Gladys Berejiklian Makes Victory Speech as NSW's First Elected Female Premier

Incumbent New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian made an emotional speech to excited supporters on Saturday night, March 23, as the Coalition won a third term in government. She praised NSW as “a state in which someone with a long surname, and a woman, can be the premier.” She took to the stage to the chants of “four more years, four more years,” from the excited crowd. Berejiklian takes office as New South Wales’ first elected female premier, joining a small group of women who have held high political offices in Australia. Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard tweeted her congratulations. “In a world of far too few women leaders, I congratulate @GladysB on being the first woman to win a NSW state election and well done to @MichaelDaleyMP & @NSWLabor on a hard fought campaign,” she wrote. While Berejiklian was re-elected and the Coalition was returned to power, at time of writing, the government had not yet won a majority with three crucial seats still hanging in the balance. Credit: monicaclareoshea via Storyful