Source: Youtube/NewsonABC

Australian Labour Party power broker Bill Shorten announced on Sept 12 that he will seek Labor leadership after the party's stinging loss to the Coalition's Tony Abbott in the recently concluded federal polls.

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who lost to Mr Abbott in the elections, kept his Parliament seat but declined to become the party's leader. The Coalition's win marked the end of the Labor party's rule in Australia for six years.

During his election campaign, Mr. Abbott placed the spotlight on the Labor party for its internal politics and criticised Labor for caring more about personal issues than the affairs of the nation. In 2010, Labor party members replaced Kevin Rudd with Julia Gillard as party leader, only to turn against Australia's first female prime minister after 3 years and brought Mr Rudd back onboard.

Former union leader and Education Minister Bill Shorten said his mission was to "draw a line under the Rudd and Gillard era." If he would become Labour's party leader, he would defend the party's accomplishments under Ms Gillard, one of which is the carbon emissions trading scheme that Prime Minister Tony Abbott was ready to repeal.

Aside from Bill Shorten, former Deputy Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is another contender for the Labor leadership post. Mr Albanese is set to announce if he has decided be in the running as Australian Labor Party leader.

Labor will announce the opening of nominations for the party leadership with federal MPs in Canberra for the first meeting since the election.

Bill Shorten is already a confirmed candidate and has gained the support of MPs from the right faction like Bernie Ripoll who said Mr Shorten will be "a great leader."

Before going public with his decision, Mr Albanese would first inform his colleagues. Mr Albanese said that it is important for Labor party members to unite once again and move forward with policymaking.

RELATED STORIES