Julia Gillard’s Political Achievements

Every time a woman becomes a head of the state, the media’s limelight shines on her. People question whether she would actually make a difference, or end up being a political housewife like some of the others. The same happened with Gillard, when she was elected as Australia’s new Prime Minster. But this redhead has a enviable list of political achievements to her name.

At university in the early 80s, Gillard became the second woman to head the Australian Union of Students. When she formally joined the law field, she ended up drafting the affirmative action rule in the Labor Party, which encourages it to select 35% seats for women in the party. Once in office, first as the Shadow Minister for Population and then as Prime Minister, she is set to draft a new immigration policy. According to her, the current policy requires major changes, and that Australia should ensure that they have “the right kind of migrants”. In reply to opposition, she assures the public that being concerned over Australian borders is not at all a racial approach.

Like her predecessors, health has remained her biggest concern. In an agenda, she announced an increase in the number of emergency doctors and nursing staff. She also plans on increasing the number of nursing scholarships in the country. In a detailed program, she mentioned her concerns over mental health and alarming suicide rates.

In a climate conference in Brisbane, she called for the establishment of a 150-member citizen committee, which would work for a greener Australia. She also announced a $2000 subsidy for cashing old cars. She has plans on cracking down dirty power plants, and has announced a $ 1 billion worth of investment for the formulation of a green electricity grid. For this, the business community has given her a positive response.

As Prime Minister, she has made it clear that the current marriage policy, which defines a legal marriage “between a man and woman” would remain the same, and that she is against gay marriages. However, she stands for abortions and making Australia a republic.