Good news for everyone who has missed Julia Gillard in public life: She’s back.
The fomer Prime Minister has lain low since the 2013 leadership spill — but she appeared in public today to launch a former colleague’s book.
Wearing a tailored pink jacket, Gillard launched former climate change and industry minister Greg Combet’s memoir, The Fights of My Life, at the NSW Trades Hall this morning.
Crikey reports that in her address, Gillard issued a language warning to readers — joking that anyone who blushed from bad language needed to have a cold compress on hand.
Gillard also confirmed she urged Combet to run as leader when it became clear it was her time to go, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
“I wanted to see the next part of his life being for the support of his colleagues to lead the Labor government into the 2013 election but it was not to be,” she said.
Former Labor minister Combet recently told the ABC’s 7.30 that Ms Gillard had offered to stand aside for him if he wished to do battle with Mr Rudd, the Morning Bulletin reports.
However, Combet retired from politics at the 2013 election.
Have you missed Julia Gillard?
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Yes I do miss her very much and cannot wait for her book in Oct. I believe. History will show her accomplishments on behalf of Australians during a term where the environment was acutely hostile at all times. It's our loss
Pauline
Julia Gillard has had a unique view of what can happen to women in politics.
I'm of the belief that both she and the very right-wing Margaret Thatcher were "used" by the sexist men of their parties to be the faces of some really shitty policies.
It's also going to happen to Hillary Clinton if she becomes the 1st US female President.
The further away we get from those times the clearer my point may prove to be true.
I also don't believe that we'll see another female PM in this country for at least 10 years.........but she's out there waiting in the wings.
I have to say that I think that Julie Bishop has appeared to do a wonderful job of the role she's been given........the right demeanor & authority in handling the present airline tragedy's case.
But yes, I've missed Julia Gillard and her courage in standing up to the sexists/misogynists of both parties and the public.
She was never going to be popular but I'm sure she knew that.