My Story

Julia Gillard reveals in her own words what life was like as Australia's first female prime minister.

A detailed, yet surprisingly lively, first-hand account ... a unique insight into the good and bad sides of Australian politics today.

The best parts of the book are on gender. In fact, they should be required reading for anyone who says feminism's work is done.

In My Story, Ms Gillard addresses the sexism and misogyny she faced. She also documents her poisonous political feud with Mr Rudd.

An extraordinary story of political delivery ... A very good read indeed.

Born in Wales, Julia Gillard emigrated to Australia with her family and grew up in Adelaide. Sworn in as the 27th prime minister of Australia in June 2010 she served in that office until June 2013. 
 
As prime minister Julia Gillard delivered nation-changing policies, including reforming Australian education, creating an emissions trading scheme, improving the provision of health, aged and dental care and restructuring the telecommunications sector. 
 
In October 2012, Julia Gillard received worldwide attention for her speech in parliament on the treatment of women in professional and public life. 
 
After departing politics, Julia Gillard has accepted roles at the University of Adelaide and the Brookings Institution and was appointed chair of the Global Partnership for Education, an international initiative made up of nearly 60 developing countries, donor governments, international organisations, the private sector and civil society groups

‘[This] should be required reading for anyone who says feminism’s work is done.’ (Evening Standard) 
 
Here, in her own words, Julia Gillard reveals what life was really like as Australia’s first female prime minister. 
 
‘I was prime minister for three years and three days. Three years and three days of resilience. Three years and three days of changing the nation. Three years and three days for you to judge.’ 
 
____________________ 
 
On Wednesday, 23 June 2010, with the government in turmoil, Julia Gillard asked Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for a leadership ballot. 
 
The next day, Julia Gillard became Australia’s twenty-seventh – and first female – prime minister. Australia was alive to the historic possibilities. Here was a new approach for a new time. 
 
It was to last three extraordinary years. 
 
This is Julia Gillard’s chronicle of that turbulent time, a strikingly candid self-portrait of a political leader seeking to realize her ideals. It is her story of what it was like – in the face of government in-fighting and often hostile media – to: 
 
 Manage a hung parliament 
 
 Build a diverse and robust economy 
 
 Create an equitable and world-class education system 
 
 Ensure a dignified future for Australians with disabilities 
 
And doing this all while meeting international obligations and building strategic alliances for the future. This is a politician driven by a sense of purpose – from campus days with the Australian Union of Students, to a career in the law, to her often gritty, occasionally glittering rise up the ranks of the Australian Labour Party. 
 
Julia Gillard does not shy away from her mistakes, admitting freely to errors, misjudgements and policy failures, as well as detailing her political successes. This dazzling memoir is a reflection of what it means – and what it takes – to be a female leader in contemporary politics.

Julia Gillard

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Who better qualified to delve into this topic?

Lessons from some of the world’s most powerful women

Women make up less than 10 per cent of national leaders. Behind this statistic lies a pattern of unequal access to power. Drawing on current research and in conversation with some of the world's most powerful and interesting women about their lived experience, Gillard and Okonjo-Iweala explore gender bias and ask how we get more women into leadership roles. Speaking honestly and freely, women leaders such as Jacinda Ardern, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Bachelet and Theresa May talk about their ideas receiving less acknowledgement than their male colleagues' ideas, what it's like to be body-shamed in the media, and the things they wish they had done differently. Their stories reveal how gender and sexism affect perceptions of women as leaders, their pathways to power and the circumstances in which their leadership comes to an end. The result is a rare insight into life as a leader and a powerful call to arms for women everywhere.

Julia Gillard

Praise for Women and Leadership

Who better qualified to delve into this topic?

Books by Julia Gillard

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter