ADVERTISEMENT Credit where credit is due WE HAVE all witnessed something The ensuing toxic political discourse We pay tribute to retiring Independents Tony extraordinary in Australian politics over surrounding the Prime Minister and the Windsor and Rob Oakeshott for their true the past three years. minority government gave public licence independence, their courage and hard work in across the community, online and elsewhere, upholding democratic values; and for enduring The 43rd parliament came to a close with the for an unprecedented campaign of sexist with dignity, the threatening abuse aimed at removal of Julia Gillard as the nation’s first and chauvinist abuse, denigration, double them, their partners and staff. female Prime Minister: the first woman ever to standards, gross disrespect for the office of hold the position after one hundred and ten years The success of this minority government has Prime Minister and gross disrespect for her as of federal political leadership that saw 26 male come at a significant cost. a person. Prime Ministers elevated to the highest office. The past three years have led to a great loss It has been a fraught political environment The frenzy of the forthcoming federal election of civility and common decency, a poisonous and we remain baffled by several of the Gillard campaign will change the nation’s focus. Before political discourse and a downturn in respect government’s policies – on immigration and it’s too late, we want to pay public tribute to those for our leaders. We now have a climate in which asylum seekers, reducing economic support for who made this period of democratic minority people willingly and disrespectfully attack single parents and the Prime Minister’s position government a successful one - against the odds. one another in anonymous and often vitriolic on same–sex marriage. By and large, however, commentary that is no substitute for mature The federal election of 2010 delivered a hung she has displayed an enormous capacity and democratic debate. There is a jaded cynicism parliament. Prime Minister Gillard successfully style of effective leadership rarely seen in and a sense of deep despair and powerlessness negotiated and formed a minority government, parliamentary leaders across the political across much of the community. the fourteenth in our history. This coalition of spectrum. She oversaw the introduction of a the ALP, Independents and the Greens, opted to raft of impressive and far-reaching legislation, With men now back in their perceived ‘rightful provide careful, thoughtful, stable government showing high-order negotiation skill, sharp place’ as political leaders of both the government for a full term, so that our national government intelligence and a great ability to command and Opposition there will be little gendered could get on with the business of governing in strategy and detail across complex issues. attack in political circles. But the seams of the national interest. And it did just that. aggressive contempt and sexist abuse that lay Much of this legislation is nation-building, beneath everyday life and which surfaced with However, from the outset, and despite its addressing our common future as Australians Julia Gillard’s elevation as Prime Minister, have democratic legitimacy, the Gillard-led minority – the introduction of a carbon price, the roll not gone away. government sparked an unheralded series of out of a National Broadband Network, The hostile reactions from different quarters across Murray-Darling Basin Plan, a ground-breaking We have just lost our very first woman Prime the country. National Disability Insurance Scheme, a much Minister – a woman with a great sense of more equitable model for funding primary and purpose and skill, a true reformer. Julia Gillard’s An Opposition Leader, stung by being denied secondary education, a national paid parental final observation, in a speech of supreme grace, what he saw as his due, proceeded to launch leave scheme, and the establishment of the was that her experience as the country’s first a ‘seek and destroy’ mission centred on Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse. female Prime Minister will make it easier for the opportunistic appeals to people’s prejudices and There were many more reforms. Achievements next woman, and the next and the next. If this fears. A deposed Prime Minister, stung from in foreign policy, including Prime Minister proves to be the case, she will deserve further being removed so decisively by a Caucus that Gillard negotiating the basis for future high recognition and gratitude. had lost faith in his capacity, spent the next three level discussions with China, were notable and years currying allies on a parallel treacherous Smoother passage for the generations of younger more far-reaching than those of her recent ‘seek and destroy’ mission – with Prime Minister women coming through the ranks will only come predecessors. Gillard squarely in his sights. about with more commitment – changes within On her watch as the nation’s Prime Minister, political parties themselves, a greater focus on Significant sections of the mainstream media our growing economy has been the envy of the the benefits to be gained from gender equality, fuelled these separate but powerful agendas by world - low unemployment, low interest rates, cultural change that reduces violent abuse and refusing to accept the legitimacy of the minority low inflation and triple-A credit ratings. sexism and social action at many levels of our government with Julia Gillard at the helm. Her society. many achievements went largely unproclaimed We salute former Prime Minister Julia Gillard while her mistakes were amplified - and for getting on with the business of governing The truly ugly aspect of our national life revealed continually referenced. Instead of delivering for us, the people; for the skilful negotiation, by the past three years should give cause for us dispassionate reporting, seasoned journalists resolve and the leadership required to maintain all to reflect on what else is required to restore and broadcasters became players in the game. the confidence of the Lower House; for steering and maintain respect, civility, common decency the government through a full term; for enabling and a fair go for women - in our society and in Low showing in opinion polls was attributed to close to 500 pieces of legislation to be passed; for our democratic politics. her poor communication and her government’s introducing significant and visionary reforms performance, without factoring in the damaging that will deliver great benefit to the Australian Mary Crooks AO Diana Batzias impact of the on-going duplicity within her people in the time to come; and for remaining Executive Director Acting Convenor own party. The very day in March this year that Victorian Women’s Trust Victorian Women’s Trust strong and poised when everything bar the Prime Minister Gillard delivered a majestic Author of A Switch in Time kitchen sink was thrown at her. Sorry speech on forced adoptions, a speech that www.vwt.org.au belongs to the store of great national oratory, she We pay tribute to those male and female The Board and staff of the Victorian Women’s had to contend with yet another destabilising colleagues who worked with her on the nation’s Trust wish to thank the generous and thoughtful leadership meeting at which her opponent failed behalf, respected her capacity and gave her the women who provided us with the funds to place to declare himself. loyalty she deserved. this statement on the public record – without the privilege of tax deductibility. Authorised by Mary Crooks AO Victorian Women’s Trust 9th floor 313 La Trobe Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Image by Timothy Lorkovic Timothy Image by.