Women
First woman Prime Minister
24 June 2010
Julia Gillard is the first woman to be Prime Minister of Australia.
Australia’s first woman Prime Minister, the Honourable Julia Gillard AC, was sworn in on 24 June 2010. She became Prime Minister when she was elected by the Australian Labor Party to replace Kevin Rudd as leader of the government. She was the 27th Prime Minister of Australia.
While Prime Minister, Julia Gillard spoke out about misogyny and the treatment of women in Australian politics. After leaving Parliament, she concentrated on addressing women’s under-representation in leadership serving as the chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership.
Although many Australian women could vote and stand for election from 1902 and the first women were elected to the Australian Parliament in 1943, the number of female members of parliament did not reach double figures until 1980. Many political parties have worked to increase the number of female candidates and representatives, increasing the number of women in Parliament, especially in leadership positions. In 2022, there were more female than male senators for the first time.
The Hon. Julia Gillard AC, 2018
Vincent Fantauzzo (born 1977). Historic Memorials Collection, Parliament House Art Collection, Department of Parliamentary Services, Canberra, ACT.
The Hon. Julia Gillard AC, 2018
Vincent Fantauzzo (born 1977). Historic Memorials Collection, Parliament House Art Collection, Department of Parliamentary Services, Canberra, ACT.
Description
Vincent Fantauzzo painted this portrait of Julia Gillard, the first woman Prime Minister of Australia, in 2018. It is part of the Historic Memorials Collection in the Parliament House Art Collection.
Permission for publication must be sought from Parliament House Art Collection. Contact DPS Art Services, phone: 02 62775034 or 02 62775123