Labour in turmoil in Australia;
Julia Gillard, the Australian prime minister, has thrown open her job to challenge by Kevin Rudd after senior figures of her Labor party called for the man she deposed to come back and replace her.
A combative Gillard said in parliamentary question time that a leadership ballot, known as a spill in Australian politics, would be held on Thursday afternoon. Gillard batted away taunts from the opposition leader, Tony Abbott, who called for a vote of no confidence in the House of Representatives. The prime minister opened question time by challenging the opposition to “take your best shot”.
Caucus going to drag Gillard out of office by her feet. Claw marks in the carpet.
— grace collier (@MsGraceCollier) March 21, 2013
She’s called a leadership ballot for 4:30pm (12:30 am EDT). Tim Blair has the blow by blow. (link fixed)


