Julia Gillard: Leadership has been 'a privilege'

Kevin Rudd has ousted Prime Minister Julia Gillard as leader of Australia's Labor Party.

He won 57 votes in a leadership ballot of Labor MPs and senators called by Ms Gillard, who received 45 votes.

The change comes ahead of a general election due in September, which polls suggest Labor is set to lose.

After the vote, Ms Gillard confirmed she would stand by a pledge to resign from politics following a loss in the leadership challenge.

"I will not re-contest the federal electorate... at the forthcoming election," she said.

She said that leadership of the party and of the country had been "a privilege" and she thanked the Australian public for their support.