Australia’s lesbian finance minister Penny Wong and her partner showed off their newborn baby on Wednesday (14 December).

Sophie Allouache gave birth to 7.1lb Alexandra on Sunday (11 December) at Adelaide’s Women and Children’s Hospital.

The father is a donor known to the couple, but he will not be identified, they said.

The birth came after Wong, 43, backed her party’s support of gay marriage, which is not yet legal in the country.

‘This is a life-changing experience,’ said the Labor minister. ‘She’s wonderful, just wonderful.’

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill - Senator Wong’s former boyfriend when the pair studied together at Adelaide university - is a vocal supporter of gay marriage.

He said: ‘I’m very happy for Penny and Sophie – they’ll make wonderful parents. This is a beautiful Christmas gift for them.’

Prime minister Julia Gilliard also sent the couple her congratulations.