Kearney takes seat in federal parliament

Federal Labor's newest member, Ged Kearney, has been sworn in, taking her seat in parliament on Monday afternoon.

Ged Kearney, Labor MP for Batman. Source: AAP

Former Australian Council of Trade Unions boss Ged Kearney has taken her seat in federal parliament.

A little over a week after her win in the Batman by-election, Ms Kearney joined her new colleagues on the opposition benches.

The former nurse and unionist was sworn in ahead of question time on Monday, taking the proportion of women in the Labor caucus to 48 per cent.

She was accompanied into the chamber by Labor frontbenchers Jenny Macklin and Brendan O'Connor.

"She represents real change for the seat and real change for the lives of many people in this seat," Labor leader Bill Shorten said after her election.

The Batman by-election was forced by the resignation of David Feeney, caught out over his dual citizenship.

Ms Kearney retained the seat for Labor with 43 per cent of the primary vote, trumping Greens candidate Alex Bhathal.