People should choose PM: Abbott

Julia Gillard has the support of the union movement over Kevin Rudd ahead of the federal election.

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott hasn't absolutely ruled out moving a no-confidence motion in the government should Kevin Rudd topple Julia Gillard during the final sitting of Parliament next week.

But he indicated little confidence such a motion could get up without support of independent MPs.

Speaking in north Queensland following the latest leadership speculation, Mr Abbott said as Labor's soap opera rolled on, the Australian people were sick of their shenanigans.

''In the end the Australian people should be choosing the next Prime Minister not the faceless men. So I rule nothing out and we will respond appropriately in the Parliament top whatever happens this week,'' he told reporters in Cairns.

Mr Abbott said the Opposition always said it would only move a motion of no confidence if there was a reasonable prospect of success.

But he said the ''so-called independents, the Labor independents, the Labor supporters masquerading as independents'' had always indicated they fully supported Ms Gillard.

Tony Abbott has indicated little faith a no-confidence motion in the government could get up without support of independent MPs.

In the finely balanced Parliament, Mr Abbott needs the backing of independents to achieve the absolute majority needed to ditch the government.

LABOR QUESTIONS IF RUDD IS THE ANSWER

OH, JUST TRY TO ACT LIKE GROWN-UPS!

LABOR FEARS ABBOTT COUP IN THE SENATE

LABOR'S BIG MISTAKE IN KNIFING RUDD

Kevin Rudd beds down for the night in the CEO Sleepout for St Vincint De Paul this week / Pic: Marc Roberston

UNIONS SET TO ABANDON FLOUNDERING PM

RUDD'S CONDITIONS FOR A POSSIBLE RETURN

KRUDD THE WINNER IN THE TWITTER WAR

Mr Abbott particularly singled out NSW independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott who both hold seats the Coalition is intent on reclaiming.

''It seems the people in the Parliament who most support Julia Gillard as Prime Minister are no longer her own caucus but people like Mr Oakeshott and Mr Windsor,'' he said

Mr Abbott said it was clear whoever led a divided and dysfunctional Labor, it still would not provide good government.

''It's poisonous inside the party and the sooner they have some time out to rediscover what they stand for, what they believe, who they represent the better for everyone,'' he said.

Mr Abbott promised he would provide strong and stable government.

''I am confident that a couple of years into the terms of any Coalition government, the last few years will seem like a bad dream that has passed in the night,'' he said.

The refusal by the Coalition to be dragged into the government's leadership crisis has crippled a key argument being used by Gillard's camp to keep MPs loyal to her - that a change could spark a constitutional crisis.

Three senior backers of the Prime Minister conceded privately yesterday that they no longer believed Ms Gillard could be certain of commanding a majority in the caucus if a challenge was mounted.

Senior MPs once loyal to Ms Gillard, including several of her most senior backers, confirmed they were now prepared to shift on the word of numbers man Bill Shorten - for the good of the Labor Party.

"There is a phalanx now looking to Bill," one Gillard backer said.

"It is now up to him. If you want to be king, then sometimes you are called upon."

With Ms Gillard's leadership hanging in the balance, the momentum is now building for the issue to be resolved as early as Wednesday or Thursday, rather than next Friday as has been suggested.

One of the key arguments being used on MPs to remain loyal to the PM - fear that the Federal Government would be forced to an election by a no-confidence motion should there be a change - has now been demolished.

Three independents have confirmed that they would not necessarily support a no-confidence motion in the government if Mr Rudd was returned.

Craig Thomson said he would support a Rudd government and Tasmanian Andrew Wilkie has said he could not be counted on to support a no-confidence motion.

This alone would be enough to deny an absolute majority, with Mr Rudd likely to command the numbers in the house if tested.

But sources in the Greens have also confirmed that the minor party would not support a no-confidence motion in the government which could potentially put Mr Abbott in as a caretaker Prime minister.

Coalition sources have also confirmed the Opposition Leader had abandoned the idea of a no-confidence motion, on the basis that he believed the Coalition should not be dragged into the saga.

It is believed discussions were held between Mr Abbott and Coalition colleagues this week and that, while it would still be retained as an option, it was unlikely the opposition would pursue it.

Pressure yesterday mounted on Mr Rudd to declare his intentions, with the Minister for Resources and Energy Gary Gray challenging him to contest the Labor leadership if he believed he really had the numbers.

He said that Mr Rudd's changed language on the leadership - indicating he would be willing to challenge again - was far from a categorical denial that he was still interested in the job.

"It's confusing. And I think Kevin is confused," Mr Gray said.

"I genuinely think that, if Kevin Rudd wishes to challenge, he should do so. He should stop all this confusion, and the mumbling and the mumbo jumbo.

"He should test his level of support or he should get on with the campaign to ensure Labor's vote is as strong as it could be and to ensure that Labor wins the election."

On the eve of the anniversary of Mr Rudd's political knifing three years ago, the former PM accused Mr Gray of being one of the faceless men who had been part of the coup against him on June 24, 2010.

Mr Rudd, who on Thursday spent the night sleeping rough in Brisbane in support of measures to combat homelessness, said through a spokesman that his position on the leadership remained unchanged from that of February last year and March of this year.

"As one of the co-authors of the 2010 leadership coup, it is hardly surprising that Mr Gray has chosen to continue his public attacks on Mr Rudd's character," the spokesman said.

Mr Rudd denied he had been in recent conversations with Mr Shorten.

However, senior MPs have confirmed that the two had previously had discussions about the leadership issue.

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