Government frontbencher Robert McClelland has declined to say whether he will resign from his ministerial post if Julia Gillard wins the looming Labor leadership showdown.
Mr McClelland, the Minister for Emergency Management, Housing and Homelessness, has declared his support for Kevin Rudd in the looming Labor leadership showdown.
"I think unquestionably he's best equipped to win the next election," Mr McClelland told ABC TV on Thursday night. "We have an obligation to put forth our best candidate." He refused to say whether he would leave the Gillard ministry if Mr Rudd lost the ballot.
Mr McClelland would not rule out multiple leadership ballots. He admitted it was the wrong call to back Ms Gillard at the 2010 leadership spill.
"It was the wrong call," he said, adding the subsequent election result reflected that decision.
Mr McClelland said his decision to back Mr Rudd was not about getting revenge over being demoted last December.
He said Mr Rudd is a "stickler for policy".
Mr McClelland had no problems getting access to Mr Rudd during his stint as PM.
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