Anthony Albanese has confirmed he won't mount a challenge against Bill Shorten for the leadership of the Labor party.
Albo told his local paper the election was like extra time in a football game and “you don’t change captains in extra time. Period.”
Technically, no one can mount a challenge until Labor officially loses the federal election.
Under the new leadership rules, introduced by Kevin Rudd in 2013, if Labor doesn't form government the position of leader is automatically spilled.
If more than one person nominates, a ballot of the parliamentary Labor Party and the broader party membership will be held to determine the outcome.
Candidates must nominate with the backing of 20% of the parliamentary party.
Rank and file members get a 50 per cent say in the choosing the leader of the party, while elected federal MPs also get a 50 per cent say.
The only way to then remove the leader would be for 60% of Labor caucus members to sign a petition requesting a new election.
If there is a leadership spill, a 30-day contest is held to determine the leader, so we may not have a result until late August.
Members of both the left and the right in the Labor Party are lining up to declare Bill Shorten has their full support to remain leader of the party.
Deputy leader Tanya Plibersek has ruled out putting her hand up for the leadership on Radio National on Monday and she can’t see anyone else having a claim on Labor’s leadership.
