Julia Gillard Quotes & Sayings

I was not going to stand before the nation as prime minister and cry for myself. I was not going to let anyone conclude that a woman could not take it. I was not going to give any bastard the satisfaction. I was going to be resilient one more time. — Julia Gillard

We see community organizations as major service providers and economic drivers rather than as recipients or distributors of charity, and coordinators of volunteers. Today they constitute what's referred to as 'the social economy'. — Julia Gillard

At the end of the day government is about teamwork and partnership and we will be proving that by working together. — Julia Gillard

So in many ways for me, having lived through what I've lived through, and endured what I've endured, I've got more confidence that I can do the next bit - and there's something sustaining about that. — Julia Gillard

We encourage China to engage as a good global citizen and we are clear-eyed about where differences do lie. — Julia Gillard

The global economic outlook remains fragile and uncertain. Global economic imbalances persist and we must address them or risk future instability. — Julia Gillard

In politics there's never a magic wand. — Julia Gillard

One of my prized possessions is still the prefect's tie that I got in this school. I keep it with me. It was the first leadership position I ever had. — Julia Gillard

I don't rule out the possibility of legislating a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, a market-based mechanism, — Julia Gillard

Our future growth relies on competitiveness and innovation, skills and productivity ... and these in turn rely on the education of our people. — Julia Gillard

Our nation is well equipped to make the transition. We have an abundance of natural resources like wind, natural gas, solar and geothermal. — Julia Gillard

My guiding principle is that prosperity can be shared. We can create wealth together. The global economy is not a zero-sum game. — Julia Gillard

If we change the way the electricity sector operates, we can bring down our levels of carbon pollution, and continue the crucial task of tackling climate change. Putting a price on carbon would do this. — Julia Gillard

There is a reason the world always looks to America. — Julia Gillard

In the quest for comparative advantage, investment will flow towards those countries that can offer more output for fewer emissions. Inaction will cost jobs. Action will support jobs. — Julia Gillard

We are constantly being told that we've never been wealthier. And many of us are. On average we all are. But that's just the problem.. no one is average. — Julia Gillard

All my life I've believed that men and women have equal capacities and talents ... consequently there should be equality in life's chances. — Julia Gillard

In my view, the ideal prime minister is patient, hard-working, compassionate and has a clear vision, driven by the fair go. — Julia Gillard

The cartoon absolutely captures something that acres and acres of copy can't. And even photographs can't. — Julia Gillard

He will always know as we know now that in the heat of battle he did not fail when mateship and duty called. — Julia Gillard

I know reform is never easy. But I know reform is right. — Julia Gillard

Over the Christmas period, I spent time with both Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, and you listen to stories and tales of how hard it can be when it's really hard, and I think we easily all talk ourselves into the proposition that it's never been as hard as this. Well it's been hard in the past. It's been really hard. So you keep doing it and, the more you do it, the more you gain strength and confidence that you can do it. — Julia Gillard

Through hard work and education, we can deliver a strong economy and opportunity for all. — Julia Gillard

The caricature of my own face always makes me laugh. — Julia Gillard

Try harder every day to be better than the day before. — Julia Gillard

I know people are looking at what's happening in Washington and then they also look at events in Europe, in Greece and Portugal and other places and worry about that. — Julia Gillard

Afghanistan must never again be a safe haven for terrorism. — Julia Gillard

Those of you who have spent time with Australians know that we are not given to overstatement. By nature we are laconic speakers and by conviction we are realistic thinkers. — Julia Gillard

The Prime Minister seems now to be basing his re-election campaign on this plot line. He is saying to the Australian people, look out, the baddies behind you - hiss, boo and whatever you do, don't vote Labor. This political parody of pantomime is looking and sounding desperate. — Julia Gillard

Australians can trust me to get the job done. They can have the confidence that in the heart of the circumstances I will win through in their interests no matter how relentlessly negative the leader of the opposition is. — Julia Gillard

Here in Australia we do get impacted by global economic events. But we should have some confidence that our economy has got strong underlying fundamentals. — Julia Gillard

I want you to know what I have told Australia's Parliament in Canberra - what I told General Petraeus in Kabul - what I told President Obama in the Oval Office this week. Australia will stand firm with our ally the United States. — Julia Gillard

America has always understood this principle of the economy - that everyone can benefit when everyone competes. — Julia Gillard

As our economy faces up to potential labour shortages due to our ageing population and as it moves to a new level of sophistication to compete with the rest of the world, we're going to need every Australian on board pulling their weight, rejoining the workforce, gaining new skills. Writing off individuals and communities suffering from poverty just creates a dead weight for our economy to drag along. — Julia Gillard