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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Australia PM Gillard calls leadership ballot | Australia PM Gillard calls leadership ballot |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has called a leadership ballot, in a bid to resolve who should lead the Labor party into September's election. | Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has called a leadership ballot, in a bid to resolve who should lead the Labor party into September's election. |
| A number of MPs want Kevin Rudd to take on the leadership. | A number of MPs want Kevin Rudd to take on the leadership. |
| Ms Gillard ousted Mr Rudd, then prime minister, in a 2010 ballot. | Ms Gillard ousted Mr Rudd, then prime minister, in a 2010 ballot. |
| Opinion polls, however, show he is far more popular with the public than Ms Gillard, who looks set to lose the forthcoming election to the Liberal Party's Tony Abbott. | Opinion polls, however, show he is far more popular with the public than Ms Gillard, who looks set to lose the forthcoming election to the Liberal Party's Tony Abbott. |
| There has been no word yet from Mr Rudd on his intentions. | There has been no word yet from Mr Rudd on his intentions. |
| Ms Gillard's move came after a senior Labor MP called on her to act, saying the leadership issue had to be resolved once and for all because it was "killing" the party. | Ms Gillard's move came after a senior Labor MP called on her to act, saying the leadership issue had to be resolved once and for all because it was "killing" the party. |
| "I have determined that there will be a ballot for the leadership at 16:30 (05:30 GMT) today. In the meantime, take your best shot," she told parliament. | "I have determined that there will be a ballot for the leadership at 16:30 (05:30 GMT) today. In the meantime, take your best shot," she told parliament. |
| The deputy party leader role will also be decided at the same time. | The deputy party leader role will also be decided at the same time. |
| A total of 100 lawmakers will take part in the ballot, with 51 votes needed to win. | |
| Hung parliament | Hung parliament |
| Mr Rudd did challenge Ms Gillard for the party leadership in February 2012, but lost by 31 votes to 71. | Mr Rudd did challenge Ms Gillard for the party leadership in February 2012, but lost by 31 votes to 71. |
| In recent weeks, however, local media reports have suggested he was closer to marshalling the numbers needed for victory. | In recent weeks, however, local media reports have suggested he was closer to marshalling the numbers needed for victory. |
| Ms Gillard became Australia's first female prime minister in June 2010, ousting Mr Rudd amid concerns over his environmental and taxation policies. | Ms Gillard became Australia's first female prime minister in June 2010, ousting Mr Rudd amid concerns over his environmental and taxation policies. |
| But many voters were angered by the move and the general election she subsequently called delivered a hung parliament. | But many voters were angered by the move and the general election she subsequently called delivered a hung parliament. |
| Ms Gillard then formed a government that relies on independents for a majority, but public support for her has remained low. | Ms Gillard then formed a government that relies on independents for a majority, but public support for her has remained low. |
| Mr Rudd, meanwhile, served as foreign minister in her cabinet until his failed challenge in 2012. | Mr Rudd, meanwhile, served as foreign minister in her cabinet until his failed challenge in 2012. |
| In recent weeks, speculation that his supporters could seek a leadership change ahead of the election had mounted. | In recent weeks, speculation that his supporters could seek a leadership change ahead of the election had mounted. |
| A change of leader could bring the polls forward if the support of the independents is removed. | A change of leader could bring the polls forward if the support of the independents is removed. |
| The general election is due to take place on 14 September. | The general election is due to take place on 14 September. |
| The leadership ballot takes place hours after Ms Gillard issued a historic apology to people affected by Australia's forced adoption policy between the 1950s and 1970s. | |
| Tens of thousands of babies of unmarried, mostly teenage mothers, were thought to have been taken by the state and given to childless married couples. |