Julia Gillard has stepped into Australian political history as the nation’s 27th and first female Prime Minister.
Gillard was sworn in at Government House at 1pm by the Governor-General, Quentin Bryce. Treasurer Wayne Swan was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister.
The ceremony took place following the pair’s unopposed election at the ALP Caucus meeting at 9am. Despite announcing last night that he would contest the ballot, the former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, chose not to run.
Gillard is the 12th person to serve as a Labor Party prime minister since Federation in 1901.
Following the swearing-in, Gillard returned to Parliament House to face her first Question Time in the House of Representatives.
