Labor hero Bob Hawke has been called in to rally the troops as the Australian government faces a tough political year.
The former prime minister was guest of honour last night at a barbecue at The Lodge, where he delivered a pep talk to the Labor caucus.
Mr Hawke urged Labor to be aggressively on the front foot and continue delivering sound economic policy in tough times.
Referring to the opposition as dangerous and pathetic, he said the government must keep selling its economic credentials and good track record to the public.
The government has been in crisis, with Prime Minister Julia Gillard under siege over continuing speculation of a challenge to her leadership.
Ms Gillard hosted The Lodge barbecue in the evening, but not before caucus had met for more than three hours at Parliament House to confront issues expected in the year ahead.
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd was on assignment in Germany and was not at yesterday's meeting.
But some government MPs and senators are looking to Mr Rudd to return to the leadership and save Labor from electoral defeat.
Ms Gillard has dismissed the speculation and insists she will lead Labor to next year's election and win it.
In an interview aired on Channel Seven last night, Ms Gillard repeatedly refused to accept suggestions that Mr Rudd was after her job.
But during yesterday's caucus meeting, Ms Gillard told her team that in-fighting and ill-discipline would only help the opposition.
''People join the ALP for a variety of reasons, but one thing that motivates them all is for building a stronger economy and a fairer society,'' she said. ''One of the things people don't join the Labor Party for is to help the Liberals. We help the Liberal Party if we have a lack of discipline.''
The Prime Minister spoke for 20 minutes, saying the government had taken some hard decisions last year and paid some political price for them.
But she said the benefits of those decisions would be felt by many Australians this year.
Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan and a number of other cabinet members addressed the meeting.
ALP national secretary George Wright also delivered a presentation.
But more than a dozen backbenchers also rose to contribute, with some pinpointing the need for the government to better communicate its message to the electorate.
Some derided their colleagues for briefing the media about leadership rumbles. Mr Rudd's name was not mentioned.
Earlier in the day, Mr Swan said that except for ''one or two'' disgruntled individuals, the caucus was behind Ms Gillard.
He described talk of an imminent leadership challenge as bizarre.
''The great bulk of the coverage that I read is just completely divorced from reality,'' Mr Swan said.
When entering and leaving the caucus meeting yesterday, senior ministers expressed their support for the Prime Minister.
Some backbenchers were non-committal.
Later at The Lodge, Mr Hawke urged them all to keep the faith and stay united.
Parliament resumes tomorrow.
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