Julia Gillard has been elected unopposed as leader of the ALP and will become Australia’s first female Prime Minister in a few hours.
Gillard was chosen at an ALP Caucus meeting in Canberra this morning. After accepting Gillard’s call for a leadership ballot last night, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd chose not to nominate when Caucus met. Reports suggest he would have been crushed in a contested ballot.
The member for Lalor will become Australia’s 27th prime minister. She will be the 12th person to serve as a Labor prime minister since 1901. She has been a member of parliament since 1998.
Treasurer Wayne Swan was elected deputy leader unopposed and will become Deputy Prime Minister in Gillard’s place.
- Listen to the Caucus Returning Officer, Senator Michael Forshaw, announce Gillard’s election (3m)
