Prime Minister Of Australia

The Honorable Julia Eileen Gillard is the first female and the 27th Prime Minister of Australia. Gillard was elected Prime Minister in the Federal Election of 2010 and was officially sworn in on June 24, 2010. Prior to becoming Prime Minister of Australia, Gillard already had a long career in politics and as a public servant which included the House of Representatives, member of the Shadow Cabinet, Deputy Labor Leader, and Deputy Prime Minister in 2007.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard was born September 29, 1961 in Barry Wales. When she was five years old her family moved to Adelaide, Australia, where they renounced their British citizenship and became Australian citizens. Gillard began her college education at the University of Adelaide, where she was became interested in labor and politics. After becoming involved with the Australian Union of Students, she moved to Melbourne where she graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Law degree in 1986. After college, Gillard was hired at the law firm of Slater & Gordon working in employment law and was accepted as the firm’s newest partner in 1990 at the age of 29.

Her involvement with the Socialist Forum showed her political attitude was clearly left wing. In 1983, Gillard served as the second woman to lead the Australian Union of Students. Gillard went on to serve for three years as Chief of Staff to John Brumby, the leader of the Australian Labor Party. In 1998, Prime Minister Gillard was elected to the House of Representatives.

Julia Gillard’s political career attracted major attention in 2001, when she was elected Shadow Minister for Population and Immigration until 2003. Gillard was promoted to Shadow Health Minister in 2003. In 2007 to 2010, Gillard became the first female Deputy Prime Minister for the Employment, Workplace Relations, and Social Inclusion. After the Federal Election of 2010, Julia Gillard replaced Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to become the first female Prime Minister of Australia.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard fought for the rights and job conditions of the working men and women of Australia throughout her political career. On March 10, 2011, Prime Minister Julia Gillard addressed both houses of Congress. In her speech, she praised the long alliance between Australia and America, remarking,” Your brave and free people have made you the masters of recovery and reinvention. As I stand in this cradle of democracy I see a nation that has changed the world and known remarkable days. I firmly believe you are the same people who amazed me when I was a small girl by landing on the moon. On that great day I believed Americans could do anything. I believe that still. You can do anything today.” Her years as a Labor Leader were apparent in her speech when she was quoted as saying "We believe life is given direction and purpose by work. Without work there is corrosive aimlessness. With the loss of work comes the loss of dignity. This is why, in each of our countries, the great goal of all we do in the economy is the same to ensure that everyone who can work does work.”