Hi PD, think you are right about sign of the times. the GFC and current worldwide woes are a more difficult environment for reformist governments. Think you are also right in saying it could just be a quirk of fate that females were/are predominent leaders in OZ during these abnormal times. Keneally was handed a poison chalice and now its been passed on to O'Farrell and it will be interesting to see what evolves there.
In Victoria we now have a male Premier and it will also be interesting to see how he goes also, although the circumstances are more positive than NSW.
I dont believe it is right to attribute performance to gender and I think you would agree with me on that.