2012 Australian Labor Party leadership spill

2012 Australian Labor Party leadership spill

27 February 2012
 
Candidate Julia Gillard Kevin Rudd
Caucus vote 71 31
Percentage 69.6% 30.4%
Seat Lalor (VIC) Griffith (QLD)
Faction Left Right

Leader before election

Julia Gillard

Elected Leader

Julia Gillard

A leadership spill in the Australian Labor Party, the party of government in the Parliament of Australia, was held on 27 February 2012 at 10 am AEDT, followed by a ballot. The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, announced the spill at a press conference on 23 February 2012, following the resignation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kevin Rudd, from his cabinet position after months of speculation that he intended to challenge Gillard for the leadership. Rudd announced his intention to seek the leadership at a press conference on 24 February.

At the leadership ballot, Gillard won by a vote of 71 to 31.