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Australia Gets Its First Female Prime Minister

Posted by samzenpus on from the sheila-in-chief dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Julia Gillard has been elected unopposed to the Labor leadership, seizing power in a bloodless Parliament House coup after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd decided not to contest this morning's leadership ballot. Ms. Gillard will now be sworn in as Australia's first female prime minister. Emerging from this morning's meeting, she said she felt 'very honored' and said she would be making a statement shortly. Treasurer Wayne Swan now steps up as deputy prime minister. He was also elected unopposed."

8 of 419 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting Historical Fact by coppro · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Canada's first and, so far, only female Prime Minister also took office by becoming party leader and with no general election in between.

    1. Re:Interesting Historical Fact by Zarhan · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Well, happended only last week here in Finland:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari_Kiviniemi

    2. Re:Interesting Historical Fact by macron1 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Same as in New Zealand. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Shipley

  2. Re:"First Female PM" is not news. by Cameron+McCormack · · Score: 5, Interesting

    First female PM, sworn in by our first female Governor General, too. Also she is an avowed atheist. I think that's a first for an Australian PM, too.

  3. Re:So... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It's hard to say... it is a toxic policy, and a new leader is the perfect opportunity for a "cabinet reshuffle". If she makes Conroy Minister for Something-To-Keep-Him-Busy-So-He-Can't-Fuck-Up-The-Internet, maybe we will have meaningful change.

    There are actually people within the Labor party who are far more qualified to be communications minister and who are actively opposing the filter (along with... everyone else in the fucking country). Kate Lundy would make a good Comms Minister, for one.

  4. Re:"First Female PM" is not news. by scdeimos · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Let's not forget that Brisbane had Lord Mayor Salary Anne Atkinson way back in the '80s. I guess that predates a lot of people around here, though.

  5. There is going to be an election by MichaelSmith · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Lindsay Tanner announced his retirement right after the new PM got in. That tells me the election will be sooner rather than later. Internet filtering is the main issue of interest to /. so I propose we get organized and attack Stephen Conroy.

    Lets all put Conroy last. Copy my sig. Spread the word. Send a message to Gillard on this subject.

    --
    http://michaelsmith.id.au
  6. Re:"First Female PM" is not news. by dbIII · · Score: 3, Interesting

    She was quite bizzare to meet in person and so flirtacious that she gave the impression that she had invited every male in the room to an orgy. She's also the one that introduced the medieval style Mayor's necklace and other bits of costume that's been used since to try to make a Mayor look like they are in charge of London or something. Brilliant at appearance - zero substance.