It’s been two days since Jeff Kennett announced former Prime Minister Julia Gillard would be taking over as chair of mental health organisation beyondblue.
And oh dear lord, has the internet responded with gusto.
“I feel even more sympathetic to mental health sufferers right now,” one man tweeted on Tuesday afternoon.
“How depressing!!!!” another commented.
Kennett, who served as the Premier of Victoria from 1992 to 1999, formed Beyond Blue in 2000 and has been the organisation’s chair since then. Gillard has served on the board since 2014.
“Beyondblue has become part of my DNA but about three years ago I realised it was time for a change of leadership,” Kennett wrote in the Herald Sun on Tuesday.
“My board and I wanted a person committed to the mental health sector, someone who opposes discrimination, with a national standing and profile, one who could knock on any door in the country and have that door open and, of course, who is a good communicator.”
"Julia Gillard joined our board in mid-2014 and, having been raised by a father committed to his work as a psychiatric nurse, she has a natural attachment to the mental health sector and as prime minister introduced the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which is increasingly providing assistance and dignity to thousands," he continued.
Despite the glowing reassurance of choice, much of the public does not agree with Kennett.
"The worst decision Beyond Blue could have made. My family and I now consider this organisation null. I will NEVER EVER refer a friend, or anyone struggling with mental health to Beyond Blue. Gillard has just burnt down countless bridges you could have made with Australians," one Facebook user wrote on the beyondblue Facebook page.
"I'm most concerned that the personality of Ms Gillard isn't conducive with the BB message. She is clearly extreme in her feminist view. If she doesn't in fact hate men, she definitely comes across as though she does. Male suicide rates are devastatingly high," another comment read.
"As someone who does suffer from clinical depression I was a supporter. No longer though. Take your Gillard and shove it," read another.
Listen: The many complexities of reporting suicide in the media. (Post continues after audio.)
"It's entirely appropriate that former PM Julia Gillard has been appointed as head of Beyond Blue. She certainly managed to depress me," one Tweeter wrote on Wednesday, to which another replied, "Oh yes she depressed all of Oz."
Others have said they will no longer donate to beyondblue out of protest.
"Jeff Kennett, what the hell were you thinking? What a very cynical joke," a man known only as Mike wrote in a letter to the Herald Sun editor.
So what's behind the hate? Is it because she's a woman? Is it because of her Prime Ministerial record? Is it because she's different - in more ways than one - to Kennett, who is synonymous with beyondblue?
It could be all three, or it could be none of those things.
But one thing's for sure, if anyone can take criticism on the chin and keep moving, it's Julia Gillard.
What do you think of the appointment?
Top Comments
The comments on social media (and I don't recommend reading them, it will ruin your day) seem to feature some common arguments with very basic flaws:
1. Understanding what a Chairperson is. It's not a CEO, it doesn't come with much decision-making power and it's governed by the organisations own charter. It's also usually someone picked from the existing board, which Julia Gillard has been on for years.
2. beyondblue has hundreds of staff members and volunteers. It is what it is not because of a single person, but the collective work of the whole.
3. Claiming Julia Gillard "caused depression" fundamentally misunderstands what mental illness is. Particular laws may have caused stress, sadness or financial hardship - but they cannot "cause" depression because nothing causes depression except brain chemistry.
4. Similarly, blaming Julia Gillard solely for whatever laws you disagree with shows a lack of understanding about what a Prime Minister is. Primary school social studies should have made the parliamentary process abundantly clear.
5. However you feel about the politics Julia Gillard was involved in, this is not a political position. It's a non-profit that enjoys rare bi-partisan support. Heck - a liberal ex-premier willingly handed over to a labor ex-PM. Would a political org do that?
Something is very wrong when people think it's appropriate to share hateful, hurtful words on a page that functions to help people with anxiety and depression. People announcing they will withdraw their support (I'd love to see proof of what that support actually entailed, lip service no doubt) is not going to make Julia Gillard feel bad, it's going to stop thousands of Australians from accessing the mental health support they desperately need. Heaven forbid it's ever you or your loved ones who needs that kind of support in a dark time. Will you tell them to suffer alone because Julia Gillard has a paper tiger position on a charity and welll, you just don't like the woman? She isn't answering the phones. Take a good hard look in the mirror, people.
If we can put up with Jeff Kennett, 'they' can put up with Julia Gillard. Frankly, everyone needs to grow up!