YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Gladys Berejiklian became the 45th Premier of Australia’s New South Wales after being unanimously voted for on January 23, Radio Australia reports. 

The 46-year-old was sworn in as 45th Premier of NSW  after being elected unopposed as Liberal leader in an early morning meeting, replacing Mike Baird.

The meeting lasted 10 minutes and also saw Finance Minister Dominic Perrottet voted in as deputy party leader.

In her first press conference as leader, Ms Berejiklian praised her parliamentary colleagues for putting their trust in her.

"I thank them for determining, based on my performance, that I am best for the job and I am so excited that the party has come together united in support of my Premiership," she said, as quoted by Radio Australia.

"I want everyone in NSW to feel that they can do what I've done, that there's no challenge too big and that our state has those opportunities," she told the Sydney radio station.

"I was actually born in Sydney but my parents were newly arrived immigrants, so we spoke Armenian at home, and when I started school I couldn't speak a word of English.

"I remember my mother saying to me: 'Glad, even if you're not quite sure what the teacher's asking you, put your hand up and have a go'… I just remember that like nothing else and that's kind of kept me going for all my life."

Vache Kahramanian from the Sydney-based Armenian National committee of Australia said it is a wonderful day for all the community.

"Gladys Berejiklian, [who] is the daughter of migrants who came to Australia with limited English and survivors of the Armenian genocide, today has reached the highest office in our state of NSW and this is a monumental and proud achievement for our community and also a proud day for NSW as well”, Radio Australia reported.