Julia Gillard is Australia's first female PM

[Andrew]

She replaces Kevin Rudd after he didn't contest the ballot.

AUSTRALIA'S first woman Prime Minister will be sworn in by the nation's first female Governor-General after Julia Gillard was handed the Labor leadership by Kevin Rudd this morning.

Mr Rudd did not contest a ballot called after a rollercoaster 24 hours of shifting allegiances and a confrontation between him and Ms Gillard last night.

His unexpected surrender recognised the overwhelming numbers against him, and prevented a bloody showdown by allowing Ms Gillard to be elected unopposed.

Good for her and probably a good move by Rudd avoiding a lot of ugliness, though it seems it's earned Rudd a fair bit of sympathy and the unrest within the party could be a concern heading into the election. Still, there's plenty of time for Tony Abbott to go ahead and offend everyone but the most staunch Liberal supporters, so I guess Labor is still in with a chance.

[Phil89]

Hmm, she's only slightly less annoying than Rudd to listen to.

[Andrew]

Well, she is still a politician.

[Phil89]

I meant more her voice. It kind of reminds me of Kath & Kim. At least she won't be smug like Rudd though.

[Dan's Brain]

Disappointing, but had to be done. KRudd had been floundering, and if there wasn't some sort of a change, then we'd wake up in November with Tony Abbott as Prime Minister.


If you want smug....

[Andrew]

Yeah, I don't think anyone can out-smug Abbott.

[J@3]

Now everyone is going to think we are a nation full of Welsh gingers.

[koberulz]

Don't use that word.

phpBB [video]

[benji]

Wallabies, dingos, boomerangs, barbies, Foster's, descendants of criminals, a giant boot and gingers. What a country.

[koberulz]

Foster's

What?

[benji]

Australian for Beer.

[koberulz]

Everywhere except Australia.

[benji]

So you're claiming that Australians don't even know what's "Australian for Beer"? I don't think Foster's would just lie to people like that.

I'm wondering if you know very much about Australia. I have personally eaten at Outback Steakhouse a number of times and have seen every Crocodile Dundee movie. I've also seen Reckless Kelly starring Yahoo Serious at least five times.

[J@3]

Really enjoyed my Alice Spring shrimp enchilada with Bloomin' sauce tonight.

[shadowgrin]

I wish some Australian members here in the NLSC were eaten by dingos when they were a baby...k o b e r u l z

[Andrew]

Really enjoyed my Alice Spring shrimp enchilada with Bloomin' sauce tonight.

I'd have called them chazzwazzas.

[ixcuincle]

Yeah, I don't think anyone can out-smug Abbott.

Lol

When I was in Australia for 5 days last month they showed the clip on Sky News of him saying "Sometimes I don't mean what I say" or whatever he said, it was a huge controversy

Also during those days they had a poll and Gillard had higher approval ratings than Rudd, good to see she's PM

[Andrew]

He's entertaining, I've got to give him that.

[Dan's Brain]

He's better known for the budgie smugglers than for anything he's ever achieved.

Oh, and the illegitimate child. That was also good. Especially for a puppet of the church.

[Andrew]

Oh, and the illegitimate child. That was also good. Especially for a puppet of the church.

He's pretty adept when it comes to hypocrisy. But then again, he is a politician.

[Laxation]

Why the fuck do all politicians have to be such shit heads? Im voting jedi

[benji]

It's in their nature.

People who don't want the power to rule other's lives don't pursue such a goal.

[Laxation]

Rhetorical question... I want Howard back. He didn't fuck anything up. He didn't give away all our money to avoid the 'recession', and then find us with no fucking money in the same dam position.
God dam glad im not running a retail store this year...

[koberulz]

Rhetorical question... I want Howard back. He didn't fuck anything up.

You're joking, right?

[Andrew]

As much as I disliked Howard, I have to admit I prefer him to Abbott.