garrett in charge of schools.

Pressure on to sink subs plan

Dan Oakes The new defence minister will come under pressure to scrap Australia's most expensive defence project - the plan to build 12 submarines.

Uniting the states of Tony

Katharine Murphy It was a defeat, but these are unusual times, so it was accompanied by a modest victory dance.

It's time to tackle prickly issues, if they dare

Michelle Grattan The tax issue is the nettle bush of politics. Unless handled with care, it stings painfully. Ask Kevin Rudd.

Ruling class

Michael Gordon She faces a fractious party, demanding independents and an emboldened opposition. Can Julia Gillard forge a new way of governing?

Rudd returns to the front line

Michelle Grattan and Katharine Murphy Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has clinched the consolation prize with Julia Gillard making him Foreign Minister in the reshuffle she is set to announce today.

Gillard hands Rudd foreign affairs post

Jacob Saulwick KEVIN RUDD will be named foreign affairs minister when Julia Gillard announces her new ministry today, a day after the independent MP, Robert Oakeshott, spurned the offer of a cabinet position.

Opposition harbours a secret death wish

Andrew Stevenson and Mark Davis IS THERE a bigger rat in the house than Mal Colston? That's the question set to bedevil Julia Gillard's nights and tantalise an ascendant opposition for the next three years.