By Paul Osborne, AAP Senior Political Writer, AAP Updated April 27, 2012, 2:16 pm
Unrest over Prime Minister Julia Gillard's handling of the Peter Slipper saga has Labor backbenchers revisiting the leadership question, but ministers have come to her defence.
The coalition and three key crossbench MPs - Andrew Wilkie, Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor - say Speaker Peter Slipper should stand aside from the role until all allegations against him are resolved by police and the courts.
Mr Wilkie says if Mr Slipper is in the chair when parliament resumes on May 8 he would support a motion of no confidence in him.
The finance department and federal police are inquiring into claims Mr Slipper misused taxpayer-funded taxi dockets.
Mr Slipper also faces a civil suit in the Federal Court next month in which it is claimed he sexually harassed a male staff member.
The Queensland independent MP has strenuously denied all the allegations.
Ms Gillard says the speaker should be able to return to his job once the taxi docket matter is finalised.
Leader of the House Anthony Albanese said on Friday it appeared, after Mr Slipper released travel documents, that the fraud claim was "not correct".
But Labor backbenchers are concerned the prime minister appears to be out of touch with voters' concerns about the Slipper saga.
"It's not a good look for us," one Labor MP told AAP.
Another Labor veteran went further, saying: "Gillard has lost trust, and people have stopped listening."
"My view is she can't turn it around, but we have a fighting chance with Kevin (Rudd)," the MP said.
Some caucus members believe the Labor leader will voluntarily step aside by the end of 2012 if the polls still point to a coalition landslide.
Labor frontbenchers on Friday came to Ms Gillard's defence.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith, touted as a potential leader, told reporters in Perth the caucus had resolved the leadership issue in February, when Mr Rudd failed in his bid to wrest back the leadership.
"That issue is over," Mr Smith said.
Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten rejected the prospects of a leadership change.
"I just think that's complete nonsense," Mr Shorten told reporters in Brisbane.
Former Labor powerbroker Graham Richardson said Ms Gillard had about a month to "get her act together".
"There's certainly some movement at the station," Mr Richardson told Sky News.
"Kevin Rudd is certainly the one people would turn to first."
He predicted the prime minister would adjust the carbon tax, due to start on July 1, and other policies to "shore herself up".
Labor frontbencher Brendan O'Connor said Ms Gillard would lead Labor to the next election, due in late 2013.
Former Liberal leader John Hewson said a leadership change was "inevitable" and suggested her replacement could be Foreign Minister Bob Carr.
As for Mr Slipper, no speaker in the history of the Australian parliament has been removed from the office by a vote of the lower house.
There have been votes of no confidence or censure, but all were defeated.
Such a motion would require only a simple majority to pass.
