Bill Shorten's mother Ann was an inspiration for his latest portfolio Bill Shorten and his mum, Ann Shorten. Picture: Gough Tony Source: The Sunday Telegraph Bill Shorten and Kevin Rudd during a division in the House of Representatives Chamber. Picture: Smith Kym Source: The Sunday Telegraph Bill Shorten speaks to the media prior to the ballot at Parliament House on June 26, 2013. Picture: Images Getty Source: Getty Images Bill Shorten will support Kevin Rudd in the leadership spill. BILL Shorten' s mum Ann raised two young twin boys while completing a PhD in education and has some solid advice for parents. Look, they are wet at one end and dry at the other. They can scream their heads off and all they are doing is exercising their lungs," she explains. Bill Shorten credits his mother's no-nonsense approach to life and impressive educational achievements as an inspiration in his new portfolio as federal education minister. Mr Shorten, who is trying to negotiate to ensure Victoria, Queensland and WA sign on to the Better Schools reform agenda, said his mother's life was an inspiration. "Mum's a giant influence on who I am and the value of education," he said. She's taught me that teaching shouldn't be denigrated; that we ask a lot of teachers and they give a lot back. Ann taught overseas as a young woman before returning to Australia to have children in her 30s - late by the conventions of the era - and undertake a PhD thesis. She later studied law at Monash University when Bill and his twin Rob attended university.