Ms King also did not wish to comment on taking on any potential opposition spokesperson role, even though she held two ministerial posts and was a parliamentary secretary in the former Labor government ousted at the weekend's federal election.

"I don't intend to discuss leadership matters," Ms King said yesterday.

"They are for the caucus and the party.

"I will not presume any particular position within the parliamentary Labor Party but would be happy to take on any role I am invited to fill."

Ms King was appointed  Road Safety Minister in March this year by former prime minister Julia Gillard and promoted to Regional Services, Local Communities and Territories Minister by Mr Rudd. 

Previously, she was parliamentary secretary in the health and ageing, and infrastructure and transport portfolios.

When Mr Rudd deposed Ms Gillard in June, he brought in new rules that the Labor parliamentary leader had to be elected by 50 per cent of MPs and 50 per cent of rank and file party members.

It also meant the support of 75 per cent of caucus would be needed to force a ballot against a sitting prime minister, or 60 per cent for a Labor opposition leader.

At the time, Mr Rudd said he wanted to ensure "the prime minister the Australian people vote for is the prime minister the Australian people get".

Current frontrunners for the ALP leadership are former ministers Bill Shorten, Tony Burke, Chris Bowen and Anthony Albanese.

fiona.henderson@fairfaxmedia.com.au