Some of the reasons women miss Julia Gillard.

Over the past few months and particularly since the Budget was announced, there’s been a notable increase in nostalgia for the former PM Julia Gillard.

We asked women what they missed about our first female Prime Minister.

“I miss my daughter – and my sons – being able to see a more equal representation of women in positions of political power.  Not only did we lose a female Prime Minister, we lost all but one woman in cabinet. That’s not representative of the world we live in. Those predictions about wall-to-wall men in blue ties came true and it feels like a massive backwards step.”

Mia, 42

“I miss having a woman to look up to and admire, who proved that we need women to lead alongside men. I miss having a leader that believed in education and helping low wage earners. I miss having a leader who’s heart was in the fight for Australia’s future, and the future of women. I miss not cringing at my government.”

Anjali, 34

“I miss Julia’s recognition of the importance of education (in particular secular education) in Australia.”

Dimity, 23

“I miss her bravery. I miss being able to get on with my life knowing that someone was getting shit done in Canberra to protect education, women’s rights, and the carers of our most vulnerable – people living with disabilities.”

Sunita, 40

“I miss being able to defend a politician’s decisions to my Liberal-voting family. Julia gave me heart and gave me fire, she made me believe that good politicians exist. And she forced me to become a one-person argument machine amongst conservative people, and I fucking loved that. MISS YOU JULES”

Kate, 26

“I miss turning on the TV and feeling proud of the leader we elected.”

Tracee, 38

“I miss her compassion. I miss Julia Gillard’s willingness to bring her heart as well as her head to bare on the big issues. I miss her ability to balance pragmatism and politics with the the protection of the most vulnerable people in our society. While I didn’t agree with every decision Gillard made, I was always confident that she had considered her options with empathy before making her call. I miss her dedication to the simple proposition that as Australians, we have a duty to look after the stranger standing next to us; who for whatever reason is unable to look after themselves.”

Jamila, 28

“I miss having a leader I can even vaguely relate to and respect. I miss having a leader who cared about public education and low wage earners. I miss having a variety of voices in cabinet, led by a woman who clearly cared about community. And I miss the endless discussion about how long she might have spent doing her hair every morning. Oh, that’s right, I don’t miss that.”

Holly, 41

“I miss Julia because I can relate to her. Nobody I know thinks — like Tony Abbott seems to — that virginity is a gift. That homosexuality is somehow shameful and renders people unworthy of the rights he and I enjoy. That women are incapable of proper leadership. That refugees are animals, to be caged and demonised. When he speaks on behalf of our country, I can’t help thinking: who IS this person? How is it possible that he’s representing me?”

Grace, 26

“I miss having a woman as PM and in particular one with Julia’s background. She demonstrated compassion intelligence and determination in her efforts to promote social justice and equality.   I stopped trusting politicians many years ago but I’d rather occasionally doubt Julia than be always distrusting Abbott.”

Lesley, 61

“I miss Julia because she represented a different reality for women when it comes to the way they can live their lives. She made no apologies for not marrying her partner. She made no apologies for not having children. She made no apologies for being an athiest. She walked her own path, wasn’t pressured to do it any other way, and ending up running the freaking country. (Also, I liked telling people our Prime Minister was the Khaleesi.)”

Rosie, 29

“I miss having a fellow woman to stand up for my rights, rather than a bunch of men decide what they think is right for me.
I miss her stand out hair and kick-arse wardrobe. I miss those moments when Julia would stand up in Parliament and call a spade a spade (or, more accurately, Tony Abbott a misogynist) – always made me think “you go girl!””

Meg, 23

“I miss her sense of humour. The fact she didn’t take herself too seriously, that she would make a joke at her own expense, that she would do that funny video for triple J, had a cartoon of herself with a giant nose and big bum hanging in her office. I miss that she wasn’t afraid to have a laugh at herself.”

Rhema, 28

“I miss Julia for her intelligence. She raised the standard of debate and whatever you think of her policies, she clearly had a sense of politics that went beyond the election cycle. You could see that in the kinds of policies she tabled- Gonski reform, pricing carbon, the NBN- big, visionary changes with a strong social emphasis. You could see that politics for her wasn’t about winning votes- it was about real change.”

Claire, 24

“With Julia I felt someone was in charge who had a very genuine concern for people with disadvantage. I miss her determination and commitment to create fairness and equity of opportunity – beyond self interest – a society we can be proud of!
I miss her dignity, her quiet intelligence and the respect she showed to people. It made her a fantastic negotiator. She never came across as cocky or arrogant or entitled.”

Kathleen, 67

“By becoming PM Julia responded to her (often sexist) detractors and set a positive example of what women can accomplish, and what they should strive to be – equal in society.”

Sophie, 25