Julia Gillard has been unanimously elected the new leader of Australia's ruling Labor Party.She will become the country's first female prime minister. (See what her leadership means for NZ here)Former leader and prime minister Kevin Rudd was not nominated
Julia Gillard has been unanimously elected the new leader of Australia's ruling Labor Party.
She will become the country's first female prime minister. (See what her leadership means for NZ here)
Former leader and prime minister Kevin Rudd was not nominated in the vote.
Treasurer Wayne Swan was elected deputy leader.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has spoken with Ms Gillard to offer his congratulations.
“Our relationship with Australia is a critical one and our most important with any country, and I look forward to working with Julia Gillard to advance that relationship," Mr Key said.
“I am sure work will continue on progressing the Single Economic Market between both countries, and other joint initiatives like more seamless border controls.”
A planned visit to New Zealand next week by the Australian Prime Minister has been cancelled.
Political commentator and senior lecturer at Queensland's Griffiths Univeristy Dr Elizabeth van Acker said the speed of the leadership change was "mind blowing."
"And also the fact, it just came to her, she didn't have to do deals, or number crunching, she didn't want it particularly but she had the support and she won. This time yesterday there was no public indication this would happen."
Dr van Acker said Mr Rudd must have realised that he didn't have the numbers so decided to not contest the leadership and left with grace.
"[Julia Gillard] should call an election straight away while the excitement, euphoria and the honeymoon period are still strong and before the opposition hammer her about difficult policy issues like the mining tax, the ETS, the education building scheme and home insulation. She should go to an election right now while she's on a high."
