Lara Giddings becomes Tasmania’s first female premier

Tasmania has its first female premier today after Lara Giddings was elected unopposed to the post by her party room after the shock resignation of David Bartlett.

The appointment of Giddings, aged 38, means there are four Labor Governments around Australia led by women, with Julia Gillard in charge at a Federal level, Anna Bligh leading the Queensland Government and Kristina Keneally leading the NSW Government.

Giddings’ deputy will be controversial MP Bryan Green, who held the same post five years ago but was forced to step down after an enquiry was launched into his role in the awarding of a monopoly business to two former government ministers. Green was tried twice over the matter but never convicted.

Giddings, who made history as the youngest woman elected to an Australian parliament when she became an MP in 1996 at the age of 23, is expected to be sworn in this afternoon.

She was widely expected to get the job after Bartlett used Facebook to announce was stepping down due to family reasons.

“Working seven days a week and wanting to be a better father for Hudson and Matilda has become incompatible as the children are growing up,” he said in the post.

“Lara Giddings will be an outstanding Premier and will have my full support.”

However, Bartlett said yesterday that he has agreed to a request from Giddings to remain in Cabinet.

Giddings faces a big challenge to turn the fortunes of the Labor party around. Just 10 months after the party won power (in a power-sharing deal with the Tasmanian Greens) its approval rating had slipped to 23% in a recent opinion poll.

The Opposition has called for fresh elections in the wake of Bartlett’s resignation.