JULIA GILLARD

Party

Gillard’s ascension to the prime ministership exposed complexities associated  with factionalism within the Labor Party, and some members saw her move against Rudd as traitorous. Though she maintained the support of many key members of the party, issues continued to arise. In February 2012, a leadership vote took place in the Labor caucus between Rudd and Gillard, but she held the firm support of the party and won by a vote of 71-31.

A second leadership spill was called in March 2013, however Rudd chose not to oppose and the status quo was maintained. Facing an almost inevitable defeat in the 2013 election, a third leadership spill was called on June 26.

This time Rudd decided to run against Gillard and won by 57 votes to 45. Gillard then resigned, and six Labor ministers also resigned from Cabinet in protest, including Craig Emerson, Joe Ludwig, Greg Combet, Stephen Conroy, Peter Garrett, and the Deputy Leader and Treasurer, Wayne Swan. 

Partnerships

From early in Gillard’s political career, former Victorian premier Joan Kirner was a strong supporter, mentor and friend. Joan Kirner, along with a group of prominent Labor women including Gillard, set out to establish EMILY’s List in Australia. EMILY’s List was based on an American concept that aimed to create a national network to get women elected, and attract financial donations for candidates.

In 1996 EMILY’s List Australia was launched, and Gillard was one of the first to donate putting up $1000. Gillard also performed on stage in a fundraiser for EMILY’s List with Joan Kirner for the latter’s 60th birthday, along with Jennie George and Mary Delahunty.

They sang the rock anthem I Love Rock’n’Roll, which reprised Kirner’s memorable Late Show television performance. EMILY’s List now has over 3000 members nationally and has helped get over 200 women elected, including Gillard herself. As prime minister, Gillard was a member of EMILY’s List and continues to promote and support it.    

People

A long-time supporter of the Australian Football League team the Western Bulldogs, Gillard was honoured by the AFL club when they made her their Number One ticket holder whilst she was prime minister. Gillard once used the Western Bulldogs to illustrate her slim prospects of becoming Labor leader, saying ‘there was more of a chance of her becoming full-forward for the Western Bulldogs.’

At the beginning of the 2012 preseason, Gillard attended the Bulldogs Family Day at Whitten Oval where she gave a speech to her enthusiastic crowd of fellow supporters, who had been left disappointed after their team only just missed out on the AFL finals the previous year. She reassured them that, ‘I feel in 2012 we can build on some of the great things we did in 2011’ and proclaimed that she was excited about ‘what we’re going to achieve on the field, as well as all the things we do together off the field. ' 

Publications

Nick Evershed, ‘Was Julia Gillard the most productive prime minister in Australia’s history?' The Guardian,  28 June 2013

Julia Gillard, Motions (The Misogyny Speech), House of Representatives Hansard, 9 October 2012

Julia Gillard, My Story, Random House Australia, North Sydney, NSW,  2014

Julia Gillard, Transcript of Julia Gillard’s speech to Congress, SBS News , 23 August 2015

Stuart Rintoul, 'Kevin Rudd goes off to church, Julia Gillard puts faith in footy,' The Australian, 27 February 2012

Chris Wallace, 'Julia Eileen Gillard', in Michelle Grattan (ed), Australian Prime Ministers, 2010

The Western Bulldog, 'PM Julia Gillard visits Bulldogs Family Day'  Youtube Video, 27 February 2012