McKew joins Rudd's team

RESPECTED former ABC presenter Maxine McKew has found her answer to what she recently described as a "late-ish mid-life crisis". She is joining Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd's campaign team.

Ms McKew, 53, who left the ABC and her long broadcasting career late last year saying she had not decided what she would do with the next stage of her life, will be special adviser on strategy. Announcing her appointment, Mr Rudd said she would be responsible for "drawing on the expertise of a wide cross-section of business, academic and non-government organisations — to secure their input into Labor's policies and ideas for the year ahead".

Ms McKew will be employed as a consultant. Mr Rudd's office would not disclose her salary but said it would be paid by the ALP. Ms McKew says it is modest by television standards.

She told The Age she had got a couple of calls in January and the deal was sealed on Friday. She and Mr Rudd sat on his Brisbane veranda that night talking over many cups of tea.