BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, SEPTEMBER 22ND 2010 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas is confident that the new Australia Labour Party Government of Prime Minister the Right Hon. Julia Gillard will lead the people of Australia toward further development and progress.
In a congratulatory message to Ms. Gillard on her re-appointment as Prime Minister following the August General Election, Prime Minister Douglas said the “task ahead is a noble but challenging one.”
“I am confident that you and your cabinet will work to fulfill your mandate to improve the lives of the citizens of your great country,” said Dr. Douglas.
The St. Kitts and Nevis Leader said the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and Australia have long enjoyed good and friendly relations.
“My Government looks toward the further strengthening of this relationship. I anticipate future dialogue between our two governments on areas in which we can continue to cooperate,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He wished Prime Minister Gillard best wishes for her “continued good health and wellbeing.”
“I wish you every success as you lead the people of Australia toward further development and progress,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
Julia Eileen Gillard (born 29 September 1961) is the 27th and current Prime Minister of Australia. Born in Wales, Gillard migrated to Adelaide, South Australia with her family as a child. She became involved in Labour student politics in Adelaide and then Melbourne, and worked as an industrial lawyer with a law firm. After serving as Chief of Staff to Victorian opposition leader John Brumby, she was elected Member for Lalor in the House of Representatives at the 1998 election.
After Labor was defeated in the 2001 election, Gillard was elected to the shadow cabinet as Shadow Minister for Population and Immigration, with the portfolios of Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs added to her responsibilities in 2003. In July 2003 she was promoted to Shadow Health Minister, and in December 2006, after forming a cross-factional partnership with Kevin Rudd that saw him elected to Leader of the Opposition, Gillard was elected Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Gillard became the Deputy Prime Minister following Labor's victory in the 2007 federal election, also serving as Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. On 24 June 2010, after Kevin Rudd stood aside, Gillard became federal leader of the Australian Labor Party and thus the Prime Minister. She is the first female Prime Minister of Australia and the first never to have married and has no children.
