Fed: McKew "exhilarated" to be part of government

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2007
Fed: McKew "exhilarated" to be part of government

CANBERRA, Dec 3 AAP - Labor's star recruit Maxine McKew says it is "exhilarating" to
be part of the new Rudd government.

Ms McKew has been sworn in as parliamentary secretary to the prime minister and cabinet
with special responsibility for early childhood education and child care.

"It's wonderful to be joining the national parliament at a time when there is a new
government, a new prime minster and an invigorating fresh agenda for change," Ms McKew
said as she passed through the ministerial entrance of Parliament House today.

Ms McKew, who ousted former prime minister John Howard from his northern-Sydney seat
of Bennelong, said she already had homework.

"I've got the early childhood area and early childhood learning and childcare and that's
at the centre of Kevin's education revolution," she said.

"There's a huge number of things there, a lot of election commitments about the provision
of 15 hours a week for every four-year-old in the country and 260 new childcare centres.

"It's a big area, I've got one huge briefing document here and I am about to get more."

Ms McKew claimed victory in Bennelong on Saturday after deciding not to wait for Mr
Howard to concede defeat.

"I'm not waiting for that no," she said.

Mr Howard, who represented the electorate for his entire 33 year-parliamentary career,
has become the second prime minister - after Stanley Bruce in 1929 - to lose his seat
at a general election.

AAP sld/rl/maur/bwl

KEYWORD: LABOR MCKEW

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.