Rudd believes in evolution

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, a regular Anglican church attendee, has admitted that he believes in evolution - and always has.

In an interview today, Mr Rudd was asked about his view on evolution.

It followed a challenge from Opposition leader Tony Abbott, who had been asked his views on evolution, to quiz the PM on his own beliefs.

But the PM was clear and to the point in view on the origin of man.

"I have always believed in evolution. The reason is it's an empirical science," he told Channel Nine.

"It's been established. It has been, therefore, fundamental to the great innovations in science and technology for the last two hundred years since Darwin was around. And that's my view - always has been."

In mid-2008, responding to a blog on his website, Mr Abbott said evolution was a more plausible explanation for the origin of humans than Genesis.

"I don't say that evolution is a complete and entirely satisfactory scientific explanation of the origin of man. Still, I think it's more plausible than treating the Adam and Eve story as literal truth (if that's what creationists say)," he wrote.