Meet the Frontbenchers

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After demoralizing defeats under Kim Beazley and Mark Latham, Labor is hoping Kevin Rudd, the former diplomat from Queensland, can end its 11-year power drought. If he does, these are the faces Australians will be seeing a lot more of

Julia Gillard
"We are going to make sure people have a safety net."
Experience: Deputy Labor leader and shadow Industrial Relations minister since Dec. '06
One of Labor's strongest performers, Gillard would be Australia's first female Deputy P.M. Attacked as too close to unions, she managed to occupy middle ground in the important industrial-relations debate. She's been unflappable in the face of personal attacks, including a Liberal M.P.'s outburst that she was "deliberately barren."

Wayne Swan
"There does need to be an urgency about dealing with inflationary pressures."
Experience: Shadow Treasurer since 2004
Rudd confirmed the party's former numbers man as Treasury spokesman despite past tension between the two men. Like his leader, the former lecturer in public administration is from Queensland, a key Labor battleground. Swan plays tough and held his own against Peter Costello in their campaign debate. Rudd has confirmed Swan will be Treasurer if Labor wins.

Greg Combet
"We need as a nation to develop a new democratic consensus."
Experience: Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary
The modern face of Australian unionism has been an effective spearhead of the fight against the government's IR laws. Combet won the admiration of Labor's grassroots for his role in the 1998 docks dispute and in winning compensation for asbestosis sufferers from multinational James Hardie. He is making his political debut at this election, contesting a safe seat in New South Wales' Hunter Valley.

Bill Shorten
"We are a party of hope and innovation and change."
Experience: Australian Workers' Union national secretary
Widely touted as a future Labor leader, Shorten shot to national prominence as the public face of efforts to rescue two trapped miners in Tasmania last year. He's young, smart, articulate — and well-connected on both sides of politics: his wife is the daughter of former federal Liberal M.P. Julian Beale. Running for a safe Labor seat, he is destined for a ministry.

Lindsay Tanner
"Australia is one of the few countries in the world where academic is a term of derision."
Experience: Shadow Minister for Finance since 2005
Seen as one of Labor's thinkers, Tanner has published several books, most recently arguing that Australians are "losing our sense of connection with each other." The former trade union leader has received less attention than some of his colleagues but would make an interesting member of a Labor Cabinet. Rudd has confirmed he would be Finance Minister.

Peter Garrett
"Climate change is the greatest challenge we face."
Experience: Shadow Climate Change and Environment Minister; former Australian Conservation Foundation head and rock singer
A star Labor recruit in 2004, Garrett has disappointed with a series of campaign blunders that could cost him the ministry, but he'll retain appeal among young voters with his rock-star and green-crusader pedigree. Has been accused of going quiet on his convictions in an effort to tone down his radical image.