Former PM Julia Gillard calls for ‘radical’ parliamentary reform

Julia Gillard has called for radical changes in Australia, as she took aim at Donald Trump’s stance in one controversial area.

Exclusive: Former prime minister Julia Gillard said “radical changes” need to be made in parliament to “restore public trust” and put an end to “people yelling at each other”.

Speaking at King’s College London on Thursday night (Friday AEDT), Ms Gillard shared insights into life as a politician and her desire to see “parliamentary reform” in Australia.

Ms Gillard, who was prime minister from 2010 to 2013, said the days of politicians yelling at one another in both the Australian and UK parliaments should be put to an end.

“I can’t preach, I came up and thrived in a very adversarial environment and enjoyed it but I think we can see in the modern world that the public are over it,” she said at King’s College.

“The kind of rhythms of parliamentary life, of question time and people yelling at each other, I think different structures have to be tried within the parliament.

“I’ve noted that the infrastructure here (in the UK) doesn’t make it very easy …(the House of Commons is) old and very gorgeous but consequently not very easy to change.

“I’ve advocated in the past to try and randomise the seating in parliament”.

Former prime minister Julia Gillard speaking at King's College in London. Picture: Sophie Elsworth

Ms Gillard, who also chairs the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at the King’s Business School, made headlines around the world when she famously gave her “misogyny speech” during question time in 2012 which some described as “fiery” at the time.

She directed the speech at the then opposition leader Tony Abbott and the footage went viral around the world.

She explained to the audience that in the House of Representatives everyone has “got a seat” and that it needs to change to randomised seats.

“Seats are allocated one side – the opposition the opposite – and some independents in the middle,” Ms Gillard said.

“But if you are actually sitting, Tory, Labour, Lib Dem you’re far less likely to be turning (going) ‘yah yah yah’ then you are across (the chamber) when you have all your mates with you”.

Ms Gillard – who also just last week spoke about political polarisation – said on Thursday, “all sorts of political innovations are worth trying”.

The former PM is advocating for randomised seating in parliament. Picture: Sophie Elsworth

She also hit out again at US President Donald Trump for ripping up diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies – an issue she addressed while speaking at the University of Cambridge in the UK last week.

Ms Gillard cited an example of President Trump stating in January that a mid-air collision involving a passenger jet and helicopter crash in Washington DC was a direct result of DEI policies.

“When directly challenged by reporters on the source of this extraordinary claim, the president famously stated, ‘because I have common sense’,” she said.

She said a subsequent investigation into the crash “did not back up the president’s claim”.

Ms Gillard said “common sense” is a phrase used to quash arguments that are usually backed up by evidence including social science.

She also highlighted the importance of research in society and the need for universities to do so with sufficient funding.

“In many ways this is just the next instalment of the old age tradition of pitting universities against communities,” Ms Gillard said.

Originally published as Former PM Julia Gillard calls for ‘radical’ parliamentary reform