Julia Gillard Reveals Her 'Murderous Rage' at Sexist Attacks

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Julia Gillard has spoken out about her “murderous rage” and her determination not to cry in public as she endured vicious personal attacks while serving as Australia’s first female prime minister.

In her first public outing in Australia since she was deposed as prime minister in June, Ms Gillard appeared upbeat and buoyed by a strong show of support in a packed hall at the Sydney Opera House.

During a candid question and answer session, Ms Gillard, 52, was asked by an eleven-year-old girl how she coped with “all that horrible sexism”.

The former Labor prime minister said one of her strongest motivations when she left office was not to give her most strident critics the pleasure of seeing her publicly cry.

“In moments of some stress and pressure… I certainly did say to myself that I would not give those people the satisfaction of seeing me shed a tear,” she said. “[It was] some iteration of ‘don’t let them get you down’”.

Ms Gillard also revealed her reasons for making her famous “misogyny” speech in parliament last year in which she stared down then opposition leader Tony Abbott, now the prime minister, telling him: “I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. I will not.” The speech made global headlines and is set to go down as one of the defining moments of her leadership. » | Jonathan Pearlman, Sydney | Monday, September 30, 2013

Julia Gillard: Losing Power 'Hits You Like a Fist' - Exclusive

THE GUARDIAN: Former prime minister reveals grief, pain and regret over losing power, and issues fierce defence of her time in office in article for Guardian Australia

Julia Gillard has talked for the first time about the deep pain and grief she felt about losing power, and how she chose to spend the night of the federal election alone.

In an exclusive 5000-word article written for Guardian Australia, the former Labor prime minister of Australia says that “losing power is felt physically, emotionally, in waves of sensation” and that the pain “hits you like a fist, pain so strong you feel it in your guts, your nerve endings.”

Gillard also says that Labor lost the election because Kevin Rudd returned without “one truly original new idea” and because he was unable to explain her enduring policy achievements. She believes that the party could muster no reason for his comeback other than that its polling might improve.

The wide-ranging article is the first time Gillard has made any comment about her removal as prime minister of Australia in June.

In an unusually frank description of the emotional impact of losing power, Gillard writes: "I sat alone on election night as the results came in. I wanted it that way. I wanted to just let myself be swept up in it."

She continues: "Losing power is felt physically, emotionally, in waves of sensation, in moments of acute distress. I know now that there are the odd moments of relief as the stress ekes away and the hard weight that felt like it was sitting uncomfortably between your shoulder blades slips off. It actually takes you some time to work out what your neck and shoulders are supposed to feel like.

“I know too that you can feel you are fine but then suddenly someone’s words of comfort, or finding a memento at the back of the cupboard as you pack up, or even cracking jokes about old times, can bring forth a pain that hits you like a fist, pain so strong you feel it in your guts, your nerve endings.

“I know that late at night or at quiet moments in the day feelings of regret, memories that make you shine with pride, a sense of being unfulfilled can overwhelm you. Hours slip by." » | Lenore Taylor | Saturday, September 14, 2013

Australian PM Loses Party Leadership Vote
Intra-party rival Kevin Rudd unseats Julia Gillard as Labor Party leader in snap ballot.

Julia Gillard Scandal :The 'Gender Wars' Down Under

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: It has not been a good week for the reputation of the Australian male.

First, there was the depressing revelation that a menu, printed for an opposition party fundraising dinner, described a dish of quail named after the country's first female prime minister Julia Gillard - a redhead - thus: "small breasts, huge thighs and a big red box".

Political reporters, who have seen some highly grubby antics in their time, declared it one of the lowest moments in the history of Australian politics.

Then came the news that more than 100 members of the Australian defence force had been caught circulating "demeaning, explicit and profane" emails targeting female members of the forces.

It echoed the scandal from 2011 when one cadet filmed himself having sex with a female colleague - without her knowledge - and streamed it live on Skype.

Finally, there was the sleazy questioning of the Prime Minister by a Perth talkback radio host over the sexuality of her boyfriend. Why? Because Tim Matheison - a divorcee with three adult children - is a hairdresser. Would he have asked an unmarried male prime minister if his girlfriend was a lesbian? It seems unlikely that he would have dared. » | Bonnie Malkin in Sydney | Friday, June 14, 2013

Julia Gillard Asked by Radio Station If Her Partner Tim Mathieson Is Gay
THE GUARDIAN: In an extraordinary interview with Howard Sattler on Perth radio, prime minister repeatedly quizzed about sexuality of her partner


Julia Gillard has been asked on a Perth radio program whether her live-in partner, Tim Mathieson, is gay.

Controversial talk back radio host Howard Sattler posed the question to the prime minister on Thursday afternoon on the premise of clearing up rumours and things "you hear."

Sattler said to the prime minister he would offer her a chance to clear up ''myths, rumours, snide jokes and innuendo'' during the interview on Perth's 6PR.

"Tim's gay?" Sattler inquired of the prime minister.

"Well that's absurd," Gillard replied. » | Katharine Murphy, deputy political editor | Thursday, June 13, 2013

Gillard Labels Abbott a Misogynist
Julia Gillard has used a call by Tony Abbott for the Government to remove Peter Slipper as Speaker to attack the Opposition Leader for hypocrisy, labelling him a misogynist.