Julia Gillard

Biography

Julia Gillard was born in Barry, Wales, in 1961; her family emigrated to Adelaide in 1966. She began studying at the University of Adelaide, led the Australian Union of Students in 1983-84, and graduated in law (1986) and arts (1989) from the University of Melbourne. In 1987 she joined the law firm Slater & Gordon, practising industrial law, and became a partner in 1990.

After working as chief of staff to Victorian opposition leader John Brumby, she won the federal seat of Lalor for Labor in 1998 and joined the shadow cabinet after 2001. She became deputy to Kevin Rudd in 2006, and after Labor won the 2007 election she was deputy prime minister and minister for education, employment and workplace relations, and social inclusion.

When Rudd lost his party's support in June 2010 she replaced him unopposed, becoming Australia's first woman prime minister. The 2010 election produced a hung parliament, and she governed in a minority with Greens and independent support. Her government created the National Disability Insurance Scheme, carried out Gonski school-funding reforms, began the National Broadband Network and introduced carbon pricing. Her 2012 speech in parliament attacking sexism drew worldwide attention. She lost the Labor leadership back to Rudd in June 2013 and left parliament.

She later chaired the Global Partnership for Education and the mental health organisation Beyond Blue, and has chaired the Wellcome Trust since 2021.