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Julia Gillard wins Labor caucus ballot

Xinhua, February 27, 2012

• Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard won Labor caucus on Monday, defeating former PM and former foreign minister Kevin Rudd in a 71: 31 vote.

  Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard [File photo/Xinhua]

  Party returning Officer Chris Hayes announced the result to reporters after the ballot vote. The leadership was decided at a meeting of 102 caucus members in Canberra's Parliament House on Monday.

  One MP, Michelle Rowland, who recently gave birth, was absent from the meeting.

  Hayes said once the vote results were read out there was clapping and a certain amount of relief on the faces of members and senators. "They now see this news as the vehicle to move forward," Hayes said.

  He said Rudd told caucus after the vote he would support Gillard. "One of the major things he indicated at the conclusion of this ballot was he would be working for a unified Labor team," he said.

  Hayes said the voting process, which began after 10:10 a.m. local time and was announced around 11:20 a.m., took time because names had to be marked off by scrutineers.

  There was a round of applause for the prime minister, he said. Asked how Rudd was, Hayes replied "he seemed fine."

  Rudd resigned as foreign minister last Wednesday and announced he would challenge for the leadership after returning to Australia on Friday. Gillard, who ousted Rudd as prime minister in June 2010, had been expected to win with at least two thirds of the vote.

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