Leadership challenges in Australian federal politics have a history of succeeding, with nine challengers successfully removing their party leaders in Australia's two major parties in the three decades before 2014.
Most unsuccessful leadership challenges have been within the Labor Party, with a higher success rate for Liberal party leader challenges.
Starting with the defeat of Liberal leader Andrew Peacock in 1985, the Liberal Party of Australia has removed five leaders in challenges, not including leaders standing down after election defeats and other voluntary resignations.
The Australian Labor Party has removed leaders on four occasions, from eight challenges.
Challenging the party leader while they are the Prime Minister is not a new phenomenon, as Paul Keating removed Bob Hawke from his leadership while Prime Minister in 1981.
The Liberal Party's leadership challenge will be addressed Tuesday.
Correction: This article previously said Kevin Rudd was the first Prime Minister to be unseated in a leadership challenge. Bob Hawke was the first
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