Leader of the House Christopher Pyne has called on former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd to formally resign from parliament on Monday so a by-election can be held next month.
Mr Rudd gave a tearful resignation speech in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, when he said he would be leaving parliament at the end of the week.
Mr Pyne said the MP for Griffith had not yet tendered his resignation to Speaker Bronwyn Bishop, and needed to do so on Monday if there is to be a by-election for the seat on 21 December.
If not, AAP reports the need to give 33 days notice of a by-election means the contest for the seat may not be held until February.
"If Kevin Rudd doesn't resign today, one has to wonder why he is still playing games with the voters of Australia, and in particular his seat of Griffith," Mr Pyne said in Canberra on Monday.
AAP reports former Australian Medical Association president Bill Glasson plans to stand again for the seat. He was narrowly defeated by Mr Rudd in the general election in September but attracted a swing of 5.5%.
Labor is yet to announce who its candidate will be.
