Rudd won 57 votes and Gillard 45, meaning the former Australian prime minister would lead Labor once again.
Julia Gillard is believed to considering quiting politics after losing the vote.
Gillard heading into the vote
Simon Benson of Australia’s Daily Telegraph tweeted to say Rudd is “likely to call an August poll”.
Early reports from Lani Scarr and The Daily Telegraph claimed that the Gillard camp believed they’d lost the spill proved correct.
Labor Bill Shorten who is believed to have been a key figure in today’s events.
Labor minister for financial services, Bill Shorten, said: “I believe that Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party is a once in a generation risk to Australia’s future and would take the nation backwards.
“I have carefully considered my position, and have come to the view that Labor stands the best chance of continuing to deliver nation changing reforms under the leadership of Kevin Rudd.”
News.com.au was accused of jumping the gun with the headline: Rudd wins, Gillard to quit, before changing it to: Rudd has numbers to win.
The vote came after dire polling figures showed Gillard trailing Liberal leader Tony Abbott.
The spill clashed with one of Australia’s biggest sporting events, State of Origin, meaning that many Australians may still be unaware that their country has a new leader.
Image via Getty
