But Mr Rudd’s return as Labor leader leaves serious questions about Australia’s immediate political future. Labor holds power in a hung parliament, so Mr Rudd’s leadership win does not automatically mean he will become prime minister. The matter may need to be decided by the Governor-General, Quentin Bryce; complicating the matter further, her daughter is married to a senior minister, Bill Shorten, who openly supported Mr Rudd’s leadership bid.  The change of leader will also lead to an overhaul of Labor’s cabinet, with several senior ministers pledging they would never again serve under Mr Rudd.  Ms Gillard, Australia’s first female prime minister, lost her party’s support after a long run of opinion polls showed Labor was facing a devastating defeat at the September election.  She said earlier today she called the leadership ballot to end the party’s ongoing and destructive instability.  Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard speaks in parliament in Canberra  “I am aware how debilitating this nonsense is for my political party, for my parliamentary colleagues” she said.  Mr Rudd said he wanted to return to the leadership to prevent an imminent “catastrophic defeat” for Labor. He said he was responding to strong community support and believed Mr Abbott would copy David Cameron’s austerity measures and ruin Australia’s economy.  “For the nation’s sake I believe it is time that this issue be resolved," he said.  “I believe with all my heart that I owe it to the Australian people to offer them a viable alternative.”  Ms Gillard’s defeat marks the end to a divisive period in Australian politics, which has been dominated by her tensions with Mr Rudd. It was affectively Mr Rudd’s third challenge for the leadership.  Ms Gillard has also endured bitter, sometimes callous personal attacks and has repeatedly blamed the attacks on the opposition leader, Tony Abbott, whom she has described as a sexist and a misogynist.  Mr Rudd pledged he would not take recriminations against Ms Gillard’s supporters. Ms Gillard said she would resign from parliament if she loses the leadership ballot.
Kevin Rudd has made a spectacular return to the Labor leadership in Australia   after a vengeful three-year battle to take back his old job from Julia   Gillard.