JULIA Gillard's office has dismissed as "silly rumours'' suggestions Simon Crean was leading a group of ministers calling for her resignation.
Leadership speculation swept Canberra this afternoon.
However, both supporters of Gillard and Kevin Rudd are describing the rumours as a false alarm.
Former ALP leader Crean was not in Question Time today because he was attending an event in Newcastle.
The Prime Minister also confirmed that Bill Shorten was absent from Parliament for personal reasons with his office confirming he was unwell
Kevin Rudd's camp dismissed speculation of an imminent challenge to Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
The social networking site Twitter went into overdrive on Thursday afternoon amid unsubstantiated rumours there could be another challenge involving the former foreign minister.
But a Rudd camp source said: "There is nothing you need to know about.''
Mr Rudd has repeatedly said he would not challenge Ms Gillard again, after losing to her in February last year.
There was some action at Ms Gillard's office, but that was because of a visit by the President of Mozambique, Armando Emilio Guebuza.
Mr Rudd was ousted as prime minister in 2010 and now sits on the backbench.
