2 publishers · first seen Sun, 08 Nov 2026 18:00 UTC · updated Mon, 09 Nov 2026 01:26 UTC
In a recent episode of ABC's I Was Actually There, Julia Gillard, Australia's first female prime minister, reflected on her famous misogyny speech delivered on October 9, 2012. Gillard's speech, which went viral and became a rallying cry for women, was in response to Tony Abbott's accusations of sexism against her government. Abbott, who later became prime minister, described Gillard's speech as 'pretty over the top' and 'unjustified', though he acknowledged it had become an 'iconic moment'. The speech was delivered amid a scandal involving Speaker Peter Slipper, who was accused of sexual harassment and sending offensive texts. Despite the controversy, Slipper remained in his position, leading to accusations of double standards against Gillard's government.
Gillard's speech, which she delivered unscripted, was a response to Abbott's motion to sack Slipper over the text messages. Abbott had used a phrase similar to one used by radio host Alan Jones after Gillard's father died, which Gillard felt was a personal attack. The speech marked a turning point for Gillard, who had previously avoided addressing gendered critiques.
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