UPDATE: Rudd refused to contend. Gillard and Swan “won” uncontested. (The ALP loses.)
QLD State Liberal Premier Newman calls for a federal election. “‘The country cannot afford the waste of time; the paralysis we’ve seen.'”
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It’s on. Finally.
Leadership ballot called for Labor Party at 4.30pm today.
[Skynews] The Prime Minister Julia Gillard has called a caucus meeting for 4.30pm (AEDT) to allow a ballot for the leadership of the Labor Party to be held.
Ms Gillard made the announcement at the start of question time in the lower house on Thursday – the last parliamentary sitting day before the May 14 budget.
‘For the information of the house, I have determined there will be a ballot for the leadership and the deputy leadership of the Labor party at 4.30pm today.
…
Question Time has begun and Mr Abbott has called for a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister.Mr Abbott then called for a suspension of standing orders in parliament to debate a motion of no confidence in Ms Gillard.‘(This is) an incompetent and chaotic government which just gets worse and worse with each passing day, let alone each passing day,’ he said.
At one stage, Mr Abbott pointed to Ms Gillard across the dispatch boxes and said: ‘You should go.’
Earlier, Mr Crean said he was convinced Mr Rudd, who has previously be criticised as being a too controlling prime minister, was changed.
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Mr Crean plans to stand for deputy leader.
He said he would back Kevin Rudd.