For the first time in Australian politics women have taken the top two leadership positions in a government. Kristina Keneally and Carmel Tebbutt now head the New South Wales state government.
State planning minister Kristina Keneally became the first female premier of New South Wales after ousting Nathan Rees in a leadership challenge.
American-born Ms Keneally, the state's fourth premier in as many years, won the contest in the Labor Party caucus by 47 votes to 21. Ms Tebbutt stays on as deputy premier.
The ABC reports that in her first press conference as premier-designate, Ms Keneally said her government would focus on driving economic recovery, as well as on transport, health and education.
"It will be about increasing jobs and prosperity for New South Wales families," she said, "and it will be about putting care for the most vulnerable members of our community at the heart of what we do."
Just a '40-year-old working mum'
She also joked about her accent, saying "I came here because I fell in love with a man, but immediately after I came here I fell in love with this country".
Ms Keneally, who has two sons - Daniel, 11, and Brendan, 9 - with her husband Ben, described herself as like any other working mother.
"I am a 40-year-old working mum and face the same challenges that working mums everywhere do," she said.
She was put forward as a leadership challenger after a meeting of her party's Right Centre Unity faction on Thursday afternoon.
Ms Keneally paid tribute to Mr Rees as a "hardworking servant of the party" and said she would discuss with him a future in the government.
One of the last of the MPs to exit the caucus room, Mr Rees was visibly upset. Asked about his political future, he said: "I'm going to take a deep breath for a few moments if that's all right."
