Chocolate koalas seal the deal at UN

Bob Carr has said the opposition should embrace Australia's win of a seat on the UN Security Council.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has thanked Kevin Rudd for his role in Australia's successful bid for a seat on the UN Security Council.

Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr casts his ballot during the vote for five countries to become non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for the years 2013-2014. Picture: Stan Honda/AFP Source: AFP

A KOALA chocolate bar, a tin of mints and a book promoting our achievements spearheaded last-minute vote-wooing yesterday before Australia won a coveted seat on the United Nations Security Council for the first time in 27 years.

In a win that even prompted Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd to laud each other's efforts, Australia blitzed rivals Finland and Luxembourg in the first round of voting to secure one of 15 seats at the centre of global security diplomacy.

In New York for the vote at UN Headquarters, Foreign Minister Bob Carr said he wanted to use the two-year tenure to focus on extolling Australia values and pushing nuclear non-proliferation safeguards, fighting global terror and securing countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, Iran and North Korea.

"It's always good to see Australia win,'' he said. "This was a big, juicy, decisive win, and it's very, very sweet.''

The Opposition welcomed but downplayed the success, criticising the $24 million cost and claiming Labor did not have a clear plan to use the seat from January 1.

Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey suggested it was not as historic as winning the soccer World Cup because Australia had already held a seat four times previously.

In line with UN tradition, Australia's last-minute gift bags to the 193 permanent UN voting members were challenged by its Western Europe & Others group rivals Finland (dried blueberries) and Luxembourg (small wooden models).

Foreign Minister Bob Carr smiles broadly after the announcement that Australia had won a place on the United Nations Security Council. Source: Supplied

Australian insiders expected favourite Finland to win the first round and to contest a second-round battle with Luxembourg in a run-off vote.

But, relying heavily on African, Caribbean and Pacific Island nations for support, Australia ended up scoring 140 votes to secure one of the two non-veto power seats in the first round, mitigating controversey over the bid cost.

In the next round of voting, Luxembourg defeated Finland by 131 to 60 votes.

The Prime Minister initially did not thank Mr Rudd in her statement but later glowlingly ackowledged his "foresight'' in kickstarting the process when he was PM in 2008 while she visited DFAT in Canberra.

"What it shows is that our reputation is high. It also shows that our bilateral relationships are in good repair,'' Ms Gillard said.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard addressing DFAT staff at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade building in Canberra this morning. Picture: Smith Kym Source: News Limited

A spokesman for Mr Rudd said he congratulated Ms Gillard and Senator Carr and the Australian diplomatic community.

"Mr Rudd said it was a credit to the country,'' the spokesman said.

The Greens also welcomed the win but called for a focus on global warming, controlling weapons and reviewing the recent budget decision to defer foreign aid spending.

Australia's UN Ambassador to the United Nations, Gary Quinlan, will takeover the seat as part of expanded duties.

What the decision means

*The United Nations Security Council maintains international peace and security. It establishes peacekeeping operations, passes international sanctions, and authorises military action through resolutions.
*From January 1, Australia will be at the centre of international decision-making on global security challenges in hot spots such as Syria, Afghanistan and North Korea.
*Australia will also work to ensure the effectiveness of sanctions, including those targeting individuals terrorist groups such as al-Qa'ida.
*It will also manage 130,000 police and troops in trouble spots, and try to influence critical decisions on military and humanitarian interventions across the world.
*Australian spent $24 million directly on the bid but it also increased aid spending by $3 billion in Africa, the Caribbean, South East Asia and the Pacific since the bid began.
*Bid launched in 2008 by former prime minister Kevin Rudd.
*Australia has served four previous terms on the council: 1946-7, 1956-7, 1973-4, 1985-6.

What are the benefits for Australia?

Being a member of the UN Security Council gives Australia a voice at the table on many big international debates. It also cements our position as one of the worlds leading middle powers diplomatically as well as economically. Australia hopes this voice will also help open doors for us to be heard on an array of other issues.
But the big but is whether the council seat is worth the cost.

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