'I don't believe in God,' says Australia's first female PM

Australia’s new Prime Minister has revealed she does not believe in God.

Julia Gillard told ABC radio in Melbourne that she was not prepared to go through ‘religious rituals’ for the sake of appearances.

Ms Gillard added: ‘I am, of course, a great respecter of religious beliefs, but they are not my beliefs.

‘For people of faith, I think the greatest compliment I could pay them is to respect their genuinely-held beliefs and not to engage in some pretence about mine.

Ms Gillard’s views are in contrast with those of former prime minister Kevin Rudd, who was a regular at Canberra church services and opposition leader Tony Abbot, who is a devout Catholic.

Ms Gillard, who was born in the Welsh town of Barry, revealed she had been raised as a Baptist, before converting to Atheism.

The Australian Christian Lobby has since warned Australia’s first female Prime Minister that she may have turned off some of her Christian voters with her comments.

A spokesman said: ‘I think she is being honest and true to herself.

‘Obviously, that position will alienate some in the Christian community and some in the wider Australian community.’

Ms Gillard is set to tackle a bitter mining row in the country over a proposed super profits tax , as speculation grew she may call a quick election to capitalise on her honeymoon period as new leader. 

The 48-year-old, who is the country's 27th Prime Minister, moved to Australia with her family as £10 Poms - the amount they paid for their ship's passage - in 1966. 

The daughter of a Welsh miner, she became an MP in 1998, rising to the position of Shadow Minister for Health in 2003 and as her popularity grew and she became deputy to the newly-elected Prime Minister Rudd in 2007.

Red-haired Miss Gillard, who has a strong Australian accent, also took on three portfolios - Minister for Education, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for Social Inclusion.

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