← Julia Gillard — Full Profile

Julia Gillard — Findings & Analysis

Rating: C (50/100)

Australian Labor Party · Lalor (1998–2013) · Federal

27th Prime Minister of Australia (2010–2013); Chair, Wellcome Trust; former Chair, Global Partnership for Education

Accountability Items
27
6 negative findings
Red Rating
22%
of all rated items
Conflicts of Interest
8
0 critical, 1 high
Relationships
29
tracked connections
Financial Disclosures
1
registered interests
Accountability Rating
Conflicts by Severity
Summary of Findings

Julia Gillard — Investigation Brief



Subject Profile



Julia Gillard — 27th Prime Minister of Australia (2010–2013); Chair, Wellcome Trust; former Chair, Global Partnership for Education.


Party: Australian Labor Party


Electorate/Jurisdiction: Lalor (1998–2013)


Accountability Rating: C

(50/100)




Born 29 September 1961 in Barry, Wales. Migrated to Australia 1966. Solicitor at Slater & Gordon (1987-1995) before entering politics. Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Gillard 27th Prime Minister of Australia (June 2010 - June 2013). First female PM. Deposed Kevin Rudd in June 2010, then deposed by Rudd in June 2013. Minority government 2010-2013 supported by Greens and independents (Windsor, Oakeshott, Wilkie). Lost prime ministership in Labor leadership spill. POST-POLITICS: Chai



Pattern Analysis



Serial Appointments ('Jobs for the Boys'): 7 roles, multiple appointments under Kevin Rudd, Alexander Downer, Scott Morrison. Pattern suggests patronage.



Revolving Door: 7 government roles held: Solicitor / Partner → Member for Lalor (MHR) → Deputy Prime Minister / Minister for Edu → Prime Minister of Australia → Chair → Chair → Chair



Key Appointments (7)



  • **Solicitor / Partner** (Slater & Gordon)

    • — Jan 1987 to Sep 1995




  • **Member for Lalor (MHR)** (Commonwealth of Australia)

    • — Oct 1998 to Jun 2013




  • **Deputy Prime Minister / Minister for Education and Workplace Relations** (Commonwealth of Australia)

    • — Dec 2007 to Jun 2010




  • **Prime Minister of Australia** (Commonwealth of Australia)

    • — Jun 2010 to Jun 2013




  • **Chair** (Global Partnership for Education)

    • — Feb 2014 to Feb 2021




  • **Chair** (Beyond Blue)

    • — Jul 2017 to Dec 2024




  • **Chair** (Wellcome Trust)

    • — Feb 2021 to present




    Accountability Record (27 items)



  • **0** Delivered / Positive

  • **3** Mixed / Under Review

  • **6** Broken / Failed / Negative

  • **18** Unverified / Pending


    • Key Concerns (6)



    Julia Gillard



    Julia Gillard Search this site Embedded Files Skip to main content Skip to navigation Julia Gillard About Books Current Work Podcast Statements Contact Julia Gillard About Books Current Work Podcast Statements Contact More Julia Gillard About Books Current Work Podcast Statements Contact Julia Gillard 27th Prime Minister of Australia Photo by Steven Chee for Stellar Magazine 2022 Julia Gill



    Source: juliagillard.com.au

    — [https://www.juliagillard.com.au...](https://www.juliagillard.com.au)




    Craig Thomson HSU scandal — defending the numbers



    Craig Thomson, Labor MP for Dobell, was found by Fair Work Australia to have misused approximately $500,000 of Health Services Union (HSU) funds on prostitutes, cash withdrawals, and personal expenses while he was HSU National Secretary. Gillard's minority government relied on Thomson's vote. Throughout 2011-2012, Gillard defended Thomson and refused to cut him loose until the political damage bec



    Source: Fair Work Australia report, Magistrates' Court Victoria, Hansard




    'There will be no carbon tax under a government I lead' (2010)



    Five days before the August 2010 election, Gillard stated on Network Ten: 'There will be no carbon tax under the government I lead.' After forming a minority government with the support of the Greens, Gillard introduced the Clean Energy Future legislation including a carbon price (effectively a carbon tax) which came into effect in July 2012. The broken promise became one of the defining moments o



    Source: Network Ten broadcast (16 Aug 2010), Hansard, ABC archives




    Removal of Kevin Rudd (June 2010) — the midnight coup



    On 23-24 June 2010, Gillard — as Deputy Prime Minister — challenged Kevin Rudd for the ALP leadership and the prime ministership in a factional coup orchestrated by ALP powerbrokers Bill Shorten, David Feeney, Don Farrell, Mark Arbib, and others (collectively 'the faceless men'). Rudd resigned without a ballot. Gillard publicly stated in preceding weeks that she would not challenge. The speed, rut



    Source: Hansard, Niki Savva 'The Road to Ruin', ABC/SMH reporting




    AWU Workplace Reform Association — Slater & Gordon slush fund



    As a solicitor at Slater & Gordon in 1992, Gillard provided legal advice to her then-partner Bruce Wilson (AWU Victorian branch secretary) and Ralph Blewitt in establishing the 'AWU Workplace Reform Association'. The Association was subsequently used as a slush fund to siphon hundreds of thousands of dollars, including allegedly funds from Thiess Construction and other building companies. Gillard



    Source: Trade Union Royal Commission (2014-15), Hansard, The Australian, SMH, Slater & Gordon internal record




    Controversy (from Wikipedia)



    Julia Eileen Gillard (born 29 September 1961) is an Australian former politician who served as the 27th prime minister of Australia from 2010 to 2013. She held office as the leader of the Labor Party (ALP), having previously served as the 13th deputy prime minister from 2007 to 2010. She is the first and only woman to hold either office.

    Born in Barry, Wales, Gillard migrated with her family to A



    Source: Wikipedia

    — [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Gillard...](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Gillard)




    Conflicts of Interest (8)



    [ALLEGED] Clinton Foundation network — 7 years as GPE chair



    Served as Chair of the Global Partnership for Education (2014-2021) — seven years based primarily in Washington DC, deeply embedded in the Clinton Foundation / Democratic Party development network. Close working relationships with Hillary Clinton and the broader Clinton circle. This period coincided with intense scrutiny of the Clinton Foundation and CGI regarding foreign money and donor access. N



    Evidence: GPE annual reports, Clinton Foundation records



    [ALLEGED] Appointed during Scott Morrison's tenure



    Julia Gillard was appointed to 'Chair' (starting 2021-02-01) while Scott Morrison served as 'Prime Minister of Australia' (2018-08-24 – 2022-05-23). Potential patronage — requires investigation.



    Evidence: Auto-detected career overlap (same jurisdiction)



    [ALLEGED] Appointed during Kevin Rudd's tenure



    Julia Gillard was appointed to 'Prime Minister of Australia' (starting 2010-06-24) while Kevin Rudd served as 'Prime Minister of Australia (first term)' (2007-12-03 – 2010-06-24). Potential patronage — requires investigation.



    Evidence: Auto-detected career overlap (same jurisdiction)



    [ALLEGED] Yorick Piper's org Victorian Government is a grant recipient



    Associate Yorick Piper has career ties to Victorian Government, which matches grant recipient 'Victorian Government Department of Families, Fairness and Housing'. Connected to Julia Gillard.



    Evidence: Auto-detected grant recipient match



    [ALLEGED] Appointed during Alexander Downer's tenure



    Julia Gillard was appointed to 'headquartered in London UK but with global reach' (starting 2021-04-01) while Alexander Downer served as 'adviser to the then Liberal Prime Minister' (1982-01-01 – present). Potential patronage — requires investigation.



    Evidence: Auto-detected career overlap (same jurisdiction)



    [HIGH] AWU slush fund — unresolved legal and political conflict



    Provided legal advice as a Slater & Gordon solicitor in 1992 for the establishment of the AWU Workplace Reform Association, which was subsequently used as a slush fund to siphon hundreds of thousands of dollars. Left Slater & Gordon in 1995 following an internal inquiry. Ralph Blewitt alleged in statutory declarations that Gillard benefited from renovations paid for via the fund. The Trade Union R



    Evidence: Trade Union Royal Commission, Slater & Gordon record, Ralph Blewitt declarations, The Australian



    [MEDIUM] Wellcome Trust / global pharma-health network



    Chair of the Wellcome Trust since 2021 — a £37 billion medical research charity deeply embedded in the global public health policy network alongside WHO, Gates Foundation, CEPI, and major pharmaceutical companies. Wellcome was a major funder of COVID-19 vaccine research. Gillard's role gives her significant influence over global health policy priorities while she retains a prominent Australian pub



    Evidence: Wellcome Trust annual reports, public record



    [MEDIUM] Carbon tax broken promise — political integrity



    Explicitly promised no carbon tax five days before the 2010 election, then introduced carbon pricing as part of her minority government arrangement with the Greens. The broken promise became a defining issue of her prime ministership and a case study in democratic accountability for pre-election commitments.



    Evidence: Network Ten broadcast, Clean Energy Future legislation



    Financial Interests (1 disclosures)


  • **Donation Received**: AEC Transparency Register — Australian Labor Party donations (undisclosed)



    • Network Connections (29)


  • **Tim Pallas**: Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Tim Pallas have documented ties to these organisations.

  • **Dan Repacholi**: Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Dan Repacholi have documented ties to these organisations.

  • **Daniel Andrews**: Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Daniel Andrews have documented ties to these organisations.

  • **David Hurley**: Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and David Hurley have documented ties to these organisations.

  • **David Pocock**: Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and David Pocock have documented ties to these organisations.

  • **Jacinta Allan**: Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Jacinta Allan have documented ties to these organisations.

  • **James Paterson**: Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and James Paterson have documented ties to these organisations.

  • **Jeroen Weimar**: Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Jeroen Weimar have documented ties to these organisations.

  • **Julie Inman Grant**: Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Julie Inman Grant have documented ties to these organisations.

  • **Luke Donnellan**: Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Luke Donnellan have documented ties to these organisations.

  • **Martin Foley**: Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Martin Foley have documented ties to these organisations.

  • **Peter Dutton**: Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Peter Dutton have documented ties to these organisations.

  • **Aaron Violi**: Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Aaron Violi have documented ties to these organisations.

  • **Andrew Hastie**: Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Andrew Hastie have documented ties to these organisations.

  • **Anthony Carbines**: Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Anthony Carbines have documented ties to these organisations.

  • **Bill Gates**: Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Bill Gates have documented ties to these organisations.

  • **Brett Sutton**: Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Brett Sutton have documented ties to these organisations.

  • **Claire Chandler**: Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Claire Chandler have documented ties to these organisations.

  • **Joel Fitzgibbon**: Mentioned together in Wikipedia article. Context: "Several ministers subsequently resigned from the government, including Chief Government Whip Joel F

  • **Kevin Rudd**: Mentioned together in Wikipedia article. Context: "In December 2006, Gillard became the running mate of Kevin Rudd in a successful leadership challeng


    • Open Questions (18 items requiring verification)


  • Connection: Julia Gillard & Gavin Jennings — Staffer ‘hesitated’ in making allegations - Herald Sun

    • (source: Google News)



  • Connection: Julia Gillard & Pat Conroy — Albo’s staffers head for the door - AFR

    • (source: Google News)



  • Julia Gillard - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

    • (source: Google News)



  • One Nation candidate contesting Sussan Ley’s seat likened Julia Gillard to ‘non-productive old cow’ - The Guardian

    • (source: Google News)



  • It’s a day to celebrate the nation that gave us Julia, Kylie and Naomi - SMH.com.au

    • (source: Google News)



  • Julia Gillard warns Australia’s under-16 Social Media Ban “does not go far enough” - tanea.com.au

    • (source: Google News)



  • Julia Gillard’s ‘Asian Century’ deadline is here. The results aren’t pretty. - AFR

    • (source: Google News)



  • Former PM Julia Gillard awarded honorary doctorate - The University of Sydney

    • (source: Google News)



  • VIDEO: Tony Abbott reflects on Julia Gillard’s misogyny speech - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

    • (source: Google News)



  • Former prime minister Tony Abbott's new book includes famous 'misogyny' clash with Julia Gillard - 9News

    • (source: Google News)




    Evidence Index


  • **Fair Work Australia report, Magistrates' Court Victoria, Hansard**


  • **GPE annual reports, Clinton Foundation records**


  • **Google News**

    • (18 references)



  • **Hansard, Niki Savva 'The Road to Ruin', ABC/SMH reporting**


  • **Network Ten broadcast (16 Aug 2010), Hansard, ABC archives**


  • **Trade Union Royal Commission (2014-15), Hansard, The Australian, SMH, Slater & Gordon internal record**


  • **Treasury papers, Henry Tax Review, MRRT Act 2012**


  • **Wellcome Trust annual reports, public announcements**


  • **Wikipedia**

    • (1 references)



  • **juliagillard.com.au**

    • (1 references)



    High Severity Conflicts (1)
    HIGH Other

    AWU slush fund — unresolved legal and political conflict

    Provided legal advice as a Slater & Gordon solicitor in 1992 for the establishment of the AWU Workplace Reform Association, which was subsequently used as a slush fund to siphon hundreds of thousands of dollars. Left Slater & Gordon in 1995 following an internal inquiry. Ralph Blewitt alleged in statutory declarations that Gillard benefited from renovations paid for via the fund. The Trade Union Royal Commission (2014-15) examined the matter. No criminal charges were laid. The allegations remain unresolved in the public record.

    Source: Trade Union Royal Commission, Slater & Gordon record, Ralph Blewitt declarations, The Australian
    Other Findings (7)
    MEDIUM Board Appointment

    Wellcome Trust / global pharma-health network

    Chair of the Wellcome Trust since 2021 — a £37 billion medical research charity deeply embedded in the global public health policy network alongside WHO, Gates Foundation, CEPI, and major pharmaceutical companies. Wellcome was a major funder of COVID-19 vaccine research. Gillard's role gives her significant influence over global health policy priorities while she retains a prominent Australian public profile on health and social policy. The combination represents a structural position in a transnational policy network with limited Australian public scrutiny.

    MEDIUM Policy Decision

    Carbon tax broken promise — political integrity

    Explicitly promised no carbon tax five days before the 2010 election, then introduced carbon pricing as part of her minority government arrangement with the Greens. The broken promise became a defining issue of her prime ministership and a case study in democratic accountability for pre-election commitments.

    ALLEGED Revolving Door

    Appointed during Kevin Rudd's tenure

    Julia Gillard was appointed to 'Prime Minister of Australia' (starting 2010-06-24) while Kevin Rudd served as 'Prime Minister of Australia (first term)' (2007-12-03 – 2010-06-24). Potential patronage — requires investigation.

    ALLEGED Revolving Door

    Appointed during Scott Morrison's tenure

    Julia Gillard was appointed to 'Chair' (starting 2021-02-01) while Scott Morrison served as 'Prime Minister of Australia' (2018-08-24 – 2022-05-23). Potential patronage — requires investigation.

    ALLEGED Grant

    Yorick Piper's org Victorian Government is a grant recipient

    Associate Yorick Piper has career ties to Victorian Government, which matches grant recipient 'Victorian Government Department of Families, Fairness and Housing'. Connected to Julia Gillard.

    ALLEGED Revolving Door

    Appointed during Alexander Downer's tenure

    Julia Gillard was appointed to 'headquartered in London UK but with global reach' (starting 2021-04-01) while Alexander Downer served as 'adviser to the then Liberal Prime Minister' (1982-01-01 – present). Potential patronage — requires investigation.

    ALLEGED Other

    Clinton Foundation network — 7 years as GPE chair

    Served as Chair of the Global Partnership for Education (2014-2021) — seven years based primarily in Washington DC, deeply embedded in the Clinton Foundation / Democratic Party development network. Close working relationships with Hillary Clinton and the broader Clinton circle. This period coincided with intense scrutiny of the Clinton Foundation and CGI regarding foreign money and donor access. No direct allegations against Gillard in the Clinton Foundation context have been published; the network proximity is recorded here for transparency.

    The Scorecard (27 items tracked — auto-updated)

    Mixed (3)

    Wellcome Trust chairship — £37bn medical research fund
    Global Partnership for Education — Clinton Foundation network ties
    Mining tax — MRRT revenue failure

    Broken / Failed (6)

    Julia Gillard
    Craig Thomson HSU scandal — defending the numbers
    'There will be no carbon tax under a government I lead' (2010)
    Removal of Kevin Rudd (June 2010) — the midnight coup
    AWU Workplace Reform Association — Slater & Gordon slush fund
    Controversy (from Wikipedia)
    Financial Interests & Income
    Type Description Amount Year Source
    Donation Received AEC Transparency Register — Australian Labor Party donations — AEC Transparency Register
    Career Timeline
    1987 – 1995
    Solicitor / Partner
    Slater & Gordon
    Solicitor and later partner at Slater & Gordon (industrial law firm). Left the firm in 1995 following an internal inquiry related to her handling of legal work for then-partner Bruce Wilson and Ralph Blewitt concerning the AWU Workplace Reform Association.
    1998 – 2013
    Member for Lalor (MHR)
    Commonwealth of Australia
    15 years in the House of Representatives.
    2007 – 2010
    Deputy Prime Minister / Minister for Education and Workplace Relations
    Commonwealth of Australia
    DPM under Kevin Rudd. Oversaw the Building the Education Revolution (BER) school halls stimulus program, Fair Work Act, and industrial relations reforms.
    2010 – 2013
    Prime Minister of Australia
    Commonwealth of Australia
    27th PM and first female PM. Minority government. Carbon pricing (the 'carbon tax lie'), NDIS legislation, Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Gonski review. Deposed by Rudd in June 2013.
    2014 – 2021
    Chair
    Global Partnership for Education
    Chair of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), a Washington DC-based multilateral development fund for education in developing countries. Deeply embedded in the Clinton Foundation / DC development world during this period.
    2017 – 2024
    Chair
    Beyond Blue
    Chair of Beyond Blue, Australia's leading mental health support organisation. During her chairship, Beyond Blue became closely identified with government mental health messaging during COVID-19 lockdowns.
    2021 – now
    Chair
    Wellcome Trust
    Chair of the Wellcome Trust since February 2021. The Wellcome Trust is the world's second-largest medical research charity with approximately £37 billion in assets. Strategic priorities include pandemic preparedness, climate change and health, and mental health — areas with significant overlap with global public health policy networks including the WHO, Gates Foundation, and CEPI.
    Current
    Relationship Network (29)
    Connection Type Description
    David Hurley Business Connection Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and David Hurley have documented ties to these organisations.
    David Pocock Business Connection Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and David Pocock have documented ties to these organisations.
    Jacinta Allan Business Connection Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Jacinta Allan have documented ties to these organisations.
    James Paterson Business Connection Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and James Paterson have documented ties to these organisations.
    Jeroen Weimar Business Connection Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Jeroen Weimar have documented ties to these organisations.
    Julie Inman Grant Business Connection Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Julie Inman Grant have documented ties to these organisations.
    Luke Donnellan Business Connection Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Luke Donnellan have documented ties to these organisations.
    Martin Foley Business Connection Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Martin Foley have documented ties to these organisations.
    Peter Dutton Business Connection Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Peter Dutton have documented ties to these organisations.
    Tim Pallas Business Connection Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Tim Pallas have documented ties to these organisations.
    Aaron Violi Business Connection Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Aaron Violi have documented ties to these organisations.
    Andrew Hastie Business Connection Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Andrew Hastie have documented ties to these organisations.
    Anthony Carbines Business Connection Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Anthony Carbines have documented ties to these organisations.
    Bill Gates Business Connection Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Bill Gates have documented ties to these organisations.
    Brett Sutton Business Connection Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Brett Sutton have documented ties to these organisations.
    Claire Chandler Business Connection Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Claire Chandler have documented ties to these organisations.
    Dan Repacholi Business Connection Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Dan Repacholi have documented ties to these organisations.
    Daniel Andrews Business Connection Shared organisational connection: who. Both Julia Gillard and Daniel Andrews have documented ties to these organisations.
    Yorick Piper Other Connection confirmed by 1 news article(s). Headlines: Who is Jacinta Allan's husband? New Victorian premier's spou
    Kevin Rudd Other Mentioned together in Wikipedia article. Context: "In December 2006, Gillard became the running mate of Kevin Rudd in a successful leadership challenge to Kim Beazley, becoming deputy leader of the opposition."
    Paul Keating Other Mentioned together in Wikipedia article. Context: "She later joined former Labor Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and Paul Keating at Bill Shorten's Labor campaign launch on 19 June 2016."
    Scott Morrison Other Mentioned together in Wikipedia article. Context: "She also became the longest-serving Prime Minister since John Howard's electoral loss in 2007, a record which was not exceeded until August 2021, when Scott Morrison overtook her as the 14th longest-serving Prime Minister …
    Anthony Albanese Other Wikipedia article links to Anthony Albanese's article. Direct connection.
    Katherine Keating Other Connection confirmed by 2 news article(s). Headlines: ‘Lies’: Palmer hits back at claims in Epstein files - Daily | ‘Never met him’: Rudd reacts to Epstein files as ex-prime mi
    Gavin Jennings Other Connection confirmed by 1 news article(s). Headlines: Staffer ‘hesitated’ in making allegations - Herald Sun
    Pat Conroy Other Connection confirmed by 9 news article(s). Headlines: Albo’s staffers head for the door - AFR | What better data can tell us about Australian aid and women | Via News Corp, Australia’s defence policy continues to be di
    Alexander Downer Other Mentioned in Julia Gillard's intelligence data. Context: "POST-POLITICS: Chai ## Pattern Analysis **Serial Appointments ('Jobs for the Boys'):** 21 roles, multiple appointments under Scott Morrison, Alexander Downer, Kevin Rudd."
    Jenny Mikakos Other Mentioned in Julia Gillard's intelligence data. Context: "Gillard's role gives her significant influence over global health policy priorities while she retains a prominent Australian pub **Evidence:** Wellcome Trust annual reports, public record ## Financial Interests (1 disclosures) - **Donation Received**: …
    Joel Fitzgibbon Other Mentioned together in Wikipedia article. Context: "Several ministers subsequently resigned from the government, including Chief Government Whip Joel Fitzgibbon, Human Services Minister Kim Carr, and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson."
    Private Sector Employability Assessment (auto-computed)
    Years in Politics
    3
    Private Sector Experience
    9 yrs
    Survival Rating
    7/10
    Red Rating
    22%
    of accountability items
    Critical Conflicts
    0
    Broken Promises
    1

    Assessment

    Private Sector Resume

    Solicitor / Partner @ Slater & Gordon

    Julia Gillard has 3 years in politics and 9 years of private sector experience.

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