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Superman Kev
By the end of 2011 the government, still popular after a year of turbulence, was still showing strongly in the polls. The threat presented by Gillard was minimal, as many of her colleagues within the government were now on the backbenches. Kevin Rudd continued to stress the need for a comprehensive government program to reduce emissions. In February 2012, he also promoted the implementation of same-sex marriage legislation. Thereafter, two bills were presented to the house on the issue that same month, while he was aware of the opposition within the Senate, he continued to support it regarding it as "well overdue."

With the support of Chris Bowen, and after consulting cabinet, he also announced his plans to reduce personal income taxes for the middle and lower brackets, designed to help parents who were struggling. Rudd, also delivered a national apology for the forced adoptions of Aborigines, something that was very much close to his heart. He thereafter pledged $7 million dollars for specialists whose job was to track down family connections. He also took a personal interest in education, with the implementation of the YourKids website, designed to help parents track the progress of their children, and while it had numerous technical difficulties, was instantly popular.

On the foreign front he supported the policy of containing the nuclear ambitions of North Korea. However, he was critical of intervention in Libya. Warning of the consequences of preemptive actions. He also sought to foster close relations with the American President, Mitt Romney. While making approaches to China frequently and engaging with Beijing. This attracted criticism from some media outlets, for his departure from total reliance on ANZUS for Australia's defence requirements. China also outstripped the United Kingdom as the largest source of immigrants.

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Prime Minister Kevin Rudd with the Vice President of China, Xi Jinping.

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