Who is Julia Gillard?
Julia Gillard was Australia's first female Prime Minister, serving from 2010 to 2013 as leader of the Labor Party. She is also known for her 2012 misogyny speech in federal parliament.
Gillard was born in Barry, Wales, in 1961 and moved to Adelaide with her family as a child. She studied law and worked as a lawyer before entering parliament in 1998.
She became Deputy Prime Minister under Kevin Rudd after Labor won the 2007 election. In June 2010, she replaced Rudd as Labor leader and Prime Minister in a party room challenge.
In office
Gillard led a minority government after the 2010 election, relying on the support of independents and the Greens. Her government introduced the National Disability Insurance Scheme, school funding reforms and a carbon pricing scheme.
In October 2012, she delivered a speech in parliament accusing the opposition leader of sexism and misogyny. The speech received worldwide attention.
In June 2013, Rudd returned as Prime Minister after a leadership challenge. Since leaving politics, Gillard has worked in education and mental health, chaired the mental health organization Beyond Blue and founded a global institute for women's leadership.