4:16pm: Another day, another wrap. Let's look back at another extraordinary day. Kevin Rudd has declared there are no circumstances under which he will return to the leadership of the Labor Party; Prime Minister Julia Gillard has declared the leadership battle is "over"; But it has had significant casualties - Kim Carr, Martin Ferguson, Chris Bowen, Joel Fitzgibbon, Ed Husic, Janelle Saffin, Richard Marles and Simon Crean - either stood down or were sacked; This means the ministerial reshuffle - expected next week - will be significant. Next stops - the budget on May 14 and the election on September 14. Thanks again to everyone's interest and contributions. As usual, Andrew Meares and Alex Ellinghausen make this blog come alive.See you soon. 3:32pm: Mr Rudd: "The key thing is the values for which we stand as a movement....We stand for a strong Australia, a fair Australia." And with that, he had to "zip." Yes, he did end with that. 3:25pm: Mr Rudd: "Now for the future. It's time for the Australian Labor Party to unite under Prime Minister Julia Gillard. It is time for us to confront a threat to Australia's future - Tony Abbott. For myself, the Prime Minister Julia Gillard has my 100 per cent support. There are no circumstances under which I will return to the leadership of the Australian Labor Party. Mr Rudd says he will contest the next election. 3:21pm: Mr Rudd is also paying tribute to Martin Ferguson, Kim Carr and Richard Marles. Joel Fitzgibbon has demonstrated "extraordinay pastoral care" for MPs across political parties, he says. He has kind words for Ed Husic and Janelle Saffin. 3:17pm: Mr Rudd says "there is no point in inheriting a disunited party." Following Mr Crean's surprise statement it became clear there was no significant majority, in fact there was no majority at all. The notion of a draft was not in reality there. Mr Rudd says it would have "split the party down the middle" had he run. 3:16pm: Kevin Rudd: "In political life we live by our word, we live by whether we honour our word." Mr Rudd says since last February's ballot he has repeatedly said he would not challenge. I believe in honouring my word. Had he done otherwise, he says, he would have been "quite rightly attacked" for a loss of credibility. 3:07pm: The Prime Minister has put out a statement regarding the resignation of Mr Ferguson. It is very similar to the one she made for Mr Bowen. Ms Gillard thanked Mr Ferguson for his work and noted that his decision was "honourable." 3:05pm: Senator Carr says he won't make an estimate of how the vote would have gone other than to say it was very close. He refuses to say anything of the comments of the other Senator Carr - the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bob Carr - other than to say "very little in this business surprises me." And that's it for Senator Kim Carr. Kim Carr resigns from the ministry during a press conference in Canberra Photo: Andrew Meares 2:59pm: Senator Carr says "27 polls in a row" showed Labor was behind. It doesn't take a "great scholar" to work out Labor is in trouble, he says. Kim Carr speaks to the media at a press conference at Parliament House Photo: Alex Ellinghausen 2:53pm: Senator Carr says he understands why the public is interested in the "funny, little ways" of the Labor Party. I have got a right and an obligation to do the right thing by Labor. He predicts there will be a Royal Commission into unions if Tony Abbott is elected prime minister. Kim Carr resigns from the ministry during a press conference Photo: Andrew Meares 2:49pm: Senator Carr says he advised Mr Rudd not to run. The numbers were very, very close. Don't listen to the nonsense being spoken to the contrary. The fact is there was not a majority there. Simon Crean did a very courageous thing but no one followed it. The worst result for Labor was for there to be a narrow loss for Kevin. It would have been the worst of all possible circumstances for all of us. 2:47pm: Senator Carr: "It is my fervent hope that Labor can revive itself and its fortunes." When there is a strong Labor Party there is a strong Australia. I never write the Labor Party off, never, but I solemnly believed that Kevin offered the best opportunity. Kim Carr speaks to the media at a press conference Photo: Alex Ellinghausen 2:43pm: Kim Carr is also resigning: "I want to make it perfectly clear that I have not made this decision lightly." In the past 13 months it has been a privilege to lead the 36,000 strong human services portfolio. 2:13pm: And that's it from Mr Ferguson. In a ministerial and press conference sense. Martin Ferguson and his wife Patricia leave the press conference Photo: Alex Ellinghausen 2:06pm: Mr Ferguson smiles when asked for his views on the Greens. He says he's never criticised any individual in public. Martin Ferguson resigns from the ministry during a press conference in Canberra Photo: Andrew Meares 2:03pm: Mr Ferguson: "The modern Labor Party and the modern trade union movement should appeal to all Australians." Martin Ferguson during a press conference in Canberra Photo: Andrew Meares 2:00pm: Mr Ferguson: "The class warfare that started the mining war of 2010 must cease." He says it will be "very easy" for Labor to regain momentum as it heads towards the election "if there is a will." There's an opportunity for a fresh start. Let's just go forward and try and pull this party together.....in essence, create a new Labor Party as Hawke and Keating did. Martin Ferguson speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House Photo: Alex Ellinghausen 1:56pm: Mr Ferguson says he discussed his decision with very few people. He says once he made the decision he sat down ad read his first speech to parliament and remembered his father who left school at 13, became a brick layer and went on to become deputy premier of NSW. 1:55pm: Mr Ferguson: "I want to say to the Labor movement - thanks for the opportunity." Mr Ferguson is thanking his staff, department and family. "I have lived out of suitcase for 17 years," Mr Ferguson says. I wonder what I'm going to do as of today, I've never had spare time in my life. Mr Ferguson says he will go to the backbench and recontest the next election. I don't believe in by-elections. 1:51pm: Mr Ferguson: "There is a Labor movement that should continue. Reclaim the legacy of the Hawke and Keating governments, of being a reforming government, of being a government that governs for all Australia. Mr Ferguson says he hopes the party learns from the experiences negotiating the mining tax. You don't have to agree but you have to consult. 1:46pm: Mr Ferguson is stepping down: "I have a view it's the only honourable thing to do." I would have voted for Kevin Rudd yesterday and Simon Crean to try and restart this party. The caucus has made a decision. I accept that. It is therefore appropriate that the prime minister and Labor Party are given the best available opportunity to regain the ability to reform. 1:18pm: The PM says of Mr Rudd's statement earlier today: "I have seen the media reports of the statement and I think it reflects the reality." This issue is over and done with. I was elected with the full support of the party and Baillieu stood down for a smooth transition. Dr Napthine was elected unopposed on the evening of March 6, when former premier Ted Baillieu resigned after weeks of speculation about his poor performance in the polls.