New Senate leader Penny Wong leads list of high-profile defectors from Julia Gillard's camp Penny Wong admits that she switched camps at last night's leadership ballot. BILL Shorten has been accused of playing the role of King Rat in the Gillard camp but a conga line of ministers including new Senate leader Penny Wong have emerged today to reveal they also switched. Senator Penny Wong, regarded as a loyal Gillard backer but long believed to be a "soft" vote among the Rudd camp, has revealed she told the Prime Minister last night that she would back Kevin Rudd in the ballot. She described it as the toughest decision of her political career. Senator Wong replaced Stephen Conroy last night as the Senate leader after he resigned his post. Other female frontbenchers including Tanya Plibersek are believed by Gillard backers to have stuck with Ms Gillard. Gillard shot down by Rudd Prime Minister-in-waiting Kevin Rudd speeds from his Hyatt Hotel in an attempt to avoid the waiting media in Canberra. Call for early election after night of long knives Cowards of the county bail out A Left factional ally of Senator Wong, Labor frontbencher and SA MP Mark Butler, also confirmed he switched to Mr Rudd. The Aged Care Minister came close to losing his job during the last faux challenge when Mr Rudd didn't stand after he was outed as a supporter. It is the duty of Labor MP to ensure we are competitive at federal elections. It became clear to me that without a change that was not going to happen,"" Mr Butler told Seven's Sunrise. While Mr Shorten's intervention was regarded as important, Gillard backers also said the NSW Right delivered critical votes to Mr Rudd's candidacy, claiming that Labor frontbencher Jason Clare and even David Bradbury voted for Mr Rudd. A triumphant Kevin Rudd and Anthony Albanese emerge after the successful ballot at Parliament House last night. Picture: Andrew Tauber Julia Gillard is hugged by staffer Eamonn Fitzpatrick on her way back to the office of Prime Minister.