Former PM Kevin Rudd takes UN job

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Photo / Getty Images

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has accepted a part-time United Nations job that focuses on improving people's lives and protecting the environment.

The United Nations announced on Monday that Rudd, who was replaced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard in an internal Labor Party revolt in June, was appointed to a 21-member panel on global sustainability.

The panel will be tasked with finding ways to lift people out of poverty, tackling climate change, and ensuring economic development was environmentally friendly. It is co-chaired by Finland's President Tarja Halonen and South African President Jacob Zuma.

Gillard has promised Rudd a senior ministry in her government if her Labor Party wins a second three-year term at elections next week.

Rudd said in a statement that the panel would meet only once this year and twice next year.

He said his new unpaid UN role furthered his long-standing objective of reducing global carbon gas emissions and was consistent with his role as a lawmaker.

"Climate change is important and this is a way in which I can make a modest contribution to the future of acting globally and nationally on climate change," Rudd told reporters.

Australian opposition leader Tony Abbott said Tuesday Rudd's part-time UN job would interfere with his duties if Labor wins and he's given a ministry.

"Plainly he's going to be a part-time minister," Abbott told reporters. "It's just not good enough. Australians deserve a full-time government."

Gillard dismissed Abbott's criticism.

- AP