So what does everything think? She will certainly be remembered but will it be for being the first female or for the way she got in? Do you think she is better or worse than the last PM?
Gillard sworn in as first female PM
By online parliamentary correspondent Emma Rodgers
Updated Thu Jun 24, 2010 2:51pm AEST
Done deal: Julia Gillard signs her commission as Prime Minister of Australia (AAP: Alan Porritt)
Video: Julia Gillard elected unopposed (ABC News) Video: Chris Uhlmann on the Labor leadership spill (ABC News Breakfast) Video: Julia Gillard's rise to the top of the ALP tree (ABC News) Audio: Gillard becomes first female PM (The World Today) Audio: Proud parents watch as PM assumes office (The World Today) Related Story: Emotional Rudd bows out Related Story: Gillard ousts Rudd in bloodless coup Related Story: Rudd's golden honeymoon ends in bitter divorce Related Story: Timeline: Rudd's rise and fall Related Story: Smart and tough: the rise of Julia Gillard Related Story: Women in power: Gillard joins burgeoning club The Drum: Leadership challenge: how has it come to this? Related Story: Rudd's backers concede defeat Related Link: Photo Gallery: The Rudd Years Related Link: Australian Story: Profile on Julia Gillard Related Link: Your thoughts on the ALP leadership spill Julia Gillard has been sworn in as Australia's first female Prime Minister after ousting Kevin Rudd in an unopposed Labor leadership spill this morning.
The ceremony at Yarralumla set the seal on a tumultous 24 hours which have made Ms Gillard the nation's 27th Prime Minister.
Ms Gillard's partner Tim Mathieson was there for the ceremony and congratulated her with a kiss and a hug.
Treasurer Wayne Swan was sworn in as her deputy.
Earlier Ms Gillard had told a packed Parliament House press conference that she was "truly honoured" to be given the chance to lead the country.
"I asked my colleagues to make a leadership change because I believed that a good Government was losing its way," she said. "My values and beliefs have driven me to step forward to take this position as Prime Minister. I will lead a strong and responsible Government that will take control of our future."
Ms Gillard announced that the Government will scrap its mining tax advertising campaign and called on the industry to do the same in a bid to bring the bitter fight between the two to an end.
She promised to call an election in the "coming months" to give the Australian people the chance to deliver their verdict on her ascension and said she would not be moving into The Lodge until such time as she won an election.
"Can I say, Australians one and all, it's with the greatest, humility, resolve and enthusiasm that I sought the endorsement of my colleagues to be the Labor leader and to be the prime minister for this country," she said.
"I have accepted that endorsement.
"There will be some days I delight you, some days I disappoint you. On every day I will be working my absolute hardest for you," she added.
She said her upbringing had taught her the value of "doing your bit for the community" and said those values would guide her as Prime Minister.
"The basic education and health services that Australians rely on is at risk at the next election," she said.
"I love this country and I was not going to sit idly by and watch an incoming Opposition cut education, cut health and smash rights at work."
Pledging to run a more inclusive Government, Ms Gillard strenuously denied that she was now at the behest of the unions and factional powerbrokers after they dumped their support for Mr Rudd.
"I would defy anyone to analyse my political career and to suggest on any day I have done anything other than make up my own mind," she said.
And she said she had been as disappointed as "millions of Australians" by the shelving of the Rudd Government's emissions trading scheme.
Ms Gillard acknowledged that she was responsible for the Government's mistakes but praised her predecessor for leading the country in difficult times.
Indicating that there could be a role for Mr Rudd on the front bench, she said she would be speaking to him about his future in Government.
Ms Gillard's press conference came minutes after an appearance by an emotional Mr Rudd, who fought back tears as he bowed out as Prime Minister.
"I will be dedicating my every effort to assure the re-election of this Labor Government," he said. "They are a good team led by a good Prime Minister."
His final line to the courtyard press conference was: "We've gotta zip".
With an election just months, possibly weeks away, Ms Gillard will now have to unite and calm nervous MPs worried about losing their seats as they prepare to face off against the Coalition led by Tony Abbott.
Mr Rudd's sudden and spectacular downfall makes him the first Labor prime minister to be dumped from office before completing a first term.
Mr Rudd's fall from the top was swift, as his popularity among voters fell from stratospheric highs to disastrous lows in just a few months.
Voters lost faith in Mr Rudd after a series of bungles and backflips, including the shelving of the emissions trading scheme.
