strongly criticised the Howard government over its support for the United States in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and subsequent operations there, while maintaining Labor's position of support for the Australian-American alliance
3rd Dec Australia's new government formed by the Australian Labor Party fully supports the protocol and PrimeMinister Kevin Rudd signs the instrument of ratification immediately after assuming office
3rd Dec Rudd is sworn in as PrimeMinister by Governor-General Michael Jeffery, unlike Labor predecessors, Rudd does not swear allegiance to the Queen of Australia directly but promises to "well and truly serve the Commonwealth of Australia and her people"
