I think the author is looking through rose coloured glasses.

Gillard's term to be seems to have a lot in common with that of Joan Kirner in Victoria.

Both governments were left wing dominated and associated with financial mismanagement, particularly high budget deficits that they promised to reduce but did not. Gillard's departing present to the people was a further unfunded spending spree (on disability support and Gonski education funding).

Kirner ended up being thumped in a big election defeat. Gillard was destined for the same but was overthrown by Rudd before that could happen.

Although I see the author is not exactly praising Gillard, but he is taking an unnecessarily upbeat view.

I searched the the article to find the significant tax reform he refers to.. tripling of the tax-free threshold does not count as significant.. a useful reform that could be instituted at minimal political cost, perhaps. The Gillard and Rudd government shied away from any significant tax reform, essentially leaving the system alone..

Bren,

"Both governments were left wing dominated and associated with financial mismanagement, particularly high budget deficits that they promised to reduce but did not." So all the parrots say.

Australia's budget deficits are neither high by international standards nor necessarily a sign of economic mismanagement.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-07/alberici-economic-comparisons/4672166

Obviously Patrick must be referring to left handed pundits only.

As bren says, most of the things the author is claiming as achievements are just pipe dreams, which in what appears to be the future economic conditions, are very unlikely to become so much as smoke, let alone fire. They will most likely end up like the L A W law promise of another labor PM.

Gillard will be remembered as perhaps the worst ever PM, but only the future & the full discovery of her stuff ups will tell if she has achieved even that. Whitlam may still hold the crown.

Of course, if given much more time Rudd should be able to beat both of them, so Gillard might be nothing more than a sorry incident.

Julia tried to fly too close to the sun and got burned. Severely.

The lesson for all of us is: don't accept any promotion which is beyond your level of competence.

Julia unraveled bit by bit over three years and she has the rest of her life to reflect upon this.

Few would envy her!

Political commentators have stated that:

"From day one after the 2010 election Julia Gillard has
had the blow torch applied. Her position as Prime Minister
has been described as "tainted" because she tapped Rudd
on the shoulder or as the Opposition keeps telling us
"stabbed" him in the back. This suggests she came to power
illegitimately. It ignores the fact that there was widespread
dissatisfaction over Rudd's leadership with the Labor Party
as polls began to slide. Gillard spoke to Rudd face-to-face
about her intention to challenge after being approached by
several concerned members of caucus. Rudd resigned and Julia
Gillard was elected unopposed by the Parliamentary caucus.
There was nothing illegitimate about the process. She became
leader because she gained the support of the Labor Party
caucus."

"The Coalition has had a campaign of destruction, involving
lies, fear mongering and unproven allegations.
We could all respect an Opposition leader who
played a clean game. Who challenged a government's policies
and pointed out their flaws, who provided alternative policies
that won broad support. Mr Abbott has not played that kind
of game. And of course he's been aided by the MSM
(Main-Stream-Media), shock jocks, and even comedy shows."

We're now being told that -
"Nasty, negative, nay saying, Abbott, has become "nice" Abbott
in the dark blue suit, white shirt, blue tie. This should be
a WTF moment. Can this chameleon be trusted?"

In the meantime the former PM has soldiered on, introducing
some world first legislation and social reforms - including
disability care, carbon pricing, and a Royal Commission
into Institutional abuse, to name just a few. History will
judge Julia Gillard well.

Mr Abbott has to do more than just keep breathing to
become the next Prime Minister. If Mr Abbott believes he leads
the next government-in-waiting then it is incumbent on him
to enunciate the policies and the vision that drives them.
Clearly, as many have pointed out, there has been huge
advantages while in Opposition in offering a small target
to Labor, but to carry that strategy any further now is to
treat voters with contempt.