Australia gets first female Prime Minister

Australia\'s Julia Gillard has become the country\'s first female prime minister after former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd stood aside from a party ballot.



The change in the leadership of the ruling Labor Party comes just months ahead of a general election.



The BBC reports that Rudd did not stand in the vote, knowing he would suffer a defeat.



The Labor Party has suffered a sharp drop in support in recent opinion polls.

Gillard\'s swearing in as prime minister is being seen as a formality.