Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the man she ousted, Kevin Rudd, are contesting the leadership vote
The vote was due to begin at 19:00 local time (09:00 GMT) on Wednesday. Both contenders have committed to stepping down if they lose
Kevin Rudd would need the support of at least 52 of Labor's 102 MPs in order to oust Julia Gillard.
Julia Gillard said that this was the final opportunity for the issue to be resolved
"I have been in a contest with the leader of the opposition, but I've also been in a political contest with people from my own political party," she said.
"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."
"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."
Kevin Rudd said -
"For the nation's sake I believe it's time for this matter to be resolved," he said.
"I believe with all my heart that I owe it to the Australian people to offer them a viable alternative."
"If I lose, of course I would announce that I would not contest the next election and I thank Julia for making the same commitment."
Note
The Labor party has been divided by bitter in-fighting between supporters of Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd, and there has been sustained speculation over the leadership
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
Timeline: Julia Gillard
- Dec 2006: Appointed deputy leader of Labor Party
- Dec 2007: Sworn in as deputy prime minister to PM Kevin Rudd
- Jun 2010: Successfully challenges Mr Rudd for the leadership, becomes 27th prime minister of Australia
- Aug 2010: General election results in hung parliament; forms minority government with independents
- Feb 2012: Survives a leadership challenge by Mr Rudd
- Jan 2013: Sets general election date of 14 September 2013
- Mar 2013: Leadership ballot called but Mr Rudd does not contest
- June 2013: Calls another leadership ballot after Mr Rudd's supporters attempt to force a vote
The former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Wednesday June 25,2013 pulled off one of the most sensational political comebacks in this country’s history, ousting in a party vote the woman who replaced him as leader of the Labor Party in a 2010 party coup, Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Kevin Rudd won the Labor Party leadership ballot with 57 votes to Julia Gillard's 45
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