I right wing” was “not treatingthe what shecalls “the reactionary an independent. and crossedthefloortostand as of ScottMorrison’s government, bullying and “madness” attheheart blew thewhistleonwhatshe callsthe the firsttimesinceshecourageously interview, speakingatlengthfor bold andextraordinarilyfrankexclusive focused,” shetellsTheWeekly ina But shewasalsoresolute. “I wasvery about them. much ofwhatJuliahadtosaywas leader, whichispertinent, because Malcolm Turnbull fromhisjobas months beforehadsobrutallyremoved his tight-knitteam, whojustthree wasn’t intheHouse. Neitherwere boss, PrimeMinisterScottMorrison, Australia inaflash. Julia’s new recess, herwordsechoedaround Exclusive 30 Julia feltherpartyandespecially Julia confessesshewasnervous. 27, daysbeforetheChristmas the strokeofnoononNovember Banks stoodupinparliamenton voices areheard, butwhenJulia t’s aroomwhere toofewfemale bullyboys!” off, “Back The Australian Women’s Weekly sensationally crossingsensationally thefloor to stand asanindependent. Inano-holds- barred interview shetells Juliet Rieden thetruthaboutLiberal party coup, why her mumisher role model andhow her husband proposed. Julia BanksJulia isthecourageous Liberal the bullies by MPwhochallenged |

JANUARY 2019

children. Shehatesthe viewthat law, duringwhichsheraised two a highlysuccessfulcareerin corporate all-expenses-paid postingtoNew York. hustling heroutoftheirway withan and thentryingtoshutherup by her back, spreadingmaliciousrumours supposed colleagues, “sniping” behind treatment shehadreceivedbyher this newcabinet. the peoplewhoelectedherbehind stand byandthrowthesupportof they deserve.” Shesimplycouldn’t Australian publicwiththerespect Julia BankscametoCanberra from Enough wasenough! She wasalsodismayedatthe old with Mike?’” with old I going togrow “I woke up and doctor was, ‘am doctor‘am was, the first thing thing first the I said to the Julia BANKS

surgery andIsaid, ‘I don’t wantyou Mike proposed. “It was justbefore my remembers Julia. and itwasanawful, awfultime,” here byChristmas. So, Ihadtowait away. Ifit’s cancer A youwon’t be we operateandcan’t operatestraight or cancerBandwewon’t knowuntil “The specialistsaidit’s eithercancer A and forcedhertogothedoctor’s. dating, noticedalumponJulia’s neck I knewthenhewastheone,” shesays. “He justmademelaugh. Iwas29and worked inthemarketingdepartment. legal counselforKraftFoodsandhe dapper Englishman, whenshewasthe in beachsideBrighton, Melbourne. in thelivingroomofhermother’s home planning more,” shetellsmeaswesit bear theemotionaloverloadand women can, too, butwomentendto time foryearsandyears, andIthink both. “Men havehaditallatthesame even consideredthatshecouldn’t have motherhood oracareerandnever women mustchoosebetween During that “very emotionalperiod” It wasMikewho, whentheywere Julia metherhusbandMike, a →

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIAN KINGMA. HAIR AND MAKE-UP BY JULIA GREEN.

PICTURE CREDITS TO GO HERE PLEASE

JANUARY 2019 | The Australian Women’s Weekly Slug here

31 Exclusive Slug here

marrying me just because I feel sorry Left: Julia and Mike and (below) with kids Sam and for myself’,” she says laughing. “Your Emma; preparing her maiden whole life flashes before you and I went speech; graduating from uni immediately to thinking, yes, I want with parents Helen and Phil. “The woman is to have children, I want to have a [ ] family, I want all of these things.” made out to be Julia said yes to the proposal and then either a liar or she’s was wheeled into surgery, wondering if she’d make it down the aisle. over-emotional.” “Apparently, I woke up and the first thing I said to the doctor was, ‘am I going to grow old with Mike?’ and he said, ‘yes, you are’. And then I went back to sleep.” It turned out to be cancer B, a capillary cancer of the thyroid gland which involved having a complete thyroidectomy followed by radioactive iodine treatment. “Because of the treatment we were told I had to wait Julia and her mother, Helen, at least 12 months after I got the at Melbourne’s Brighton all clear before getting pregnant. So Beach where they regularly we put off having children for three go walking together. years and I was 32 when I had my first,” says Julia. “When I had Sam I was the first female senior manager in Kraft to have a baby and I remember the CEO said, ‘we’re so proud of you!’. Then the HR manager, who was junior to me, came female CEO who was brought out to into my office and he said, ‘now, you’re Australia from Europe and “her key going on maternity leave so we’re objective – or KPI – was to balance the going to cancel your health insurance’. gender imbalance in the organisation”. Julia’s approach to her new job Julia, now 56, headed to Canberra more effectively represent them as “I said, wait a minute, cancel my Julia says she saw quotas in action was clear. She had campaigned by “a parliamentary novice” with “a lot an independent. health insurance? He said, ‘yes, you’re and suddenly there were more women blitzing her electorate, speaking to learn”, filled with passion and But this wasn’t the only reason having a baby, you’re not sick so you in her workplace in senior positions. personally to anyone and everyone, excitement. But she quickly realised for her dramatic actions. Julia was won’t be entitled.’ I was appalled, that When later she entered politics, she listening to their concerns and telling being heard was going to be an incensed by the leadership coup to was part of my package and to cut a knew that fighting for gender equality them what she stood for. As the uphill battle, especially in a party remove Malcolm Turnbull, and not long story short, I went into the CEO would be one of her driving ambitions. daughter of Greek migrants – Julia’s with a slender one-seat majority. just the fact of it but how it had and he said, that’s just ridiculous and mum was raised in Williamstown by “The party room was not what played out. they changed the rules.” Canberra, here I come! Greek parents and her father Phil I expected. I spoke up many times “It was all driven from Tony Julia says having Sam changed Julia first entered the House as the came out to Australia aged 15 without and particularly on programs about Abbott’s opposition,” says Julia. her life but not her desire to work. shiny new Liberal member of Chisholm a word of English – she had personal women I’d get the eye roll from the “Tony Abbott, Peter Dutton, Greg “I imagined that I would be one of in September 2016, a seat which experience of the racism that many right-wing reactionary group.” Hunt – that whole program to knife these mothers who just revelled in it, had been in Labor’s hands for “authentic feminism”, and was full in her diverse electorate face. At So, when those reactionaries seized Malcolm was driven by and led but I remember in about my third 18 consecutive years. No one in of passion and promise. It also singled school, Julia recalls being “really control, Julia knew she couldn’t stay. by them.” month of maternity leave with Sam her party believed she could win – out her mum, Helen, now 80, for hurt” when a boy called her “a wog” She was in parliament to represent Julia describes a party riven by I thought, I’ve got to get back to in fact, that was why they happily inspiring her to reach for the stars in the playground, and adds when the people, not tow the party line, factions and personal ego trips which work. I’ve got to do something more. handed the seat to this plucky party and teaching her to never be her grandfather came to Australia especially when that line had shifted just wasn’t what she’d signed up for. If I have to have one more coffee and newcomer, a corporate lawyer and dependent on anyone. For the women and opened a fish and chip shop, significantly to the right. “I’d always She also quickly realised that too cake morning with babies...” mother of two with crazy notions of Australia from all political divides, “he was told never to speak Greek been very open about my moderate many members of the Liberal Party Seventeen months later, Julia was about female empowerment. But it was like a window had opened in the street because he would views. My views are very socially resorted to bullying and intimidation pregnant with Emma and by that time back then they didn’t know in the stifling male-centric House of be bashed”. progressive,” she explains. to get their way. The revolt was she knew working and motherhood Julia Banks. Representatives. And for those in She says her family, “didn’t have Under this new Liberal agenda, gathering pace with secret phone went hand in hand for her. When Julia’s maiden speech championed what Julia calls “the sensible centre”, much money but had a lot of love”, Julia felt she had no choice but to calls flying around the party. And she joined pharmaceutical company the urgent need to address gender here was a voice of reason that also and her parents scrimped and saved take those who voted for her to hovering in the background was GlaxoSmithKline, Julia worked for a equality and the importance of happened to be female. to educate Julia and her brother. the crossbench, where she could then Treasurer Scott Morrison. →

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“Everyone was getting calls” couldn’t have happened without her says Julia. And the WhatsApp chat working as well. When I was a child group which Julia was part of, and “When I was she was always the one who stepped originally started as a drinks invite a child Mum in, because Dad [who died in 2007] for moderates, was being used to was very traditional. I can remember spread misinformation. Several MPs was always when I was going through the careers on the right wing used bullying tactics book with Mum and I said, ‘Mum, to persuade people, including Julia, to the one who I want to be a journalist or a lawyer’ vote differently. “We got the direction and she said, ‘well, that’s what you to move our votes from Julie [Bishop] stepped in should be’.” to Scott [Morrison].” The argument for me.” When she was young, Julia recalls was that votes for Julie Bishop would her dad Phil working long hours as split the opposition and Peter Dutton a waiter. “He worked so hard and would win. I used to really worry because he used “I said no, I’m voting for Julie to take the train at night home from in the first round, and then I had work. I remember I used to wait to people sent to me and phone calls, go to sleep until I heard his key in the trying to move my vote.” The front door. I was scared about what intimidation for Julia and others might happen to him.” in the party was relentless. “The Above, left and right: Julia with Julia’s husband, executive recruiter former Prime Minister, Malcolm thing that happens with bullying Mike, her “great life love”, was Turnbull, and former Foreign is people were afraid. They started Minister, Julie Bishop. Right: initially shocked when Julia said she becoming really concerned that pictured after her resignation. was going to leave her high-paying Peter Dutton was seriously going Opposite page, bottom: Julia job as a legal counsel and run for to win. Men and women were being and her mum, circa mid-1960s. parliament. But now he is totally harassed and bullied.” supportive and her “rock” in Julia was horrified. As far as she no punches. She talked of “internal So it was all like ‘she’s a weakie’. everything she does. was concerned, “if it wasn’t going to political games, factional party “I’ve seen it in the business world, With the election in spitting be Malcolm it had to be Julie. She’s figures, self-proclaimed power-brokers where the woman is either a liar or distance and rumours swirling that 20 years in the parliament, lauded as and certain media personalities she made it up or she’s doing it for it might be called as early as March, the best foreign minister in the world, who bear vindictive, mean-spirited publicity or notoriety. She’s emotional I wonder if Julia will change her mind communication skills of a genius, and grudges intent on settling their or she’s over-emotional,” says Julia. and stand as an independent. “I just a woman. Seriously, a true Liberal personal scores.” As the media storm continued, need time. It’s been a really intense and we knew Julie Bishop was Labor’s She said, “last week’s events were Julia was offered a parliamentary year. I need the summer to decide my worst nightmare. I thought if it loses the last straw” and added, “I will United Nations secondment to spend future career path,” she says. Julia by one vote and it’s Peter Dutton always call out bad behaviour and three months in New York. “I saw feels that her Liberal Party has been then I’ll quit straight away.” will not tolerate any form of bullying that for what it was. It was definitely highjacked by the right wing and she In that first vote Julie Bishop or intimidation.” to silence ... I actually said, ‘will you has been deluged with people who received 11 votes, with 38 for Peter Julia was besieged with calls of tell the bully boys to back off or When I ask Julia her thoughts on independence ... and not to be agree with her and want moderate Dutton and 36 to Scott Morrison. support, but almost immediately a I’m headed to the crossbench’.” Scott Morrison, she describes him dependent on anyone.” voices in the House. When after the second vote she was picture started to build in the media And so, at noon on November 27, as traditional and a deeply religious When Julia’s daughter Emma faced with Scott Morrison as the new which she says came directly from Julia stood up in the House to man. “I think John Howard is his Mum, my role model was born she made her a promise. Prime Minister, Julia went into shock. members of the new government. announce her decision to cross the mentor and it was only two years Julia learnt this at an early age from Emma is now 22, and studying “I felt devastated.” “There was, apparently, floor. She outlined the need for an ago, the week before my maiden her mum, Helen Lolatgis, who she for her Master’s in Business and backgrounding that I was an independent whistleblower system speech, I remember when John says has always been her role model. Marketing at Melbourne University. The final straw emotional wreck.” Backgrounding within Canberra for politicians to Howard said, we will never get to While her two brothers became Her brother Sam, 23, is also there Initially Julia thought she should suck is when a politician talks to the report, “misconduct of those in 50-50 representation in politics doctors, Helen was forced to give studying Medicine. it up and try to make it work, but media off the record with “helpful” power without fear of reprisal and because women focus on their caring up her dream of being a nurse “It was the first night after she was very quickly she realised that wasn’t background material that they won’t retribution”. And it was clear to all responsibilities ... I think that view is because, “it wasn’t the done thing born and I was just holding her and possible. “With all the reprisals and be directly quoted on. what she was talking about. quite entrenched. for a girl to be away from home” I said, ‘I love you and I promise I’ll do sniping I couldn’t do it,” she says. Julia says people from inside and When Scott Morrison finally spoke “Most of the men in the Liberal says Julia. In the end, ironically, whatever I can to make the world a “It would be disingenuous of me.” outside the party started a vicious to Julia on the phone at 4pm that day, Party, their wives don’t work. Helen worked as the medical better place for women, for you,’” “They tried to talk me out of it. campaign against her. “[MP and his biggest concern seemed to be that They’re at home with the kids,” she receptionist in her brother’s practice. Julia shares. They wanted me to delay it so there Dutton supporter] Craig Kelly said, Julia didn’t have any personal issue says. “Now I don’t have an issue “I remember Dad didn’t want her She has already delivered on would be the cliche of, ‘I’m leaving ‘she needs to roll with the punches’. with him. As Julia sees it, he didn’t with stay-at-home mums but I do in to go to work. But Mum wanted that promise but I strongly suspect for personal reasons’.” [Former senator] Helen Kroger said, want blood on his hands, he didn’t want the sense that I believe all women to provide us with things like a she feels she still has work to do.

Julia’s speech in the House pulled ‘Hmm, perhaps politics isn’t for her’. to be held accountable for the coup. AAP. NEWSPIX. GETTY. should ... ensure their financial private school education, which Watch this space! AWW

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