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Queenslanders in 'historic' vote Queensland elects female premier
(about 9 hours later)
Voters in Queensland, Australia are taking part in state elections - and could make political history by electing a woman as state premier. The Australian state of Queensland has elected the first female premier in the country's history.
This has never happened before in Australian political history. Anna Bligh led Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's centre-left Labor government to victory in the state election.
Labor Party contender Anna Bligh is the incumbent, but she inherited her position from her predecessor. She took over in September 2007 after the mid-term retirement of veteran Labor Premier Peter Beatie.
She faces a tough challenge because of the economic slowdown - with her main opposition coming from the newly formed Liberal National Party. A swing to the Liberal National Party was not enough for its leader, Lawrence Springborg, and he has conceded defeat and sent her his congratulations.
The Labor Party has been in power here for 11 years, and Ms Bligh is arguing that at this time of economic uncertainty it makes sense to stay with an experienced government. Ms Bligh faces a tough challenge because of the economic slowdown.
We feel the hand of Australian political history hovering over our shoulder The BBC's Nick Bryant class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/2009/03/bryants_australia.html">Read Nick's blog entry on the election Queensland is one of Australia's more conservative states, so she is not presenting herself as a feminist trailblazer, reports the BBC's Nick Bryant. The Labor Party has been in power in Queensland for 11 years, and Ms Bligh argued that at this time of economic uncertainty it made sense to stay with an experienced government.
She is stressing her economic stewardship instead. We feel the hand of Australian political history hovering over our shoulder The BBC's Nick Bryant class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/2009/03/bryants_australia.html">Read Nick's blog entry on the election
"The future I see for Queensland is a Queensland that is strong enough to withstand the worst of the global financial crisis, a Queensland where we come out of it stronger, with more jobs," she said. Queensland is one of Australia's more conservative states, so she did not present herself as a feminist trailblazer, reports the BBC's Nick Bryant.
'Stark choice' She stressed her economic stewardship instead.
But she is facing a tough challenge from her main opponent, Lawrence Springborg of the Liberal National Party. "The future I see for Queensland is a Queensland that is strong enough to withstand the worst of the global financial crisis, a Queensland where we come out of it stronger, with more jobs," she had said.
"Today is really a very simple and stark choice," Mr Springborg said, according to ABC News. It was the first electoral test for the conservative LNP, which was formed when the state National and Liberal parties merged last year.
"If people want more of the same they vote for the Labor Party, if they want change in Queensland then I ask people to please give the LNP their support so we can make change for a better Queensland." Another Queensland woman - the far-right politician Pauline Hanson - tried to mount a political comeback.
It is the first electoral test for the LNP, which was formed when the state National and Liberal parties merged last year.
Another Queensland woman - the far-right politician Pauline Hanson - is trying to mount a political comeback.
Ten years ago, at the height of her popularity, her anti-Asian immigration One Nation party won more than a tenth of the seats in the Queensland legislative assembly.Ten years ago, at the height of her popularity, her anti-Asian immigration One Nation party won more than a tenth of the seats in the Queensland legislative assembly.
But she is now seen as a has-been and something of a political joke, our correspondent says.But she is now seen as a has-been and something of a political joke, our correspondent says.