• Entry type: Person
  • Entry ID: AWE0230

Gillard, Julia Eileen

(1961 – ) Photo Montage Julia Gillard
  • Nationality Australian
  • Born 29 September, 1961, Barry Wales
  • Occupation Lawyer, Parliamentarian, Prime Minister, Solicitor

Summary

On June 24, 2010, Julia Gillard became the first woman Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia and retained her position after the federal election, which was held on 21 August 2010. She led a minority Labor Government, supported by a member of the Greens party and three Independents. She lost the prime ministership on 27 June 2013, when Kevin Rudd challenged her for the position and won. She retired from parliament in August 2013.

Her career in parliamentary politics began when she was elected Member of the House of Representatives for Lalor (Victoria) in 1998 and re-elected in 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. She became Deputy Leader of the Opposition (ALP) in December 2006. On the election of the Labor Government in November 2007, she assumed the position of Deputy Prime Minister and took on the portfolios of Employment and Workplace Relations, Education and Social Inclusion.

In 2017, Julia Gillard was made a Companion in the General Division 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.’

Details

Educated at Unley High School (SA) and the Universities of Adelaide and Melbourne, Julia Gillard worked as a solicitor with Slater and Gordon from 1987 to 1990, when she became a partner with the firm. In 1996, Gillard became Chief-of-Staff to John Brumby (then Leader of the Victorian Opposition) and retained her position until her election to federal parliament in 1998.

Gillard has served as Shadow Minister for Population and Immigration (November 2001 to July 2003); Shadow Minister for Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs (February 2003 to July 2003); Shadow Minister for Health (July 2003 to December 2006); and Manager of Opposition Business (December 2003 to December 2006). She became Deputy Leader of the Opposition in December 2006. In 2010 she became Prime Minister of Australia.

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Events

  • 1990 - 1996

    Partner, Slater & Gordon Solictors

  • 1987 - 1990

    Solictor, Slater & Gordon Solictors

  • 1993 - 1997

    Member, Administrative Committee, Victorian Branch of the Australian Labor Party

  • 1982 - 1983

    Member, National Let’s Develop Education Committee, Victorian Branch of the Australian Labor Party

  • 1983 - 1983

    President, Australian Union of Students

  • 1982 - 1982

    Vice-President, National Education Australian Union of Studies

  • 2001 - 2003

    Shadow Minister for Population and Immigration

  • 1981 - 1981

    President, Adelaide University Union

  • 1980 - 1980

    Member, Adelaide University Union

  • 2003 - 2003

    Shadow Minister for Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs

  • 2003 - 2006

    Shadow Minister for Health

  • 2006 - 2007

    Deputy Leader of the Opposition

  • 2061 - 2061

    Born: daughter of John Oliver and Moira Gillard

  • 1996 - 1998

    Chief of Staff to Leader of the Opposition John Brumby

  • 1998 - 1998

    Elected Member House of Representatives (MHR) for the Australian Labor Party (ALP) for the Victorian electorate of Lalor

  • 2010 - 2013

    Prime Minister of Australia

  • 2007 - 2010

    Deputy Prime Minister

  • 2013 - 2013

    Honorary Visiting Professor of Politics at the University of Adelaide

  • 2014 - 2014

    Appointed chairwoman of the Global Partnership for Education focussed on the education of children in the world’s poorest countries

  • 2014 - 2014

    Appointed to the Board of the mental health institution beyondblue

  • 2017 - 2017

    Appointed Chair of Beyond Blue

  • 2017 - 2017

    Appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)

Published resources

Digital resources

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