MỤ THỦ TƯỚNG PHÙ THỦY ÚC CÓ THỂ MẤT CHỨC VÀO BUỔI HỌP DÂN BIỂU ĐẢNG LAO ĐỘNG vào 4.30 PM HÔM NAY 21-3-2013/- Mt68
UPDATE 2.35pm
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has defended herself and her government after Opposition Leader Tony Abbott called a motion of no confidence in her government.
"Day after day we have made the right decisions", Ms Gillard told parliament, "It is this government that has outlined a roadmap to [the] future of prosperity".
The Prime Minister has also pointed to her efforts on education reform, the National Disability Insurance Scheme and 'sharing the benefits of the mining boom', as reasons to retiain confidence in her government.
"We will fight and fight and fight the opposition leader's campaign to take hope away from the Australian people", she said.
2.10pm Tony Abbott has suspended standing orders in question time to move a motion of no confidence in the government.
"This is a government which has lost its way. Not a good government which has lost it's way - a very poor government which has lost its way", a confident looking Mr Abbott told parliament.
"For you party's good, you should go. You should go.", he said.
2pm: The Prime Minister has opened question time by confirming there will be a spill for the leadership of the federal parliamentary Labor party at 4.30pm AEDT this afternoon.
The PM concluded her opening remarks to question time by inviting the opposition to 'take its best shot'.
Simon Crean, the senior minister who instigated the leadership spill, is not present in question time, after the PM confirmed she had sacked him as a minister.
1.30pm: Senior Labor minister Simon Crean has asked the PM to call a leadership spill, and says Kevin Rudd has no option but to run.
Mr Crean has 'pulled the trigger' on leadership speculation, saying it needs to be sorted today, so the party can move on.
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"Something must be done to resolve the issue once and for all", Mr Crean said, confirming he would run for the deputy leadership of the party.
"Kevin Rudd has no option, in my view, other than to stand for the leadership", he said.
"I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't believe there was the mood and the need for change in the party", Mr Crean said when asked if Mr Rudd had the numbers to be successful.
Mr Crean said he did not expect the Prime Minister to agree to a spill, but urged caucus to use other mechanisms to force a vote.
Key independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott have repeatedly warned their support for the Labor government is dependent on Ms Gillard continuing as Prime Minister.
Earlier this week, Mr Windsor warned a change at the top could see Australians heading to an early poll.
Ms Gillard has faced months of damaging leadership speculation, with polls repeatedly showing the ALP would face a landslide election loss under her leadership.
Mr Rudd, who failed in a leadership bid in February last year, has repeatedly said he would not challenge for the Labor leadership, but left the door open to be drafted by his fellow MPs.
More to come.
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