Rudd confirms move to challenge to Oz PM Gillard in Feb 27 leadership ballot

Melbourne, Feb 24(ANI): Former Australian foreign minister Kevin Rudd has confirmed that he will contest the February 27 leadership ballot, saying he wants to finish the job he began.

He said the Gillard government had lost the trust of Australian citizens.

"And starting on Monday, I want to start restoring that trust. That's why I've decided to contest the leadership of the Australian Labor Party....I want to finish the job the Australian people elected me to do when I was elected by them to become prime minister," The Herald Sun quoted Rudd, as saying.

"If we're honest with ourselves, all indications are that we are heading for the rocks at the next election, leaving the country to the ravages of Mr (Tony) Abbott and his government," he added.

Rudd appealed to the "working families" who had elected him in 2007.

He said he wanted to strengthen the manufacturing base in Australia and added that the country's future was "all about jobs".

Rudd also vowed to go to the backbench and work in his electorate, if he failed to win the February 27 vote.

"I would not challenge Julia a second time," he said. (ANI)