CANBERRA, June 24, 2010 (Xinhua) --

Julia Gillard has become Australia's first female Prime Minister after Kevin Rudd stood down as Labor Party leader.

"The next Labor prime minister and the first female prime minister of this country will be Julia Gillard," caucus returning officer Michael Forshaw told reporters in Canberra after emerging from a party room meeting.

Treasurer Wayne Swan was elected deputy leader unopposed.

Forshaw said it had been a difficult time for both Rudd and the Labor Party.

"He led us to victory in 2007, a victory that was achieved when many people thought that we would still be spending more years in opposition.

"That is a great achievement, he did that with Julia Gillard as the deputy leader."

Forshaw said he is now looking "confidently forward to the next election," led by the new team.

New Prime Minister Julia Gillard said she is honored to be Australia's first female prime minister.

"I feel very honored and I'll be making a statement shortly," Gillard told reporters.

Small Business Minister Craig Emerson said the coalition will now have a great fight on its hands with Julia Gillard at the helm.

Asked if the Labor Party had done the right thing by Rudd, Emerson said: "Look Julia is prime minister, she worked hard for that, she has been a very effective deputy, I congratulate her, I think everyone does."

Emerson said the government will be very strong and unified heading into the election. Gillard had been tipped to win up to 74 of the 112 Labor caucus votes. Gillard is expected to make a full statement in the next 90 minutes.

Editor: Lin Zhi

Australia PM calls leadership ballot

CANBERRA, June 23, 2010 (Xinhua) --

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Wednesday night announced a shock ballot to fight his Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard for the Labor Party and government leadership after slumping in pre-election polls.

"I believe I am quite capable of winning this ballot tomorrow. I believe there is a strong body of support for the continuation of my leadership," Rudd said on Wednesday after hours of closed- door meetings with Gillard and senior ministers.

Rudd told reporters in a press conference that the vote would be held early on Thursday, following marathon talks with Gillard and other senior ministers.

Gillard requested the vote, Rudd told reporters in Canberra, adding he had lost the support of some parts of his center-left Labor Party.

"I was elected by the people of Australia as prime minister of Australia," Rudd said.

"I was elected to do a job, I intend to continue doing that job. I intend to continue doing it to the best of my ability."

Deputy Prime Minister Gillard confirmed she would be a candidate in the vote.

Support for Rudd began to slide after he shelved the government 's carbon-trading plans in April, a key campaign pledge when he won office in November 2007.

Dissatisfaction with Rudd hit a record 55 percent, according to a telephone survey of 1,147 people between June 18 and June 20 published in the Australian newspaper this week. 

Editor: Deng Shasha