A ballot of federal MPs to decide the next Labor parliamentary leader has concluded but the results won't be known until Sunday.
The caucus meeting began shortly after 4pm (AEDT) in Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday and concluded about 40 minutes later.
Leadership contenders Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese walked together to the meeting in a show of unity and each man addressed caucus for five minutes before voting began.
The result of the ballot won't be known until Sunday, when the new opposition leader is named, and after a ballot of grassroots ALP members is closed and counted.
"I will keep their votes under lock and key and I will count them once I have the party's vote on Sunday," Labor's chief whip Chris Hayes said.
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MPs who are overseas, such as Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan, were allowed to cast their vote before they left Australia.
The 86-member caucus and up to 44,000 members will have an equal say, weighted 50/50, in who the leader will be for the first time in the ALP's history.
So far, it appears Mr Shorten may have the edge in caucus while Mr Albanese is the favourite among members, who have until 5pm Friday to get their votes in.
