The current party leader and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard made the declaration after Kevin Rudd decided not to challenge her.

 

　　Gillard was forced to throw her job open to a leadership ballot on Thursday.

 

　　Rudd, the former Prime Minister, said he didn't have enough support to challenge Gillard.

 

　　"The only circumstances under which I would consider a return to the leadership would be if there's an overwhelming majority of the parliamentary party requesting such a return drafting me to return. And the position was vacant. I am here to inform you that those circumstances do not exist."

 

　　This now means Gillard will be leading the Labor Party in to the general elections scheduled for September.