How Did Bob Hawke Become Australian

SINCE MALCOLM FRASER, WHO HAS BEEN AUSTRALIA’S ‘BEST’ POLITICAL LEADER, AND WHY?
During his time as Australia’s Prime Minister, Bob Hawke helped the Australian Labor Party win four consecutive elections, made changes to education and training system, had the highest popularity rate since the introduction of public opinion polls, and developed the ‘Wages Accord’. Despite this, Hawke’s popularity rating decreased throughout his time in power and was criticised for moving Labor away from its traditional socialist and working class roots; attracting more Liberal voters, and anxiety over his ability to win another term prompting his removal from as leader. (National Museum Australia, 2018). 27 years after Hawke was elected for the first time, and
19 years after he retired, Julia Gillard was elected unopposed to become Australia’s 27th prime minister, and Australia’s first woman to hold office.
She led Australia for only three years before retiring, but only after Kevin Rudd defeated her in a leadership ballot and was sworn in as Prime Minister. Gillard spent many years working in politics before becoming Prime Minister and during her time many important legislations were passed. More than this, however, was the symbolism and importance of Gillard being elected as Australia’s first female Prime Minister. Gillard’s leadership was nothing ever seen before for Australia and it is this, as well as her experience and actions that allows her to be considered ‘best’ among all other contenders.
Entering parliament for the first time in 1998, aged 37, Julia Gillard had spent the last 5 years trying three times to gain a seat, although this was in no way her first experience with politics. In 1982 she became the education vice-president of the Australian Union of Students, moving from Adelaide to Melbourne to do so. She became president in 1983 and also worked part time for the Socialist Forum, before completing her law degree in 1986. It has long been
considered that student politics are excellent training grounds for later success and Gillard is a prime example of this. After finally winning a seat, in 2001 Gillard entered the shadow cabinet and was given responsibility for redrafting Labor’s policies regarding immigration, national security and boat arrivals being the political hot topic of the time, and finding the middle ground. By 2004 Gillard was now the health spokeswoman for Labor (shadowing Tony Abbot) and was given the position of manager of opposition business by Mark Latham. By 2007 Gillard and Kevin Rudd had joined together to replace Kim Beazley and Gillard was sworn in as deputy prime minister, the first woman to ever hold that title. She was then given responsibility for employment, education and workplace relations, and the experience given by these being seen later in Gillard Government legislation, such as the Australian Education Act. In 2010, however, internal conflict and crisis prompted by Rudd’s leadership and the pace of policy change, allowed Gillard to move against Rudd and be elected as the new leader of the Labor party on the 24th of June. It is this level of involvement in the political field that made her such a great leader. After spending so long in the political environment, watching others lead and succeed, or fail, and being able to gain her own experience in all kinds of roles and levels of leadership Gillard had the knowledge and skill to make her the best leader Australia has had in 19 years.
Julia Gillard came to power within a divided party, some believing that her move against Kevin Rudd was disloyal, others maintaining their support of her, including many of the party’s key members.
Despite this division the Gillard Government still passed several key pieces of legislation, one such being the Clean Energy Act (2011). The carbon tax, like most of Gillard’s time in power, was considered to be controversial, especially as during the federal election, it was said that there would be no such tax under her government. Despite this, the tax ended up being introduced due to governmental agreements with the Greens and passed through parliament with the support of several independents. This tax was designed to help combat climate change, taxing carbon emissions and, thereby, hoping to significantly decrease Australia’s output of CO2 as Australia “will suffer the full effects of global warming arising from the emissions of other countries” (Parliament of Australia, 2011) even if it doesn’t produce to the same extent. Another key piece of legislation passed during Gillard’s first year in power, following trials in 2010, was the National Broadband Network. This was designed to improve the efficiency and reliability of phone and internet services and, still running today, quotes its key objective as ensuring “all Australians have access to fast broadband as soon as possible, at affordable prices, and at least cost,” (NBN, 2018). Legislation such as this clearly comes about
as a direct need to improve the lives of the Australian public, making it easier and better quality across the board. Another step towards improving the quality of people’s lives took form in the plain packaging laws. In an effort to reduce the amount of Australian smokers the Gillard Government introduced this law, forcing cigarette packages to reduce their attractiveness and make the health warnings more obvious. Another drastic step Gillard took, again out of concern for the Australian public, was announcing the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, investigating the claims of child sexual abuse within institutions, including churches and schools. This also investigated their responses and whether or not they were considered to be satisfactory. After five years of inquiries, Gillard’s vision of the Commission was finally met in 2017, the final report being presented to the Governor General “detailing the culmination of a five year inquiry into institutional responses to child sexual abuse and related matters” (Royal Commission, 2017). In her final year as Prime Minister the Gillard Government passed two more key pieces of legislation; the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the Australian Education Act. The NDIS was created to offer support for people with permanent and significant disabilities, as well as their parents and carers, and was initiated due to the growing awareness of a need for major reform within disability services. The Australian Education Act was the last major piece of legislation the Gillard Government was responsible for, being passed on Gillard’s final day as Prime Minister and implementing reforms, such as a drastic increase in school funding to find proper resources for teachers, in the hopes that, by 2025, Australian schools would be in the top 5 in the world. Despite working within a divided party and running a minority government, Gillard still managed to pass many key, and important, legislations. This shows commitment and determination, even in the face of adversity, and the focus of these acts was always to improve the Australian public’s wellbeing and way of life, demonstrating Gillard’s connection and dedication to the people she served. This focus and dedication is what makes her the best political leader seen since Hawke; she persevered and made changes for the better of Australia and its people, whether or not it won her the public’s approval, as Gillard herself said “I know reform is never easy, but I know reform is right,” (The Sydney Morning Herald, 2011).
Coming to power in a divided party and with the smallest majority seen since the 1940s is never going to make for an easy term, but paired with Gillard’s status as the first Australian woman to ever hold office, the pressure was increased tenfold. Despite this pressure however, Gillard quickly proved herself up to the task, successfully leading the Labor party, and the Gillard Government, for three years. During this time Gillard proved a woman is able to hold such an important position of power and can cope with the stresses and tribulations of the role. In this way, Gillard’s importance in Australian politics, and history, goes far beyond those of many other Prime Ministers. As first woman to hold the position of Deputy Prime Minister, the first woman to hold the position of Prime Minister of Australia and a woman with over 15 years of experience in politics, Gillard became a figurehead and symbol for the women of Australia, paving the way for those to come, “what I am absolutely confident of is it will be easier for the next woman and the woman after that and the woman after that. And I'm proud of that.” (ABC News, 2013). During Gillard’s time as Prime Minister she demonstrated a strength of character on multiple occasions, easily able to rival that of her male counterparts, such as that exemplified in her famous ‘misogyny’ speech. In this speech Gillard unapologetically demands change and an acceptance of responsibility from the male members of parliament, directing much of the speech at Tony Abbot, the opposition party leader, and someone who frequently appeared to tear down Gillard based on her femininity, standing by signs declaring her a ‘witch’ and a man’s ‘b***h’, among other things. Gillard states; “The Leader of the Opposition says that people who hold sexist views and who are misogynists are not appropriate for high office. Well I hope the Leader of the Opposition has got a piece of paper and he is writing out his resignation. Because if he wants to know what misogyny looks like in modern Australia, he doesn't need a motion in the House of Representatives, he needs a mirror,” (The Sydney Morning Herald, 2012). It is through this moment and many more seen throughout her time as Prime Minister that show exactly why Gillard should be considered Australis’s best Prime Minister; Julia Gillard has shown Australia what a woman in power can look like but, beyond that, she has also shown the women of Australia exactly what they can aspire to be. Through Gillard’s success the door is open for more women to enter politics, and to entertain the idea of entering politics, and to be more than a representative or an aid. A women can become Prime Minister, and it’s thanks to Julia Gillard that all of Australia knows that.
Although her time as Prime Minister was short Julia Gillard still left a lasting impression on the Australian public, some loving her, some hating her, but whatever the public decide to think of her, Gillard began a new era of Australian politics. After many years of experience and hard work in the political field, first as a member of parliament and finally as Prime Minister, Julia Gillard has proven to be a strong leader, smart negotiator, and a politician worthy of respect and admiration. She can be considered Australia’s best political leader because she never aimed to be. Instead, through her legislation and her actions, it can be seen that she wants the best for the Australian public and, during her time as Prime Minister, did everything within her power to bring about positive change and improvements. Julia Gillard has set the stage for bigger and better things to come, both for women in politics, but also Australia itself. “Through hard work and education, we can deliver a strong economy and opportunity for all.” It is this simplistic view and strong stance that has allowed Julia Gillard to become the best.