Labor MPs out on leadership campaigns

Brendan O'Connor says if the Labor leadership was a celebrity contest, Kylie Minogue could end up being PM.

In a thinly-veiled swipe at Kevin Rudd's 'people power' campaign to return to the top job, Mr O'Connor said Monday's ballot was all about who could get the tough reforms through.

He said that was why Prime Minister Julia Gillard would win 'overwhelmingly'.

'This is not about a celebrity poll otherwise Kylie Minogue could end up being prime minister,' Mr O'Connor told Network Nine on Sunday.

'This is about who should lead the nation.

'Getting things done and doing things in the nation's interest is not always immediately popular but it's very important.'

Mr O'Connor, a strong supporter of the prime minister, said Ms Gillard was handling a difficult situation very well and calmly.

'That's why she'll be endorsed on Monday.'

Mr O'Connor said Monday's caucus vote was an opportunity for Labor to make a clean break.

'This will allow us to move forward unified. People don't want to see us navel-gazing any longer.'

The human services minister said he'd seen rifts in the Labor party heal before and the government could recover and win an election in late 2013.

Another Gillard backer, Richard Marles, also believed the prime minister would win decisively and the public would forgive the Labor party.

'I think it's really important from Monday that we do have one message, we are one team, and we unite behind one leader and that becomes our focus right through until the next election,' he told ABC Television.

'I think it's through her leadership that we have the best opportunity of taking it up to Tony Abbott at the next election.'