Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard convincingly won a leadership vote against rival Kevin Rudd on Monday as opinion polls show her unpopular minority government clawing back voter support despite the bitter and public leadership brawl.

In her victory news conference, Gillard said the fight in the Labor party had been "ugly" and Australians were fed up with the political brawl, but promised her government would now unite and put voters first, adding she was convinced Labor could win the next election due by mid-2013.

"Today I want to say to Australians... the leadership question is now determined," said Gillard, who won the vote 71 to 31, ending former foreign minister Rudd's hopes of returning as prime minister before the next election.

"I understand that many Australians will have their doubts that after this fight Labor will come together in a united way. We have come together before and we will do so now," she said.

"I absolutely believe that united we can win the next election. I will take Labor to that election and I am confident we can win that election."

A Newspoll on Monday showed Labor's primary support had risen to a 12-month high despite the leadership turmoil, with two-party support for the government up two points to 47 percent compared with 53 percent for the opposition, down two points.

The poll found primary support for the government had lifted to 35 points, just three points behind the government's vote at the dead-heat 2010 elections.

But more voters still preferred Rudd as prime minister than Gillard, 53 percent to 34 percent. Rudd, who was toppled as prime minister by Gillard in a party coup in June 2010, promised to end his campaign to replace Gillard.

"I accept fully the verdict of the caucus and I dedicate myself to working fully for her re-election as the prime minister of Australia, and I will do so with my absolute ability dedicated to that task," Rudd told reporters after the vote.

Gillard said she would announce a new foreign minister to replace Rudd in coming days, but may use the opportunity for other ministerial changes and to demote ministers who backed Rudd.

She also said she was not planning any major policy changes to the unpopular carbon tax, due to start on July 1, the same day as a new 30 percent tax on iron ore and coal mines.

Rudd's supporters earlier put Gillard on notice that whatever the leadership result, she must lift the government's standing in opinion polls or she could still be dumped.

To do so, Gillard needs to now deliver a budget in May that wins over voters, show the carbon and mining taxes will not cost jobs and damage the economy, and sell the good news story of the Australian economy, the best performing in the developed world.  - Reuters