Prime Minister Julia Gillard has called a Labor leadership spill for this coming Monday, with former Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd set to arrive back from the G20 meeting over the weekend to pursue the challenge.

 

Ms Gillard confirmed the time for 10:00am on Monday, announcing the leadership spill at an Adelaide press conference, pledging to renounce any claims to Labor leadership in the event of her defeat.

 

"I ask him to give the same undertaking - that if he does not win this ballot that he will go to the backbench and renounce any further claims to the leadership and act in the interests of the Australian Labor Party and of our nation,” Ms Gillard said at the press release.

 

The announcement by Ms Gillard comes after Mr Rudd’s surprise resignation from his post of Foreign Affairs Minister overnight in America.

 

"Overnight I had many conversations with members of caucus and I must say I am pleased and encouraged by the support I have received," Mr Rudd said.

 

"They regard me as the best prospect to lead the Australian Labor Party successfully to the next elections, to save the Australian Labor Party at those elections, and to save the country from the ravages of an Abbott government."