Saffin confirms support for Rudd

MEMBER for Page Janelle Saffin confirmed tonight she will support Kevin Rudd in a Labor Caucus vote, expected to be held on Monday.

Shortly after hearing Prime Minister Julia Gillard had called for a spill to decide the leadership, Ms Saffin told The Daily Examiner where her loyalties lay.

"If Julia Gillard does call a spill and if Kevin Rudd does run, I'll support him,"Ms Saffin said.

"He is our best chance of the Labor Party going out and defeating Tony Abbott and promoting the good policy stuff we do.

"I thought what happened in 2010 was wrong ... we (Labor) do need reform and we can never again remove our leader because a few people decide to do so behind closed doors."

These words echoed those of Mr Rudd earlier today when he called for the "end of the power of faceless men".

"Australia must be governed by the people, not the factions," he said. 

Ms Saffin said she had not yet been canvassed for her support by Mr Rudd or his fellow supporters.

Surprise resignation

Mr Rudd announced his resignation as Foreign Minister at a press conference in Washington this afternoon.

Ms Saffin said the resignation cleared the way for him to openly canvass support for the Labor leadership.

In his address announcing his resignation, Mr Rudd said he would return to Australia and seek the advice of family and friends before deciding on his next step.

However, he added: "I promise you this - there is no way, no way, that I will ever be part of a stealth attack on a sitting prime minister elected by  the people."

"We all know that what happened then was wrong and it must never happen again."

Ms Saffin said that meant, if Mr Rudd chose to challenge for the leadership, he would do it in the open.

"My interpretation is he will do exactly that. He'll talk with colleagues and his family and the community about whether he should do something else," Ms Saffin said.

"That could involve taking over as leader, but he's made it clear whatever he does won't be behind closed doors."

Mr Rudd all but declared his intention to challenge for the leadership by saying his party had to decide: "who is best placed to defeat Tony Abbott at the next election".

He went on to say that Mr Abbott did not have the temperament to hold the office of Prime Minister of Australia but had nonetheless moved closer to position.