The Australia Centre for Leadership for Women congratulates Julia Gillard for becoming Australia’'s first elected woman Prime Minister.
Gillard is to be congratulated for her astute negotiations with the Independents, for her willingness to transform her leadership in recognition of the election outcome, and for considering that an alternative paradigm of governance and decision making is possible within the constraints of the Westminster parliamentary system and culture.
CLW also applauds the Independents for their evaluation processes which checked policies, costings and commitment from both parties on several fronts. Such scrutiny appeared to be lacking in the 2010 election coverage by the media.
As an innovative style of political decision-making has already begun its course, the new equilibrium, whilst unknown, has created an optimistic approach towards reconfiguring the bases of power, and raising the levels of negotiation, scrutiny, and performance.
We look forward to working within this new framework, and its challenges to the status quo in terms of equity, equality and advancement of women in Australia