As Prime Minister Julia Gillard opens the Lonsdale Street Glendi in Melbourne – the largest celebration of Hellenic culture outside Greece, her presence coincides with a deeply historic and dramatic chapter in Australian political history.

Within 48 hours, the Labor Party caucus will decide if she is to retain the leadership of her party and the government.

The ballot will also confirm the extent of support for former PM Kevin Rudd, whose dramatic resignation as Foreign Minister was followed by confirmation that he would contest the leadership on Monday.

Whilst the ballot, which Julia Gillard is expected to win, is being hailed by the Labor Party as drawing a line in the sand – the problem with sand is that is has an awkward habit of shifting. A unlikely victory by Kevin Rudd – the self-proclaimed champion of “people power” and arch-enemy of the Labor Party’s ” faceless men”, would result in a withering and unprecedented ministerial walk-out.

A victory for Julia Gillard will see her nemesis become a backbencher, from where his political ambitions are unlikely to rest quietly. Meanwhile a bewildered electorate looks on at a political party in meltdown. As the storm broke in recent days, Neos Kosmos sought reaction from Labor politicians on both sides of the leadership debate. Some returned calls, others kept their heads down.

Steve Georganas, federal member for Hindmarsh, and a supporter of Julia Gillard told Neos Kosmos: “For too long we’ve been hurting, the party’s been hurting and this needs to stop and the best way to bring it to a head is by having a ballot.” “I think Julia Gillard is doing a good job, she’s showing great leadership and she’s getting on with the job and we need this over and done with,” said Mr Georganas.

“One thing I can guarantee, is no one is bigger than the party, no one individual whether it be Mr Rudd or Ms Gillard, and if you’re in it because you think you are bigger than the party then you are in it for the wrong reason. The whole idea is that you are a part of a team, a team that’s supposed to progress and produce policies to better the lives of Australians. That’s why we are all here.”

Mr Georganas added, that in the event of Kevin Rudd losing the ballot “I hope that everyone accepts the result. Just like we do at a footy game, everyone shakes hands at the end of the game, says good luck to the winner and gets on with the job”. Quite when the hooter will sound to end the final quarter of this damaging political game is the question.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Opposition was in lockdown media mode, intent on letting Labor’s grievous infighting to take its toll and soak up column-inches across the country. ‘No comment’ was the response to Neos Kosmos from the usually ever-vocal Sophie Mirabella MP.

We spoke briefly to former chief of staff in the Howard government, Arthur Sinodinos – no stranger to the machinations of internal party division and its management. Mr Sinodinos said he believed it would be gratuitous to comment at this point. “We’re leaving it up to them,” said John Howard’s former advisor, “but what I will say, is that they’re more interested in their own jobs than in providing jobs for other Australians.”