Do you actually vote for a prime minister in Australia though?  Or is it like the UK where you vote for a party/local member of parliament and the party with the majority(/gets a coalition govt together) picks the PM?

Yes, born in Barry(just outside Cardiff/in Gavin & Stacey territory), moved to Aussie at age 6.  I'm hoping this means she'll have half the Wallabies arrested next time Wales play them at rugby.

No, we have the same thing here where we vote for a local member. Actually i believe our system is very similar to the UK's.  But most people that I know vote for who they want as the leader and don't really factor in about their local member.  I do realise a number of people care about local issues and local members however i have a feeling this is mostly older people.

That was cold, ousting the PM before he had even finished his first term. JG's been part of the problem since day 1 don't see how putting her in power will fix anything.

Bloody democracy doesn't work, stupid unions get more say than the people.

i hope she does a good job,

i hope she does well enough to get my vote in the election in this coming months

I obviously hope she does well, especially considering shes the first female PM. I would defintely want her to set a good precedent so that she doesn't damage future prospects for female politicians.

However I cannot support Labor for several reasons,such as the proposed internet filter. There are many things that wouldn't stop me from voting for a party but rampant scapegoting of pedophiles so some politicians in canberra can tell me what I can and cannot view on the web (well not tell me, since I wont know whats on the black list) is something I wont support (let alone its lack of effectiveness and of course the fact that its a waste of our tax payer money).

There are other reasons, but thats the one that I find most relevant considering we're talking on an internet forum.

if they are like the UK Labour Party, then they wouldnt be Left now would they? :P

im actually dead serious, Labour hasn't been properly Left-Wing for sometime now.

OT: congrats, I guess? dunno anything about her or her party.

Julia Gillard first female PM of Australia. Rudd was ousted by the unions and Gillard was put in his place. IMO Barack Obama first African-American President of the US that is a much greater achievement. Around  50% females in any given country. There are only 12% African-Americans in the US. 

Tony Abbott will win the upcoming Federal election, later in the year. Landslide Liberal party win. Gillard will not last as PM. Labor will be kicked out after only one term. Labor have stuffed up the country according to the Opposition Party and the media.

LOL, don't be ridiculous. Nobody wants Abbott as Prime Minister, and remember WE VOTE FOR THE LEADER (despite whats occured this week). Greens vote will increase, Labors will decrease, Liberals still won't get over the line, especially now that theres a woman in the office.

Wasn't Abbots dissaproval rating extremely low aswell, eg not much better then Rudds?

I definetely think the theory that manyn of the swing voters may be moving in many cases as much towards the Greens as they are towards the Liberals.