Julia Gillard, a former lawyer and long-standing member of Lalor in Victoria, has been Deputy leader of the ALP since 2006.
Ms Gillard was born in Barry, Wales, on 29 September, 1961. Her family emigrated to Adelaide in 1966. Ms Gillard is the second foreign-born Prime Minister of Australia, after William "Billy" Hughes, who took office for the first time in 1915. Incidentally enough, Mr Hughes was also of Welsh descent.
In 1983, Ms Gillard became only the second woman ever to lead the Australian Union of Students.
Before entering politics, the MP was an industrial law solicitor.
She ran for, and was elected in, the Victorian seat of Lalor in 1998.
Shortly after her election, Ms Gillard was handed the portfolio of Immigration and Population in the Simon Crean-led Shadow Ministry. 2003 saw her leave that role to take on first Indigenous Affairs, then health.
Prior to the 2007 federal election, the Member for Lalor took on the Employment and Industrial Affairs portfolios, both of which she retained in Government until becoming PM, as well as the role of Deputy Prime Minister.
Ms Gillard is the first woman to take on the role of Acting Prime Minister when Kevin Rudd went overseas shortly after defeating John Howard in the 2007 federal election.
Among her many accolades, one that may surprise supporters: just months after taking office, men's magazine Ralph voted Ms Gillard the second sexiest woman at its annual awards night.
Ms Gillard and partner Tim Mathieson are not married, and have no children, prompting Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan to decry in 2007 that she was not fit for office because she was "deliberately barren".
Commentators have criticised Ms Gillard and Mr Mathieson for living together without being married, with some saying she's "not representative" of the average Australian woman, and others claiming she's not setting a good example for the population.
The new PM has also been criticised for making an affirmation rather than taking an oath on the Bible when she was sworn in to her new role by Governor-General Quentin Bryce. Ms Gillard was born a Baptist, but says she is not religious.
