THIS POST IS BEING UPDATED LIVE. REFRESH FOR UPDATES.
5.41pm: Wayne Swan has chimed in on Twitter:
.@JuliaGillard is the toughest person I know – she’s a remarkable PM who I know will beat Tony Abbott on Sept 14
— Wayne Swan (@SwannyDPM) June 26, 2013
5.27pm: Via Leslie Nassar on Twitter, this chart of tweets with the hashtag #spill:
Why so excited, Twitter? #Spillpic.twitter.com/UlDJc1qjix
— Leslie (@leslienassar) June 26, 2013
5.17pm: The economy, stupid. Rudd’s key policy argument at his press conference it that it’s time for “strong, proven economic leadership”.
He says an Abbott-led government would “copy the British conservatives”, by launching an austerity drive that led to a double-dip recession.
He pointed to the need for careful management of the structural shifts in the economy with the end of the resources boom.
Rudd also says he would commit to not contesting the next election.
“I’m doing what I honestly believe what is in the best interests of Australia,” he said.
5.13pm: RUDD WILL STAND. He says that it’s not just at the urging of his parliamentary colleagues, but at the urging of voters on the streets.
He says the party is “on course for a catastrophic defeat”.
He says the last time Mr Abbott’s party had full control of the parliament they introduced Work Choices, and that “people are afraid, they are very afraid, that they will try to do it again.”
5.11pm: Via Tom Steinfort of Nine News on Twitter:
Live shot of all newsrooms across Australia right now pic.twitter.com/n3EWVn3KHy
— Tom Steinfort (@tomsteinfort) June 26, 2013
5.09pm: Sky News reports Kevin Rudd will commit to resigning if he loses the ballot tonight.
5.05pm: Right now, there’s no consensus on who will win any leadership ballot and this leaves potential ongoing chaos if Gillard survives with a close vote. Gillard has already been forced to sack or marginalise supporters of Rudd but if she clings on tonight, she would be leading a shell of a leadership team into the election – a campaigning gift to the opposition.
4.49pm: Actual business of parliament was conducted today, with the federal government striking a deal with crossbench MPs on its 457 visa reforms. The vote of independent Tony Windsor, who along with Rob Oakeshott today announced his intention to retire from politics, was critical in carrying the vote.
The new laws will force companies to do local labour market testing for suitable candidates before being able to apply for hiring foreign workers under 457s.
4.47pm: On Twitter, Simon Benson of The Daily Telegraph says Rudd will declare:
Rudd will announce he will be a candidate @dailytelegraph
— simon benson (@simonbenson) June 26, 2013
4.43pm: Rudd will give a statement at 5pm. It will be his moment to make his decision on the advice of former Tony Blair spin doctor Alastair Campbell, who has said he should “piss or get off the pot”.
4.27pm: It will all be settled in less than three hours.
Julia Gillard has said she will retire from politics if she loses tonight’s leadership ballot, which she’s called for 7pm eastern time.
In a sudden and dramatic escalation of the Labor’s leadership tensions, the Australian Prime Minister has called on a meeting of her parliamentary party to settle the issue. It has been simmering for the past 10 days.
On Sky News she said the candidates needed to declare for office and said the conditions should be: “If you win, you’re Labor leader. If you lose, you’ll retire from politics.”
Rudd has yet to declare whether he will stand, but his supporters claim he will be a candidate.
Gillard said in the interview with David Speers that she hadn’t confirmed the existence of a petition to call a special meeting of the Labor caucus that would allow for a debate the leadership.
More on this story as it unfolds…
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