Prime Minister Julia Gillard's new ministry was sworn-in in Canberra this morning, but star recruit Bob Carr was not in the ministerial group photo at Government House.

The former NSW premier and soon-to-be foreign minister has to wait for a joint sitting of the NSW Parliament to approve his Senate spot before he can join his new colleagues.

New Foreign Minister Bob Carr will not be sworn in with his colleagues today. Credit:Andrew Meares

While the NSW Labor Party selects casual vacancies for the Senate, the Constitution requires that the appointments are approved by the NSW Parliament.

The Senate vacancy was created when Senator Mark Arbib resigned last week in the wake of the Labor leadership ballot.