After Friday's announcement by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard of her third cabinet reshuffle in 18 months, all eyes are on her appointee to replace resigned Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd.

The focus on incoming Foreign Minister Bob Carr is not just because he will take over the position vacated by the Labor MP who challenged the Ms Gillard for the top Australian Labor Party post, but due to the different route he will take in handling a cabinet post sans election.

However, Mr Carr is prepared for his new role since he is the longest serving premier of New South Wales. He also counts former U.S. Foreign Secretary Henry Kissinger among his best friends.

Ahead of his officially assuming the post, Mr Carr said he would lean on an activist foreign policy for Australia, including a bid for the country to gain a seat in the United Nations Security Council. He explained that he shared the view of his predecessor on Australia's qualification for a council seat because of the country's experience in Afghanistan and Timor.

"We have something to contribute, we punch about our weight. It's legitimate that we do that. All Australians would take pride in their country contributing more on the world stage, and that does come at a price in time and money," he told The Sunday Age.

Although he has aired his views on foreign policies in the past which he blogged, Mr Carr said as incoming foreign minister he would set aside his personal views and adapt the official government view. He was previously critical of the U.S. insecurity over the rise of China and China's own securities about the U.S.

On Sunday, Mr Carr acknowledged that both strategic relationships with the U.S. and China are vital for Australia's long-term interest. In the case of China, he said the Asian giant is a large and growing part of Australia's economic future and prosperity since it could translate into jobs and incomes for Australian households.

"I am confident that both America and China will recognise their interdependence - the prosperity of one depends on the other and the prosperity of one depends on the security of the other," Mr Carr said.

Foreign policy observers said the appointment of Mr Carr would likely lead to a cut in the number of diplomatic posts in Africa while Australia would likely increase its presence in China, India and the Gulf. Australia only has eight embassies and two consulates in Africa, while the U.S. has 47 missions and China has 41.

Except for Mr Carr, the other new appointees of Ms Gillard to the cabinet were sworn in by Governor General Quentin Bryce in Canberra on Monday morning. The swearing in ceremony for Mr Carr is expected to take place later this week after his official endorsement from the NSW Parliament for the Senate seat vacated by Mark Arbib.

After he officially replaces Mr Arbib, Mr Carr becomes an MP and qualifies for a cabinet appointment. In a run-up to his assuming the post, Mr Carr said he would meet with former Australian Prime Ministers Paul Keating and John Howard, as well as major national politicians including Alexander Downer, Gareth Evans, Stephen Smith and Mr Rudd.

As former NSW premier Mr Carr was given entitlements which he would forego once he becomes foreign minister. It includes expenses in excess of $400,000 a year for his Sydney office and a chauffeured car. He said he will hire a QC to ensure he does not break entitlement rules.

As a foreign minister, he would have an annual pay of $243,070, be assigned a Commonwealth car and be entitled to business and first-class plane trips around the world. Mr Carr resigned over the weekend from his private work such as a consultancy for Macquarie Bank and the board of Dymocks.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell indicated the state parliament would likely hold a joint session as early as Tuesday to confirm Mr Carr's appointment as senator. Although the current premier was once Mr Carr's opponent, Mr O'Farrell said that his predecessor had the depth of knowledge needed for the foreign affairs portfolio.

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