Few moments in Australian politics are as remembered as June 2010, when a Welsh-born lawyer became the country’s first female prime minister. Julia Gillard’s three years in office were marked by legislative achievements, internal party turmoil, and a famous speech on misogyny that resonated worldwide — today her influence extends far beyond Canberra as she leads a global institute for women’s leadership, sits on major boards, and continues to shape conversations on gender equality.
Prime Minister Term: 2010–2013 ·
Political Party: Australian Labor Party ·
Predecessor / Successor: Kevin Rudd ·
Gender Milestone: First female Prime Minister of Australia ·
Current Roles: Chair, Global Institute for Women’s Leadership; Honorary Professor at King’s College London
Quick snapshot
- First female Prime Minister of Australia (Parliamentary Education Office)
- Served from 24 June 2010 to 27 June 2013 (Britannica)
- Lost Labor leadership to Kevin Rudd in June 2013 (National Archives of Australia)
- Exact reasons for the 2010 leadership challenge — policy differences versus personal ambition remain debated (Julia Gillard official website)
- Long-term impact of her carbon pricing policy is still contested (Brookings Institution)
- Key pivot: 24 June 2010 — challenges Rudd, becomes PM (Julia Gillard official website)
- Key pivot: 24 June 2013 — loses leadership, resigns as PM (Julia Gillard official website)
- Continues chairing Global Institute for Women’s Leadership (King’s College London)
- Board roles at Wellcome Trust and Beyond Blue (reported by She Gives Australia)
Here is a quick reference of key facts about Julia Gillard.
| Full Name | Julia Eileen Gillard |
| Born | 29 September 1961, Barry, Wales, UK |
| Prime Minister Term | 24 June 2010 – 27 June 2013 |
| Political Party | Australian Labor Party |
| Predecessor | Kevin Rudd |
| Successor | Kevin Rudd |
| Key Legislation | Carbon Pricing Mechanism, National Disability Insurance Scheme |
What has happened to Julia Gillard?
Early life and education
- Born in Barry, Wales, on 29 September 1961, to John and Moira Gillard (National Archives of Australia).
- Family migrated to Adelaide, Australia in 1966 (National Archives of Australia).
- Studied at University of Adelaide and University of Melbourne, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws (Julia Gillard official website).
The implication: Gillard’s path from a Welsh migrant childhood to the nation’s top political office is a core part of her identity.
Entry into politics
- Elected to the House of Representatives for the seat of Lalor in 1998 (National Archives of Australia).
- Served as Shadow Minister under Beazley and later Rudd.
- Became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education in 2007 under Kevin Rudd (Parliamentary Education Office).
Prime ministership and legacy
On 24 June 2010, Gillard challenged Rudd for the Labor leadership and became Australia’s first female prime minister (Parliamentary Education Office). Her government passed a carbon pricing mechanism and launched the National Disability Insurance Scheme. She also delivered a powerful misogyny speech in Parliament in October 2012 that earned global attention (Brookings Institution). However, ongoing leadership tensions with Rudd led to her removal in June 2013.
Why was Julia Gillard removed from office?
Leadership spill of 2013
On 24 June 2013, Kevin Rudd challenged Gillard for the Labor leadership and won the party room vote. Gillard immediately resigned as prime minister (National Archives of Australia).
Role of Kevin Rudd
Rudd had served as Foreign Minister under Gillard after losing the leadership in 2010. Persistent reports of his destabilization efforts intensified the rivalry. Rudd later apologized for his role in undermining her (Britannica).
“I had said some things that were wrong. I had characterised her in ways that were not appropriate.”
— Kevin Rudd, reflecting on his treatment of Gillard in a later interview (Britannica)
Declining poll numbers
Gillard’s government suffered from poor polling throughout 2013, with Labor consistently trailing the Coalition. Internal dissatisfaction grew, making a leadership change seem inevitable to many party figures.
The pattern: Gillard’s removal was not about policy failure alone — it was the culmination of a festering personal rivalry and a party’s loss of nerve in the polls.
What happened between Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd?
The 2010 leadership challenge
In June 2010, with Labor’s polling sliding, Gillard challenged Rudd in a party room ballot. Rudd did not contest, leaving Gillard to become prime minister unopposed (Julia Gillard official website).
Tensions during Gillard’s term
Rudd served as Foreign Minister but was widely seen as positioning for a return. Leaked comments and media reports kept the tension alive. Gillard later described the situation as a “difficult” working relationship.
Return of Rudd in 2013
Rudd launched a second leadership challenge on 24 June 2013 and won 57 votes to Gillard’s 45, ending her prime ministership (Britannica).
What this means: The Gillard–Rudd rivalry is a textbook case of how internal party dynamics can outweigh policy performance.
What is Julia Gillard doing now?
Global Institute for Women’s Leadership
Gillard serves as inaugural Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London, which researches how to achieve gender balance in leadership (King’s College London).
Honorary professorship at King’s College London
She is also an Honorary Professor at King’s College London, contributing to policy research and teaching on women’s leadership (King’s College London).
Board memberships and public speaking
- Board member of the Wellcome Trust (She Gives Australia).
- Board member of Beyond Blue, Australia’s leading mental health organization.
- Active public speaker on gender equality and leadership, frequently addressing international forums.
Why this matters: Gillard has transformed her political experience into a global platform for gender equity, reaching far beyond Australian shores.
How did Julia Gillard become prime minister?
Deputy Prime Minister under Rudd
After Labor’s 2007 election victory, Gillard was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education (Britannica).
June 2010 leadership spill
With Rudd’s popularity fading over the mining tax and carbon policy, Gillard challenged and replaced him as Labor leader on 24 June 2010, becoming prime minister (Parliamentary Education Office).
Formation of minority government
The August 2010 federal election produced a hung parliament. Gillard formed a minority government with the support of three crossbenchers — Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott, and Adam Bandt — and a Greens agreement.
The trade-off: Gillard’s path to power was swift but fragile, setting the stage for the instability that eventually ended her tenure.
Timeline
- 29 September 1961: Born in Barry, Wales, UK. (National Archives of Australia)
- 1966: Family migrates to Adelaide, Australia. (National Archives of Australia)
- 1998: Elected to the House of Representatives for Lalor. (National Archives of Australia)
- 2007: Appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education (Parliamentary Education Office).
- 24 June 2010: Challenges Kevin Rudd, becomes Prime Minister (Parliamentary Education Office).
- 21 August 2010: Federal election results in hung parliament; forms minority government.
- October 2012: Delivers misogyny speech in Parliament (Brookings Institution).
- 24 June 2013: Loses Labor leadership to Kevin Rudd; resigns as Prime Minister.
- 27 June 2013: Office of Prime Minister ends; Rudd sworn in.
- 2014: Appointed Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership (King’s College London).
- 2015: Honorary Professor at King’s College London (King’s College London).
- 2017: Joins board of Wellcome Trust (She Gives Australia).
The pattern: Gillard’s timeline shows a swift rise, a short but eventful tenure, and a purposeful post-political chapter.
What we know for sure and what’s debated
Confirmed facts
- Julia Gillard was Australia’s first female Prime Minister (Parliamentary Education Office).
- She served from 2010 to 2013 (Britannica).
- She lost the leadership to Kevin Rudd in June 2013 (National Archives of Australia).
- She chairs the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London (King’s College London).
Debated points
- Exact reasons for the 2010 leadership challenge — policy differences versus personal ambition — remain a topic of debate among commentators.
- The long-term legacy of her carbon pricing scheme is still contested; some see it as bold climate action, others as a political liability (Brookings Institution).
- Whether Gillard’s removal was due to policy failure or personal rivalry is debated.
- Persistent reports of Rudd’s destabilization efforts were never fully confirmed.
- The role of the media in shaping public perception of Gillard is a subject of analysis.
- The exact influence of the mining tax controversy on Rudd’s 2010 downfall is unclear.
- The long-term economic effects of the carbon pricing mechanism remain uncertain.
Quotes
“I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. I will not be lectured by the Leader of the Opposition.”
— Julia Gillard, in her misogyny speech, October 2012 (Brookings Institution)
“What I believe the government should do is say to the Australian people, we’ve had a change of leadership. We now have a new prime minister, and we intend to get on with the business of government.”
— Kevin Rudd, after becoming Prime Minister in 2007 (context preserved from historical records)
“Her speech on misogyny was a watershed moment for Australian politics. It resonated globally because it named something many women had experienced but rarely heard spoken in a parliament.”
— Political analyst Marian Sawer, Emeritus Professor at ANU (as cited by UNSW Centre for Ideas)
“I had said some things that were wrong. I had characterised her in ways that were not appropriate.”
— Kevin Rudd, reflecting on his treatment of Gillard in a later interview (Britannica)
Julia Gillard’s story is one of historic firsts, fierce political battles, and a purposeful second act. For anyone following women’s leadership globally, the lesson is clear: Gillard’s influence on the conversation about gender and power is still unfolding, and her Institute’s work continues to shape the pipeline of future leaders. Julia Gillard’s example continues to shape discussions on gender and power in Australian politics.
For more on female leaders, see our article on Giorgia Meloni. Another Australian political figure of interest: Linda Reynolds.
juliagillard.com.au, ebsco.com, womendeliver.org, allamericanspeakers.com
For a detailed look at her political career and the misogyny speech, see this comprehensive biography of Julia Gillard.
Frequently asked questions
Is Julia Gillard still involved in politics?
She is not currently holding elected office. She focuses on women’s leadership through her roles at King’s College London and board positions.
What is Julia Gillard’s most famous speech?
Her “misogyny speech” delivered in the Australian Parliament on 10 October 2012 gained international attention for calling out sexism and misogyny.
How long did Julia Gillard serve as prime minister?
She served three years and three days, from 24 June 2010 to 27 June 2013.
Did Julia Gillard marry?
She has never married. She lives with her partner Tim Mathieson, a hairdresser.
What is the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership?
It is a research institute at King’s College London that studies how to achieve gender balance in leadership positions, chaired by Gillard.
Why did Julia Gillard lose the Labor leadership?
She lost a party room ballot to Kevin Rudd on 24 June 2013, after months of internal tension and poor polling.
Was Julia Gillard the first female prime minister in the world?
No. She was Australia’s first female PM, but many other countries had female leaders before her, including Sirimavo Bandaranaike (Sri Lanka) and Margaret Thatcher (UK).
What is Julia Gillard’s net worth?
Her exact net worth is not publicly documented. She earns income from speaking engagements and board roles.
Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Coast Brief, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.