JULIA Gillard has asked ALP national secretary Karl Bitar to stay on in the role as she seeks stability in her campaign ranks while Labor negotiates on issues in minority government.
The Australian has been able to confirm the approach has been made, although it is understood Mr Bitar is yet to tell senior party officials whether he will remain in the job or move on.
Mr Bitar's future has been the subject of repeated speculation since Labor lost its majority in the August election, and comes as the party moves to digest a major review into its operations by elders John Faulkner, Steve Bracks and Bob Carr.
The Prime Minister told Labor caucus members yesterday to focus on the future as they considered the review, and signalled she would fight recommendations understood to be in the private chapters of the review that would see the power to pick the ministry handed back to the caucus.