He also pledged "unequivocal support" for Gillard were she to win the ballot.

"If Julia is returned on Monday then she will have my unequivocal support between now and the next election, because we have interests way beyond individuals here," Rudd told the Nine Network.

"This thing is bigger than all of us. If I get mowed down by a bus tomorrow political or physical the bottom line is this: the party and the government and the country is much bigger than me," he added.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott repeated his calls for the minority MPs who make up Labor's fragile coalition government to withdraw their support and force an election.

Abbott would not confirm whether he was planning to bring a no-confidence motion in parliament, saying only: "I think for Australia's sake this government should go."

Monday's vote caps a period of intense turmoil within Labor, brought to a head by Rudd's dramatic resignation as foreign minister in Washington on Wednesday and his subsequent decision to contest the leadership.

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