Nathan Rees has been officially sworn in as NSW Premier at Government House in Sydney. The little known Mr Rees, who has been in state parliament for less than 18 months, took the oath of office before NSW Chief Justice James Spigelman in a ceremony this afternoon.

The former Minister for Emergency Services and Water replaces the outgoing Morris Iemma who was forced to resign earlier today after loosing factional support for his major cabinet cleanout.

In a press conference earlier today, Mr Iemma announced that he had also resigned as Member for Lakemba and was leaving politics to focus on his family.

It is the first time in Labor’s 117 year history that a Premier has been forced to quit the position.

The swearing in ceremony at Government House was also an historical moment in NSW state politics, with the former Minister for Education, Carmel Tebbutt, officially becoming the state’s first female Deputy Premier.

Rees is yet to finalise his new cabinet make-up, but said sacked Treasurer Michael Costa would not be returing to the front benches.