Kevin Rudd, Australia's former leader, has ousted Prime Minister Julia Gillard as Labor chief in a dramatic ballot, deposing the country's first female prime minister as the party fights for electoral survival.
The embattled Gillard - who announced she will quit politics in September - called the vote on Wednesday after a day of internal party manoeuvring in favour of her arch-rival and predecessor, whom she had deposed in 2010.
Rudd won the vote of Labor lawmakers 57 to 45 amid mounting unease in the party over an expected rout by Tony Abbott's conservative opposition at the national polls scheduled for September 14.
Gillard made a late-night visit to Governor General Quentin Bryce to offer her resignation and recommend Rudd be reinstated as prime minister, three years and two days after he was dumped by the party.