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.”
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!