This is long (15 minutes) but well worth persevering through. This ABC News video, available here on You Tube, shows Australian Prime Minister verbally eviscerate the Leader of the Opposition, calling him out on sexism, misogyny and hypocrisy.
There are occasions when a politician approaches a tricky situation with a good argument, the evidence to back it up and is able to deliver both in a devastatingly brilliant manner.
The Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, had proposed a motion of no confidence in the Parliament’s Speaker over inappropriate and sexist text messages. Gillard’s critique of Abbott’s past sexist remarks and behaviour, which included taking part in events where Gillard was described as a bitch and a witch, was highly effective. She also expressed her anger at comments at an event, attended by opposition figures, that her recently deceased father died of shame.
In the end, the Speaker kept his job by one vote – only to resign later, leaving Gillard’s already fragile coalition in an even more fragile condition.
If only the Prime Minister could be as committed to all forms of equality and introduce equal marriage.
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
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15 Comments
Go Julia!
Wow – impressive!
Just amazing. Well done Julia!
Just to check I’ve understood the context – she was defending the Speaker against accusations of sexism by arguing that one of his accusers is even more sexist himself. That argument seems rather fallacious to me, but perhaps I’ve misunderstood, as Caron and Lynne are cheering her on.
She wasn’t so much defending the Speaker – she was more pointing out the hypocrisy of the Leader of the Opposition who was no less guilty of sexism and misogyny. I think it was a highly impressive performance.
“She wasn’t so much defending the Speaker”
But she was speaking against the no-confidence motion, and voted against it?
So what did the opposition leader say in reply?
That was some put-down. The guy looked shell-shocked by the end of it.
Great theatre! 🙂
Certainly a classic! Should be shown in all schools.
Wow. That told him! That seating arrangement,where leaders of parties sit apart from their group, makes it a more individual interaction so he had to sit there and take it on the chin.
While i applaud all she said – you have to question her motivations don’t you? http://aviewfromhamcommon.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/julia-gillard-all-right-words-all-wrong_11.html
It is a simple matter of public record that Julia Gillard has been subjected to an appalling barrage of abuse for a year an a half, that no man would have been subjected to. Gillard’s only “crime” was becoming Prime Minister, whilst in possession of a uterus. She has kept her dignity for long enough, Tony Abbott richly deserved what she dealt him.
Abbott is dreadful but Gillard isn’t blameless. She appointed a known dodgy character as Speaker to avoid having to nominate someone in her own party, which would have destroyed her government’s tiny majority (this has now happened with said dodgy character’s downfall).
Many Australian politicians are appalling and hilarious in equal measure. It’s a warning to Lib Dems that there are voting systems even worse than FPTP. And a cheery reminder that a country can thrive despite its political class rather than due to their competence and honesty.
Gillard I’m ambivalent about in some respects – same sex marriage and her position on Assange being two. But on this issue she is right on the mark. Although she was directly addressing sexism in political culture, in particular Abbot’s attitudes and behavior, her speech will resonate more broadly. Australia is still lagging behind on gender equality issues in the workplace, for example in areas such as wage parity and promotion. Sexual harassment in the workplace is also an issue. In order to change entrenched attitudes it often necessary to mount a forceful challenge. She certainly did that – in fine style.