She lost me when she didn't can internet censorship and started playing "me too" on refugees so desperate they come here by boat. Also hearing the senseless "we have to fight in Afghanistan so as not to give the terrorists a safe refuge" is another scripted "line" that makes no sense in the real world. I hear no economic nor social policy changes that make the change in leadership look significant.
Looks like different puppet, same puppet master.

I think it's extremely unfortunate that the first female prime minister came to power in this way.

While it's true that she followed the change of leadership procedures, it's also true that when in government the party is changing more than its leader: it's changing the prime minister as well.

This role is far more complex and significant than that of merely party leader. Changing the prime minister has far more repercussion. The country isn't shocked out of its socks when an opposition leader is taken down.

The events have tainted Gillard's ascension to the top job for this voter. I don't believe it's morally and ethically acceptable for the PM to be dumped by party factions and unelected union leaders, even if it is procedurally correct.

The last campaign was run on Kevin 07. We did act as if we were involved in a presidential campaign, even though, black letter, we weren't.

It isn't good enough for the major parties to try and have it both ways - get back in power on the strength of their leader, then assert the party's right to change that leader after we've given them our votes because of that leader. We put him in. We should take him out.

There are more important considerations than feminism. And feminists have to consider the morality of these events before getting wildly excited about the first female prime minister.

Gillard will probably be re-elected. I bet the Rudd government would have been re-elected as well, the poll figures today aren't that much different.

At what cost, however? The precedent has been set to get rid of PMs whenever the party factions and unelected union leaders decide that's what's going to happen. That's democracy?

I for one am not delighted that it's been a woman who's central to the setting of precedents such as this one.

Isn't time we got over this male/female bit? Is it of any importance?
I would happily settle for politicians, of either sex, who told the truth.

You are right, Daviy. The desire for power is not a gendered desire -

and the desire for power always trumps the desire for truth.

The only difference we've seen so far is an extraordinarily accomplished manipulation of language. This is then employed to conceal the reality that we can expect little policy change from the first female PM.

Feminists need to start talking about how in this country women get a grab at the most powerful political jobs only when the situation's perceived as desperate. Then we think that's some kind of achievement for women. How brainwashed are we?

By the way, I'm not sure about the red-head thing. I see darker roots showing down the centre part.

I don’t exactly know what is the anti-discrimination policy of the Victoria University, Melbourne, but most universities define discrimination within their policies as follows:

“discrimination is any practice which makes distinctions between individuals or groups so as to disadvantage some and to advantage others, on the basis of their status (for example sex or race) or private life (for example, religious or political conviction), or the characteristics generally attributed to persons of that status or private life."

If this is also the policy of the Victoria University then the author breaks this policy on several counts by mentioning the Prime Minister’s race, gender, religion and private life.

Why do universities have these policies when they are so often disregarded by their staff?

I looked carefully for any mention of feminists. None did I find.

Is there a secret code in the article that only feminists can access? Does the Sisterhood converse in riddles these days? Is the Sisterhood defunct?

I'm happy with Julia as a person and as my Prime Minister. Surely that should be enough for everyone!