All the while, Prime Minister Gillard battled not only bad public polling and an omnipresent predecessor but also the perception of trustworthiness. Having promised before the 2010 election she would not introduce a carbon tax, she subsequently did so. There were also unfounded claims about her role in a union backed slush fund decades before she entered parliament.

A brief reprieve came in October 2012 when Gillard delivered a blistering speech attacking the opposition leader Tony Abbott for what she called his misogyny.

Despite her popularity woes and mutterings that the ALP could not win the September 14 election with Gillard in the saddle, her government has managed to keep Australia economically sound. Although it was under Rudd's management that Australia escaped the worst of the global financial crisis in 2008 and 2009, Prime Minister Gillard has maintained the country's sound economic credentials, with steady growth and low unemployment. Her minority government has introduced a national disability insurance scheme and appears on track to usher in education reform.

Even her detractors laud her determination and strength.

As the prime minister entered parliament after Crean's intervention, she declared the leadership ballot, mooted Crean's departure and goaded the opposition.

"Take your best shot," she angrily declared.

The Opposition leader immediately moved a vote of no confidence, which would trigger an immediate election.

Abbott delivered his best shot.

"For your party's good, you should go," he told her.

"For our countries good, you should go. You should go."

The no confidence motion never came to a vote because the government called for its suspension and narrowly won.

Government ministers are now on the media talk circuit. One after another, cabinet ministers are declaring "it is over."

But on a bizarre day when very little is known about the motives or logic of any of the players, it is clear the Gillard government's troubles are far from over. Few believe the divisions with her party have been healed simply because Rudd did not garner the support he needed to challenge her.

"The message that the people of Australia have received from this government is that nothing is resolved, the civil war goes on," said Abbott, calling for an immediate election.

"The civil war will continue as long as Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard are in the Parliament."

All eyes now are on the independents that keep the government propped up. Three of five voted to debate the no confidence motion.