Rudd challenges Gillard for Labour's leadership Australia's former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced he is to fight Julia Gillard for leadership of the country's Labour party. It is widely known that Rudd, who resigned as foreign minister on Wednesday, has been angry since being ousted from the top job by Gillard in 2010. "I want to finish the job the Australian people elected me to do when I was elected by them to become prime minister," Rudd told reporters. Gillard called a leadership vote for Monday in the hope the contest will end the internal struggle and reinforce her authority. She has urged Rudd to abandon his ambitions if he loses. A surprise Rudd victory could spark an early election, as there is no guarantee he will win the backing of independents needed to control a majority in parliament. The crisis sparked by poor opinion polls appears to be benefitting conservative opposition leader Tony Abbott. He is tipped to easily win if there's an early election More about: Australia, Australian politics, Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd