First female PM pledges reforms for Australia
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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Hide Ad"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.