The "finest speech"? More like the loudest screech.

I have nothing against Julia. And she was treated very badly by some people because she was a woman - I admit to thinking that a helicopter could be landed on her backside - but her reaction to what she decided was misogyny queered the pitch for any future women Prime Ministers. In fact, Julia and those like her still in politics are the reason why capable, good women, won't touch politics with a barge pole; and why it is accepted that there needs to be quotas for women.

I hope she turns out to be a better Commissioner for early childhood learning in South Australia, the state she grew up in, than she was a politician.

Any man who calls himself a "male feminist" needs to take stock. Women don't need patronising if they are as good as they say they are.

Another prominent woman, Katherine Deves, writes that it is a "terrible shame" that the chief legacy of out first female prime minister seems to be her 'misogyny speech'.

Hear, hear and well said Sir! I heard that speech and agree it was one of the best I've ever heard from that place as an off the cuff unscripted speech!
Alan B.

Julia Gillard's
time as Australian Prime Minister lasted
3 years but the former Labor leader delivered one of
the most memorable moments in Australia's political
history with her misogyny speech 10 years ago that
resonated not only within Australia but for women all
over the world.

Julia Gillard was treated appallingly - not only by the
Opposition but by the media. There were all kinds of
derogatory comments made, fixations on her wardrobes,
her personal life, and much worse.

2GB shock-jock Alan Jones infamously made the comment
that "Ms Gillard's father died of shame." just shortly
after her father's death in 2012.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott was photographed at a
rally next to proudly displayed placards calling for -
"Juliar Bob Brown's bitch," and "Ditch the witch!"

There were so many incidents that happened. And yet
despite the fact that she ran a minority government,
her term in office was extremely productive.

570 bills were passed by the Senate with key achievements
including - the National Disability Scheme, the child abuse
royal commission, education funding, paid parental leave,
to mention just a few.

Women in the past in this country were raised to be
submissive and passive. And of course it was far
easier to just accept the status quo than speak up
for yourself.

Therefore when Julia spoke up - it was incredible.
She paved the way for many women by her example. It struck
a chord with so many. Her misogyny speech and her time
as our first female PM changed the way politics and
sexism were talked about in this country and it high
lighted the toxic nature of our parliament.

It drew attention to what women in politics had to
silently endure. Her speech showed - enough is enough!

And today young women often ask in all sorts of situations -
"WWJD?" - "What Would Julia Do?"

She has rightly won our respect. Even her former foe -
Tony Abbott attended the 2018 unveiling of her official
portrait.

A remarkable woman and leader. Who deserves all her honours
and accolades! History will judge her well.

Knock knock,
Who’s there,
Julia,
Julia who?
Julia Humbug.

Trust a woman to make a misogyny speech!

Just kidding :)

The timing of the speech needs to be considered in order to understand it's reasoning and purpose.

Gillard was PM due to having struck a deal with the Greens following the 2010 election where, contrary to expectations, she failed to gain a majority. She needed the Green MP's to support her in order to form government.

During the election, Gillard had given unequivocal promises that she wouldn't introduce a CO2 tax. But the Greens wanted one, and, to get their support, she decided to break her promise and legislate a CO2 tax. Her Prime Ministership never recovered and she floundered in the polls from then on.

By the time of the speech, her polling was a disaster, Abbott was beating her everywhere, and Rudd was beginning to circle having smelt blood in the water.

So what does a leftist women do when her incompetence is revealed? - she plays the damsel in distress card. Although the claim is that these women don't want to use their sex to get ahead, they are more than happy to do so when needs must. So here we have this supposedly brave and strong leader, complaining that the men weren't playing fair and that, as a women she needed to be given special exemption.

The speech obviously played well with the feminist brigade, but the rest of society yawned and the polls continued to unravel. Within a few months, Rudd was going after her position. As such the speech, while beloved in certain circles was a complete failure.

Of course, it wasn't the first time Gillard had played the damsel in distress card. When accused on helping her boyfriend steal funds from the Australian Workers Union, she again claimed that she was just a young (30 yr old !) lawyer who'd been duped by her lover.

She got away with it that time, but the misogyny speech couldn't save her political career as Abbott out-foxed her at every turn.

Tony Abbott "out-foxed her at every turn?"

Hmmmmm. Lets see. He got ousted by Malcolm Turnbull
due to his poor opinion polling and personal unpopularity.
Then he lost his seat to a female - Zali Steggall in 2019.

Not very foxy by anyone's definition!

And of course he is not a misogynist.
He respects any woman who knows her place.

Which part of "he out-foxed her" did you misunderstand?

He ran rings around Gillard. That things unravelled for him down the track doesn't change that fact, despite what the usual suspects might want to believe.

Again, the speech was an attempt to salvage her position against Abbott. As such it was an utter failure, despite what the usual suspects might want to believe.

Deny it as much as you want - however the entire world
disagrees with you. Her speech had an enormous impact.
And that fact is acknowledged even today - ten years
later. Does anyone world-wide even know who Tony Abbott
is/was?

"however the entire world
disagrees with you."

I was going to call that a tad hyperbolic but it's not...it's monumentally hyperbolic.

(oh remember how St Julia pronounced hyperbole as hyperbowl? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xFrOxUFL-c) (or remember the Tali Band? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLSctuWTcec )

You just need to look at the polling to see that the speech had basically no affect on the Australian public. Those who supported her, swooned, and those who didn't, yawned. Her support, or lack thereof, in the public continued to be dismal. Rudd smiled and moved in for the kill.

Juliar's misogyny screech 10 years ago was the high watermark in political hypocrisy. Juliar was defending her weasel Slipper who had been caught out posting disgusting and misogynist texts.

It would be like Labor's Orkopolous criticising others on the treatment of children after raping them.

Saying that speech was "fine" exposes an out-of-touch mentality of those who think so !
That speech should have incurred a fine !
I don't even bother to remember it because all I remember is that it was a mere vogue waffle of the time !

If the current Labor Front Bench stopped focusing on replays of the vaunted misogyny speech, and even half admitted to itself, that she stooged for the miners, to get rid of the RSPT.

Even now, quaking Chalmers claims that he can't touch the gas cartel, because of what the miners did to Rudd. Great legacy, Julia.

I remember Julia Gillard's speech speech being
published not only in Australia but around the
world. It went viral. It was picked up by not
only women's mags, but by the BBC, The Guardian,
New Yorker, Saturday mag, The Australian, Wikipedia,
tik tok, utube, and many more.

15 minutes of fury that was heard around the world.

After Julia Gillard's speech went viral the Macquarie
Dictionary updated its definition of the term "misogyny."
Previously defined as "hatred of women,"
Misogyny now encompasses "entrenched prejudice against women."

The speech may not have meant much to many men, but as our
first female PM - she certainly changed the way politics and
sexism were talked about in Australia and it high-lighted the
toxic nature of our parliament.

It drew attention to what women in politics had to silently
endure. Gillard paved the way for other women - "Enough
was enough!" And for that many women are grateful. And
unless you are a female - you have no idea
of what the effect of Gillard's speech was -
and what it meant to so many women.