Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan expressed elation on Thursday that former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd vowed to campaign for the Labor Party once he has recovered from his gall bladder surgery.

Mr Rudd said in an interview that he cannot just sit and watch the prospect of his party being trounced in the polls by the coalition, led by opposition head Tony Abbot.

The former Labor leader is recuperating in his Brisbane home following his discharge from the hospital on Monday and Mr Swan said that he had sent his former boss a note, adding that the support pledged by Mr Rudd is a welcome development for the party's quest in retaining government power.

Also, Health Minister Nicola Roxon is happy to know that the former prime minister was healthy enough to come and support the campaign of Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Mr Roxon told ABC that Mr Rudd's pledge of support for the party is not surprising as he may wish to ensure that "Mr Abbott is not allowed to do the damage that he wants to do on our health system and to the other parts of the country's economy.'

Mr Abbot and the Liberal party have been accused of supporting the advertising blitz against the federal government's proposal of requiring tobacco firms to sell cigarettes in plain packaging by 2012.

Workplace Minister Simon Crean added his voice on Labor's positive response to Mr Rudd's pledge of campaign support, telling ABC that the party welcomes the former leader's helping hand in fighting for the retention of a Labor government.

Mr Crean emphasised that a Labor party functioning as a unified team is a positive development for the campaign as he acknowledged that "Kevin Rudd has been a fantastic prime minister, a great local member and he will be a great member of the Gillard government."