Bill Shorten will stay on as acting leader while the Labor national executive starts the process of finding his replacement.

Shorten will remain in parliament.

All shadow ministers will remain in their current portfolios

Nominations open at a parliamentary party meeting (caucus), and remain open for a week.

Potential candidates need to get support of 20% of caucus to get nominated.

If there is only one nomination there is no ballot.

If there are two or more nominations there is a ballot of both the parliamentary party and grassroots members.

The ballot is open to all financial members of the party, with no restrictions on time served.