Julia Gillard AC

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Biography

Julia Eileen Gillard AC was the 27th Prime Minister of Australia.^[1] She was Australia's first and only female Prime Minister to date.

Early Life

Born in Barry, Glamorgan, Wales, to John Gillard and Moira Mackenzie, Julia emigrated with her family to Adelaide, South Australia in 1966 on the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, colloquially known in Australia as Ten Pound Poms due to the payment of £10 in processing fees to emigrate to Australia. Her father was a railway booking clerk and she has a sister three years her senior.^[1][2][3]

Julia attended Mitcham Demonstration School and Unley High School and commenced study at the University of Adelaide before switching to the University of Melbourne, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1986 and a Bachelor of Arts in 1989.^[1]

During this time Julia showed her interest in politics and unionism, serving as President of the Australian Union of Students from 1983 to 1984.^[4][5]

Professional Career

In 1987 Julia joined a law firm, Slater & Gordon, specialising in industrial law, where she became a partner three years later.^[5] In 1996 she became Chief of Staff to John Brumby, the Leader of the Opposition in Victoria.^[1]

Political Career

Julia was elected to the House of Representatives at the 1998 election for the division of Lalor. In 2001 she was appointed to the Shadow Cabinet. In December 2006 Julia became the running mate of Kevin Rudd in a successful leadership challenge to Kim Beazley and was elected as Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Following Labor's victory at the 2007 election, Julia was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, and was also given the roles of Minister for Education, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, and Minister for Social Inclusion.^[1][5]

On 24 June 2010 Julia was elected unopposed to replace Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister, after he lost internal support within the Labor Party.^[5]

The 2010 election took place on 21 August, resulting in a hung parliament. Julia formed a minority government with the support of a Green MP and three independants.^[6] Her government introduced a price on carbon to help reduce emissions and a tax on profits derived from mining non-renewable resources. She delivered a national apology to all those affected by the forced adoption practices that took place in Australia from the late-1950s to the 1970s and committed $5 million to support and record tracing for victims of forced adoption. Julia considered education central to her economic agenda, and education reform legislation to implement recommendations made in the Gonski Report was passed on the same day she lost the leadership ballot. Her government also legislated for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to fund costs associated with disability.^[7] The Gillard Government passed more Acts per day than any other Australian government in history.^[8]

During Julia's prime ministership she was criticised by parts of the Australian media and some members of the Liberal Party based on her gender, her unmarried status, her personal life and because she was childless. Liberal MP Bill Heffernan said she was "unfit for leadership because she was deliberately barren". Leader of the Liberal Party Tony Abbott, who had a history of making sexist remarks and once stood next to a sign "ditch the witch" in reference to Julia, even played the victim by accusing Julia of sexism towards him. This culminated in Julia on 9 October 2012 delivering her now famous Misogyny Speech in the parliament.^[9][10]

Julia's term as Prime Minister was marked by much speculation about leadership tensions and internal conflict within the Labor Party. In February 2012 she survived a leadership challenge from her predecessor Kevin Rudd. Following poor polling and continued speculation about a leadership Julia responded to Simon Crean's call for a spill. Rudd did not contest the leadership and Julia was re-elected unopposed. Continued speculation in the media about her position led to Julia announcing another leadership ballot on 26 June 2013, where she was defeated by Kevin Rudd 57 votes to 45. Julia resigned as Prime Minister the following day. She did not contest her seat at the forthcoming election and retired from politics on 5 August 2013.^[7]

Post-Political Career

Since leaving parliament Julia has written her autobiography My Story which was published by Random House in 2014.^[11]

Julia has been appointed Chair of the following organisations:^[1]

• Global Partnership for Education (2014-)
• Beyond Blue (2017-)
• Global Institute for Women’s Leadership (2018-)
• Wellcome Trust, UK (2021-)

Honours

In the 2017 Australia Day Honours, Julia was awarded Companion of the Order of Australia for "eminent service to the Parliament of Australia, particularly as Prime Minister, through seminal contributions to economic and social development, particularly policy reform in the areas of education, disability care, workplace relations, health, foreign affairs and the environment, and as a role model to women."^[12]

In April 2014, Julia was admitted to the degree of Doctor of Victoria University, honoris causa, for her accomplishments surrounding education and disability reform as a political leader.^[13]

On 11 February 2015, Julia received an honorary doctorate from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel "for her achievements as a woman committed to education and to social inclusion, and for the impact of her commitment on the situation of children, youngsters and women worldwide"; and she also held a Kapuscinski Development Lecture on "the importance of education in development contexts" at the same university.^[14][15]

Julia received an honorary doctorate from the University of Canberra in October 2015, for her work in "education and gender equality."^[16]

In January 2016 she opened the Julia Gillard Library in the Melbourne suburb of Tarneit; the library's name was selected by the Wyndham City Council to recognise her contributions as both the local member of parliament and Prime Minister.^[17]

Julia was conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by Deakin University, for her promotion of "education opportunities in Australia, especially to groups under-represented in higher education", in December 2016.^[18]

Julia was appointed an honorary Visiting Professor of Politics at the University of Adelaide in 2013.^[19]

In October of that year, Julia joined the Brookings Institution's Center for Universal Education as a nonresident senior fellow.^[20]

In February 2014, Julia was appointed chairwoman of the Global Partnership for Education, an international organisation focused on getting all children into school for a quality education in the world's poorest countries.^[21]

Since February 2015 Julia has been the patron of the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library at Curtin University in Perth.^[22]

On 30 June 2015, Julia was conferred with a fellowship from Aberystwyth University in recognition of her "significant contribution to political life".^[23]

In September 2016 Julia was appointed a visiting professor at King's College London, joining the King's Policy Institute to chair the Global Institute for Women's Leadership, as well as the Menzies Centre for Australian Studies.^[24]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Julia Gillard. Fast Facts. (National Archives of Australia, https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/julia-gillard/fast-facts : accessed 13 Sep 2021)
2. ↑ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV7P-GHFW : accessed 13 Sep 2021), Julia E Gillard, 1961; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, East Glamorgan, Glamorganshire, Wales, citing General Register Office, Southport, England. MMN Mackenzie.
3. ↑ National Archives of Australia: CA 51, Department of Immigration, Central Office; A1877, British migrants - Selection documents for free or assisted passage (Commonwealth nominees) GILLARD John Oliver born 15 August 1929; Moira (nee Mackenzie) born 9 February 1928; Alison Mary born 19 November 1958; Julia Eileen born 29 September 1961; travelled per FAIRSKY departing Southampton on 7 February 1966 under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme National Archives Australia: 7355086
4. ↑ Fitzgerald, Ross. Say, weren't you left-wing? Published online 3 Jul 2010. (The Australian, archived at Wayback Machine 25 Nov 2010, retrieved 13 Sep 2021)
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} Julia Gillard. Before Office. (National Archives of Australia, https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/julia-gillard/before-office : accessed 13 Sep 2021)
6. ↑ Julia Gillard. Elections. (National Archives of Australia, https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/julia-gillard/elections : accessed 13 Sep 2021)
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Julia Gillard. During Office. (National Archives of Australia, https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/julia-gillard/during-office : accessed 13 Sep 2021)
8. ↑ Evershed, Nick. Turnbull scores lower than Abbott, Gillard and Rudd on productivity in parliament. Published online 23 Dec 2018. (The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/datablog/2018/dec/23/turnbull-scores-lower-than-abbott-gillard-and-rudd-on-productivity-in-parliament : accessed 13 Sep 2021)
9. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Julia Gillard," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Julia_Gillard&oldid=1041375160 (accessed September 13, 2021).
10. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Misogyny Speech," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Misogyny_Speech&oldid=1036193655 (accessed September 13, 2021).
11. ↑ Gillard, Julia. My story, Random House Australia, 2014, ISBN 978-0-85798-390-9.
12. ↑ Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Government of Australia. (Australian Honours Search Facility, https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1154582 : accessed 13 Sep 2021) Companion of the Order of Australia awarded to The Honorable Julia Eileen Gillard, 26 Jan 2017, for eminent service to the Parliament of Australia, particularly as Prime Minister, through seminal contributions to economic and social development, particularly policy reform in the areas of education, disability care, workplace relations, health, foreign affairs and the environment, and as a role model to women.
13. ↑ Dr Julia Gillard: The most powerful thing in our world is the power of education. Published 1 May 2014. (Victoria University, https://www.vu.edu.au/news-events/media-releases/dr-julia-gillard-the-most-powerful-thing-in-our-world-is-the-power-of-education : accessed 13 Sep 2021)
14. ↑ VUB honorary doctorate for Julia Gillard. Published 12 Feb 2015. (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, https://www.vub.be/en/news/2015/02/12/vub-honorary-doctorate-for-julia-gillard : accessed 13 Sep 2021)
15. ↑ Cleys, Bram. Former Australian Prime Minister J. Gillard lectures on education and development. Published 11 Feb 2015. (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, https://www.vub.be/events/2015/former-australian-prime-minister-j-gillard-lectures-education-and-development : accessed 13 Sep 2021)
16. ↑ Back, Alexandra. Julia Gillard receives honorary doctorate from University of Canberra. Published online 30 Oct 2015. (The Canberra Times, https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6059167/julia-gillard-receives-honorary-doctorate-from-university-of-canberra/ : accessed 13 Sep 2021)
17. ↑ Julia Gillard Library Opens in Tarneit. (Department of the Premier of Victoria, archived at Wayback Machine 23 Dec 2016, retrieved 13 Sep 2021)
18. ↑ Honorary Degrees Committee. Review of Honorary Degrees 2016. (Deakin University, archived at Wayback Machine 21 Dec 2016, retrieved 13 Sep 2021)
19. ↑ Julia Gillard to receive honorary professorship from the University of Adelaide. Published online 30 Aug 2013. (Australian Broadcasting Commission, ABC News, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-30/gillard-to-receive-honorary-professorship/4926038 : accessed 13 Sep 2021)
20. ↑ Julia Gillard, Former Prime Minister of Australia, Joins Brookings. Published 2 Oct 2013. (Brookings Institution, https://www.brookings.edu/news-releases/julia-gillard-former-prime-minister-of-australia-joins-brookings/ : accessed 13 Sep 2013)
21. ↑ Former PM Julia Gillard announced as chair of Global Partnership for Education. Published online 11 Feb 2014. (Australian Broadcasting Commission, ABC News, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-11/julia-gillard-global-partnership-education/5251230 : accessed 13 Sep 2021)
22. ↑ Julia Gillard appointed Patron of John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library. Published 23 Feb 2015. (Curtin University, https://news.curtin.edu.au/media-releases/julia-gillard-appointed-patron-john-curtin-prime-ministerial-library/ : accessed 13 Sep 2021)
23. ↑ Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard honoured as Fellow. Published 1 Jul 2015. (Aberystwyth University, https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/news/archive/2015/07/title-168597-en.html : accessed 13 Sep 2021)
24. ↑ McIlroy, Tom. Former prime minister Julia Gillard named visiting professor at London's King's College. Published online 1 Sep 2016. (The Canberra Times, https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6044822/former-prime-minister-julia-gillard-named-visiting-professor-at-londons-kings-college/ : accessed 13 Sep 2021)

See Also:

• Wikidata: Item Q41563