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Cabinet minister Stephen Conroy insists Kevin Rudd will not return as Labor leader despite reports that supporters of Julia Gillard are growing nervous about a spring leadership offensive.
They believe the prime minister is in danger of losing the majority support of caucus if the carbon tax and its compensation package is not the "game-changer" she promised them, Fairfax newspapers said on Thursday.
One "number-cruncher" said about 10-12 MPs had shifted their support from Ms Gillard to Mr Rudd since the February ballot.
Asked on ABC Radio whether there was a chance of a Rudd return, Senator Conroy said: "Absolutely not. The prime minister, Julia Gillard, is giving this country the leadership it needs.
"She is not in a popularity contest."
Senator Conroy, a Gillard supporter, said she had shown extraordinary courage and determination.
"People constantly underestimate her strength."
As the second anniversary of Mr Rudd's dumping nears, Senator Conroy insists it was the right decision to replace him with Ms Gillard.
"We are in a situation where the Australian people elected a minority government, and that has presented different challenges that any government in many years has had to deal with.”
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