First female PM pledges reforms for Australia

A SUDDEN revolt within Australia's ruling party has given the country its first woman prime minister, who yesterday promised to safeguard her government's reforms in education, health and industrial law.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Jun 2010, 22:15 BST
Updated 24th Jun 2010, 22:15 BST

Former successful lawyer Julia Gillard had been deputy to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd since their Labor Party swept to power in a landslide election victory in 2007. In a sudden move that took many government politicians by surprise, she challenged Mr Rudd on Wednesday to hold a leadership ballot.

Mr Rudd acknowledged the party's factional power brokers had lost faith in him and did not contest the leadership at a party meeting yesterday, leaving Ms Gillard to be elected unopposed.

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"I asked my colleagues to make a leadership change...because I believed that a good government was losing its way," Ms Gillard said. "I'm well aware that I am the first woman to serve in this role, but can I say to you, I didn't set out to crash my head on any glass ceilings."

Ms Gillard and her new deputy, Wayne Swan, were sworn into their offices by Australia's first woman Governor-General, Quentin Bryce, within hours.

Mr Swan retains his key financial portfolio as treasurer and will to fly to Canada today for a summit of Group of 20 major economies in Mr Rudd's place. He was also elected unopposed.

Ms Gillard was born in Barry, Wales, in 1961, the second daughter of a family who migrated to Adelaide when she was four in search of a warmer climate for her lung complaint.

She has been attacked by some opponents as unsuitable to be the leader because she is childless and therefore out of touch.

Related topics:AustraliaWales