Australia Gets Its First Female Prime Minister

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."

Comments

Re:"First Female PM" is not news.

[rhyder128k]

How is it technology or science news? If I posted a story about how the number of male primary school teachers has actually decreased since 1981, would it be promoted to the front page? Or the fact that, in the UK, men are the majority of victims of all crime, particularly violent crime? If I wanted to get a story like that onto this site, I suppose I'd have to think of a technology or science angle angle. I should hope so.

When a woman is successful in a role that typically attracts more men, it is more heavily covered by the media than when men start to make inroads into female dominated work or life roles. That's unfair bias. To whoever promoted this, I think you can guess where I'd like you to shove your chivalry/sisterhood.

Once again Australia rips off New Zealand

[dafing]

So Australia has her first female PM, *slow clap*

What took you so long Australia? Where the blood hell WERE ya?

1997 is calling!

Also, our prior PM was also female (I think) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Clark

I suppose we need to make a big deal out of this stuff, and it IS somewhat inspirational if a minority (in terms of a "Black President") achieves a high post....but at the same time, it feels stupid. Whoever said that women COULD NOT be Prime Minister/President? I'm sure there are MANY countries worldwide with female leaders before NZ too. Thatcher comes to mind.

Anyway, congratulations on catching up to NZ :)

Re:"BUT SHe'S UNELLECTED!! BLAAAAHH!!11!!!!!!"

[mjwx]

This argument makes me want to kill myself.

Please do so, immediately.

This is a very important distinction. We voted for a party under a specific leader, if that leader changes without an election we have effectively had an unelected change of government. If you cannot understand why this is bad then you probably should kill yourself. This wasn't Rudd stepping down due to public pressure, the party decided, without public consultation to replace him.

Fortunately an election can only be postponed another 9 months before one is forcefully called.

Re:"First Female PM" is not news.

[Lars T.]

The fact that it is our first female PM is what makes it news.

Why? Because at least you got your first female head of state before the USA? Instead of years after dozens of other countries did? Including at least one Islamic country?

Re:"First Female PM" is not news.

[Sir_Lewk]

Most power structures are dominated by men

Didn't we just get done saying that ideally sex should not matter? I suspect you are part of the problem.