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Australia PM Julia Gillard calls leadership ballot Australia PM Julia Gillard calls leadership ballot
(35 minutes later)
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has called a Labor party leadership ballot, after supporters of rival Kevin Rudd sought to force a vote.Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has called a Labor party leadership ballot, after supporters of rival Kevin Rudd sought to force a vote.
The vote will take place on Wednesday evening. It is not yet clear whether Mr Rudd will put himself forward. Mr Rudd has confirmed that he will put himself forward for the vote, which will take place on Wednesday evening.
The move comes ahead of a 14 September election which Labor looks set to lose.The move comes ahead of a 14 September election which Labor looks set to lose.
Ms Gillard said she would leave politics if she lost the vote and called on any challenger to do the same.Ms Gillard said she would leave politics if she lost the vote and called on any challenger to do the same.
Ms Gillard toppled Mr Rudd in a leadership challenge in 2010, but he remains more popular with voters, and there has been sustained discussion about the Labor party leadership in recent weeks.Ms Gillard toppled Mr Rudd in a leadership challenge in 2010, but he remains more popular with voters, and there has been sustained discussion about the Labor party leadership in recent weeks.
Ms Gillard said this was the final opportunity for the leadership issue to be resolved. 'This is it'
Julia Gillard's call came hours after news surfaced that Kevin Rudd's supporters were circulating a petition calling for a caucus meeting to vote on the party leadership.
Ms Gillard said that this was the final opportunity for the leadership issue to be resolved.
"We cannot have the government or the Labor Party go to the next election with a person leading the Labor Party and a person floating around as the potential alternate leader," she said.
"Anybody who enters the ballot tonight should do it on the following conditions: that if you win you're Labor leader, that if you lose you retire from politics."
"This is it, tonight is the night," she said. "I wouldn't be putting myself forward unless I had a degree of confidence.""This is it, tonight is the night," she said. "I wouldn't be putting myself forward unless I had a degree of confidence."
The ballot will take place at 19:00 local time (09:00 GMT). Shortly afterwards, Mr Rudd told reporters that he intended to run. "For the nation's sake I believe it's time for this matter to be resolved," he said.
Mr Rudd would need at least 52 votes to oust Ms Gillard. However, he has not confirmed whether he will stand. The ballot will take place at 19:00 local time (09:00 GMT). Mr Rudd would need at least 52 votes to oust Ms Gillard.
He declined to contest a leadership vote in March and said afterwards that there were "no circumstances" under which he would seek the top job. In March Mr Rudd declined to contest a leadership vote and said afterwards that there were "no circumstances" under which he would seek the top job.
Nonetheless speculation that he could return has persisted. Nonetheless speculation that he could return had persisted amid polling showing he could deliver a better outcome for Labor in the election.
Tony Abbott leads the opposition coalition, which polls suggest is currently on course for a convincing win.
Earlier on Wednesday, Tony Abbott challenged Ms Gillard to bring forward the election date to 3 August, and said that "paralysis" was gripping the government.