Don't judge a Prime Minister by its gender
June 29th 2010 06:40
The news blasting around the world from Australia is that we have a female Prime Minister. At last. New Zealand got one 13 years ago, Britain 31 years ago, Sri Lanka 50 years ago and Egypt 3483 years ago. About the only places in the world yet to elect a female head of state are the United States and the Vatican.
Gillard replaced incumbent Kevin Rudd on Thursday morning in what the media described as a bloodless coup, Opposition leader Tony Abbott described as a midnight mugging and internal Labor Party polls described as an essential move if the Federal Government wanted to get any votes at all at the next election.
All this is missing the point. While everyone is falling about congratulating Australia for hauling itself into the present by appointing its first female Prime Minister, Julia Gillard pointed out that Australia had appointed its first redhead to lead the country.
That’s the real news – Australia has a Prime Minister with a sense of humour. It’s been a long time coming. The last time Kevin Rudd was funny was when he was seven years old and had a sneezing accident. The only time John Howard was funny was when fielding in MPs v. journalist cricket matches.
It is not, however, the only way our new leader is unique in terms of Australian prime ministerial qualities.
Gillard is the first not to be married. Not only that, but reporters interviewing the proud Gillard parents managed to ferret out the fact that the PM's only sibling isn't married either. Neither of them ever have been. This shocking example for prospective members of the Family First Party so dumbfounded its leader, Senator Steve Fielding, that he described the Prime Minister's out-of-wedlock relationship as "irrelevant". He could, in retrospect, have made more of his three seconds of television news air-time.
Gillard was the first to be sworn into office without mentioning god. She swore allegiance to Quentin Bryce and Australia and Footscray Football Club, but no mention of a deity. Steve Fielding's response to that was not reported. Perhaps he wasn't asked, but that's two big media opportunities he's missed around the Gillard ascension. Expect a midnight mugging over at Family First one day soon.
And, finally, Julia Gillard is the first Australian Prime Minister to live in what can only be described as a modest abode. The home of Malcolm Turnbull, who was the second-richest person in Australian corridors of power behind Therese Rein, probably appreciates more in value each week than the total value of Gillard's humble, double-fronted, brick shack. Okay, she may have a collection of Fabergé eggs and a complete collection of Rollings Stones vinyl albums signed by Keith Richards in there, but it doesn't look like it.
As soon as she was named Prime Minister, the police stationed a patrol car outside her house. It was one of those fancy, red and checkered Federal Police cars. It sits there, housing the prime ministerial security detail and looking like the most expensive item in the street, including the real estate.
So, we have our first female Prime Minister. Big deal. As Gillard herself told an Adelaide journalist, it will soon be unremarkable whether a politician is female or male and the only thing that matters is how well they can do the job. We agree. It won't be news in a week.
Unlike the red hair. That will always be news.
Image: Steve Coppel/Newspix
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Comment by Anonymous
there is no wonder why Gillard is not married or has children just look at the way she treated the prime minister she will deserve everything she gets good on you Gillard its time to pray
Comment by Chris Champion
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Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
I felt like I was alone about this because the media have been making so much of the fact.
Comment by Chris Champion
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Yes, it's an easy headline. I guess we'll get the same thing, one day, when the first Aborigine, the first African-Australian etc gets the job.
Comment by Andy Tope
Bagman's Gazette
"anonymity was a wise choice" - lol.
Comment by Chris Champion
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The red hair, I foresee, will become talismanic. I also predict that the more Tony Abbott sees of that red hair, the more quickly he will start losing his own hair.
Thanks for your comment.