Julia Eileen Gillard
AustraliaBiography of Julia Eileen Gillard
Julia Eileen Gillard was born on September 29, 1961, in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, Great Britain. Her family moved to Adelaide, Australia in 1966, seeking a warmer climate. Gillard grew up in a Baptist family but openly admits to not believing in God, although she respects others' right to religious freedom.
Gillard attended the University of Adelaide, but in 1982, she relocated to Melbourne, where she became the second woman to lead the Australian Union of Students. In 1986, she graduated from the University of Melbourne with a degree in law. The following year, Gillard began working at the law firm 'Slater & Gordon at Werribee', and at the age of 29, she was offered a partnership.
From 1996 to 1998, Gillard served as Chief of Staff to John Brumby, the leader of the Victorian opposition. During this time, she was responsible for developing affirmative action rules for the Australian Labor Party in Victoria to ensure at least 35 percent of candidates were women.
Gillard was elected to the Australian House of Representatives in 1998, representing the Lalor electorate, after Barry Jones resigned. Her first speech in the House took place on November 11, 1998. After the Labor Party's defeat in the 2001 elections, Gillard became the Shadow Minister for Population and Immigration. In February 2003, she took on additional portfolios relating to indigenous affairs.
Following the political scandals involving refugees aboard the 'Tampa' and the 'Children Overboard' incident, which significantly contributed to the Labor Party's loss, Gillard worked on developing a new immigration policy. In July 2003, she became the Shadow Minister for Health, and in December 2006, she became the Deputy Leader of the Opposition under Kevin Rudd.
After the Labor Party's victory in the 2007 federal elections, Gillard was sworn in as Australia's first female Deputy Prime Minister. She also served as the Minister for Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations. As the Minister for Education, Gillard led a government program that allocated 16 billion Australian dollars for the construction of new schools and libraries.
On June 24, 2010, when Rudd lost the support of his party and resigned, Julia Gillard became the leader of the Australian Labor Party and, subsequently, the Prime Minister. She was the first woman to hold this position and the first unmarried prime minister since 1923. On July 17, 2010, Gillard announced that the next federal elections would take place on August 21, 2010.
Gillard's priorities in domestic policy, like her predecessor, include healthcare, education, environmental protection, and strict immigration control. She has never been married and does not have children. Since 2006, she has been in a de facto relationship with real estate agent Tim Mathieson.
