June 2013 Australian Labor Party leadership spill
A leadership spill in the Australian Labor Party, the party then forming the Government of Australia, took place on 26 June 2013 at 7:00pm AEST. Prime Minister Julia Gillard called a ballot for Leader and Deputy Leader of the Labor Party live on Sky News Australia at 4:00pm, following persistent leadership tensions. She stated that she would retire from politics if she lost the vote, while calling on any would-be challengers to pledge to do the same if they lost. In a press conference held shortly after Gillard's announcement, backbencher and former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that he would challenge Gillard, whilst also pledging to step down if he did not win the vote. At the ALP caucus meeting, Rudd was elected Leader of the Labor Party, with the caucus voting 57–45 in his favour.
Image: Kevin Rudd portrait
Image: Julia Gillard 2010
Image: Anthony Albanese
Image: Simon Crean (1)
Julia Eileen Gillard is an Australian former politician who served as the 27th prime minister of Australia from 2010 to 2013. She held office as leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), having previously served as the 13th deputy prime minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010, under Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. She is the first and only woman to hold either office in Australian history.
Official portrait, 2010
Gillard at her first press conference as Deputy Leader in 2006, alongside new Leader Kevin Rudd
Gillard meets with US Ambassador Jeff Bleich on 26 November 2009
Gillard being sworn in as prime minister by Quentin Bryce on 24 June 2010