Mps Welcome Female Touch
Illawarra Mercury
Wednesday December 12, 2007
WOMEN on both sides of politics in the Illawarra said Julia Gillard's brief elevation to acting prime minister was good reason to celebrate.
Yesterday Ms Gillard became the first Australian female politician in the top job and will hold the position until Prime Minister Kevin Rudd returns tomorrow from the United Nations climate change conference in Bali."It's a very memorable day for Julia at a personal level and for the Australian nation because it is the first time that a woman has reached a pinnacle of political office," Federal Member for Throsby Jennie George said."Finally one has broken through into the giddy heights of being PM of the nation, and that is a great cause for celebration and I hope it sends a positive message to women throughout the country."Ms George said Australia was likely to have a female prime minister within the next decade, a sentiment echoed by her Labor colleague, Federal Member for Cunningham Sharon Bird."It absolutely paves the way for a female PM," Ms Bird said."The more people get comfortable with seeing women at the helm and when we aren't even talking about it as an issue, then we are an important part along that pathway."Liberal Federal Member for Gilmore Joanna Gash said Ms Gillard's elevation was encouraging but it should have happened sooner, perhaps with Bronwyn Bishop or Carmen Lawrence. "But I think it is great news, our policies may not always agree but ... I think women are quite professional in their jobs."
© 2007 Illawarra Mercury