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Gillard retains job as PM
AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Julia Gillard today won a leadership vote against rival Kevin Rudd, despite polls showing a government under her leadership would be decimated at the next elections in 2013.
Gillard emerged victorious from the prime ministerial showdown against Rudd and said she hoped the result would end months of bitter leadership infighting within the ruling Labor Party and give the government time to reconnect with voters.
Polls showed Labor had a better chance of an election victory under Rudd and critics warned the government could lose up to 25 of its 72 lower house seats under Gillard.