June 2013 Australian Labor Party leadership spill

June 2013 Australian Labor Party leadership spill

← March 2013 26 June 2013 (2013-06-26) October 2013 →

Leadership election

Candidate Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard Caucus vote 57 45 Percentage 55.9% 44.1% Seat Griffith (QLD) Lalor (VIC) Faction Right Left

Leader before election Julia Gillard Elected Leader Kevin Rudd

Deputy leadership election

Candidate Anthony Albanese Simon Crean Caucus vote 61 38 Percentage 61.6% 38.4% Seat Grayndler (NSW) Hotham (VIC) Faction Left Right

Deputy Leader before election Wayne Swan Elected Deputy Leader Anthony Albanese

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.^[1] 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.^[1][2] 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.^[3][4] At the ALP caucus meeting, Rudd was elected Leader of the Labor Party, with the caucus voting 57–45 in his favour.

Following new leadership election reforms which introduced 50:50 weightage for the party membership and caucus in leadership votes subsequently implemented by Rudd, this marked the last time that the Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party was elected solely by the caucus.