NSW: Keneally sworn in as first female premier of NSW

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2009
NSW: Keneally sworn in as first female premier of NSW

SYDNEY, Dec 4 AAP - Kristina Keneally has been sworn in as NSW's first female premier
and its fourth leader in as many years.

Ms Keneally took the oath of office before NSW Governor Marie Bashir at Sydney's Government
House just after 1pm (AEDT) on Friday.

She was accompanied by her husband Ben and their two sons Daniel, 11, and Brendan,
nine, as well as deputy premier Carmel Tebbutt.

Ms Keneally won a Labor leadership ballot in caucus on Thursday after Labor MPs dumped
Nathan Rees, only 15 months after putting him in the job.

She is NSW's 42nd premier and its third since Bob Carr ended his 10-year reign in August
2005, to be succeeded by Morris Iemma, who in turn was dumped for Mr Rees.

Born in Las Vegas and raised in Ohio by an Australian mother and a US serviceman father,
Ms Keneally moved to Australia in 1994 after meeting her husband.

In 2003, she became the first US-born member of the NSW Parliament when she was elected
as the MP for Heffron.

AAP nr/evt/de

KEYWORD: LABOR NSW SWORN (PIX AVAILABLE)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.