Julia Gillard says Australia's successful bid for a seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council is a tribute to the country's international reputation, praising Kevin Rudd's "foresight" for launching the campaign.

Australia received 140 votes in the first round of the ballot at UN headquarters in New York overnight, giving it a comfortable win over competitors Luxembourg and Finland.

It will take up a seat at the UN's top governing body in January for a period of two years.

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The Prime Minister this morning visited the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) headquarters in Canberra to thank staff for their work on the campaign.

"It's been 27 years since we served on the Security Council," Ms Gillard told staff.

"We are a nation that is a substantial contributor to the UN, and so it was more than time for us to return to the Security Council and to play a role over the next two years in shaping events that are truly important to our nation."

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd with UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon in 2008. ( Chip East : Reuters )

Australia's bid for the temporary seat was launched by Mr Rudd in 2008 during his time as prime minister.

He continued the campaign as foreign affairs minister.

This morning, he released a statement thanking Australia's diplomatic staff for their work and described the result as a "credit to the country".

He also thanked the international community for placing their confidence in Australia to uphold the goals and ideals of the UN.

Ms Gillard paid tribute to Mr Rudd's efforts while addressing DFAT staff.

"I would like to thank, in order, firstly Kevin Rudd for having the foresight as prime minister to put our name forward and to commence the bid process and then to pursue it so energetically as minister for foreign affairs."

She also thanked Stephen Smith, who also held the title of foreign affairs minister during the campaign, current Foreign Minister Bob Carr, Trade Minister Craig Emerson and Parliamentary Secretary Richard Marles.

"The fact that we came through is not only a tribute to Australian diplomacy, it's a tribute to Australia's reputation around the world," Ms Gillard said

"That reputation is built by the activities of our diplomats.

"It's also built by the work of our Australian defence force as we do such difficult missions overseas.

"It's built by the work of our aid workers as they go into some of the poorest and hardest places on Earth to make a difference to people in real poverty."

Key priorities

The Government has identified its key priorities for the new role, including dealing with the continuing conflicts in Afghanistan and Syria, as well as monitoring the situation in Iran and North Korea.

It also wants to ensure the effectiveness of the Security Council's sanctions regime.

"We will take an Australian voice, an Australian accent into the Security Council," Ms Gillard said.

"And in our Australian voice, we will say the same things in the Security Council that we have said beyond it.

What is the UN Security Council?

The Security Council was set up in 1946 and is based at UN headquarters in New York City.

The Security Council was set up in 1946 and is based at UN headquarters in New York City. Its job is to maintain international peace and security and it has the powers to set up peacekeeping operations; implement sanctions; and authorise military action.

Its job is to maintain international peace and security and it has the powers to set up peacekeeping operations; implement sanctions; and authorise military action. The five permanent members are the victors of World War II: China; France; Russia; United Kingdom; United States.

The five permanent members are the victors of World War II: China; France; Russia; United Kingdom; United States. The permanent members have the power to veto resolutions.

The permanent members have the power to veto resolutions. There are also 10 non-permanent members serving two-year terms.

There are also 10 non-permanent members serving two-year terms. They are currently Colombia; Germany; India; Portugal; South Africa (all serving terms to the end of this year): and Azerbaijan; Guatemala; Morocco; Pakistan; Togo (to the end of 2013).

"We do believe that there needs to be action to address the violence in Syria, and so we will certainly advocate for that."

Ms Gillard rejected suggestions the new role could put Australia in the position where it had to decide between China and the United States, both of which are permanent members of the council, describing that analysis as "infantile".

Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey said one of the "most obvious" benefits of winning a seat on the council was the potential for stopping asylum seeker boats from trying to make it to Australia.

"I, like everyone else, welcome Australia getting a seat for the fifth time on the UN Security Council," he told reporters in Sydney.

"Maybe now the United Nations will help us stop the boats."

Asked whether he thought the $25 million cost of the campaign was worth it, he replied: "If the United Nations helps us to stop the boats, then it's a worthy investment.

"If Julia Gillard turns it into the equivalent of winning the football World Cup, then it's a bit overblown given that we've been on it on four previous occasions."

Costly campaign

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott welcomed the result, although he again questioned the expense of the campaign.

"It's just a two-year term that we won today at the cost of many, many tens of millions of dollars and some dislocation of our ordinary diplomatic efforts," he told Channel Nine.

"But it is two years we've got now at this top table, let's hope we can make the most of it."

Ms Gillard responded, saying: "I think it is disappointing that the Opposition today hasn't had the generosity of spirit to say that this is a great day for Australia, (because) it is."

Speaking from New York, Senator Carr said the expense would have been worth it even if Australia lost.

"It brought diplomats at the UN, over 100 UN ambassadors to Australia who saw our multiculturalism, the sophistication and competitiveness of our economy and the impressive style of Australian cities and (they) had a different image of our country as a result," he said.

"It forced us to intensify our diplomacy with, for example, Africa."

Four other countries were elected with Australia to join the Security Council - Argentina, Rwanda, Luxembourg and South Korea.