The 2009 New South Wales Labor Party leadership spill was held on 3 December 2009 to elect the leader of the New South Wales Labor Party and, ex officio, Premier of New South Wales.
Incumbent premier Nathan Rees lost a spill motion after several months of speculation about a possible challenge. He contested the subsequent leadership election, but was defeated by planning minister Kristina Keneally. Carmel Tebbutt was returned unopposed as deputy leader (and Deputy Premier), creating the first all-female leadership team in Australia at a state or federal level.
Keneally was sworn in as premier the following day, becoming the first female Premier of New South Wales and the state's fourth premier in as many years. She led Labor to a landslide defeat less than two years later at the 2011 New South Wales state election.
Prior to the spill, Rees said that any challenger "would be a puppet" of factional powerbrokers Eddie Obeid and Joe Tripodi. The claim was rejected by Keneally, who stated "I am nobody's puppet, I am nobody's protege, I am nobody's girl".
Candidates Leader Declared Candidate Electorate Faction Announced Nathan Rees Toongabbie Unaligned 3 December 2009 Kristina Keneally Heffron Right 3 December 2009
Withdrew Frank Sartor was defeated by Keneally in a vote of Labor Right MPs, with Keneally becoming the Right's candidate for leader.
Candidate Electorate Faction Frank Sartor Rockdale Right
Deputy leader Declared Candidate Electorate Faction Announced Carmel Tebbutt Marrickville Left 3 December 2009
Results Spill motion
Leader
Deputy leader
Notes
References