National

'Not a luxury': call for inclusivity in gender equality

Apr 28, 2026

Julia Gillard speaks at the Women Deliver conference in Melbourne — The attack on women's rights is overt and "being attempted in bounding leaps", Julia Gillard says. -AAP Image

As the rights of women and girls are deliberately wound back, Australia's first female prime minister has urged gender equality activists to push back with the same ferocity.

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Former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard is a key speaker at Women Deliver, a major gathering of activists, policymakers and leaders past and present.

Ms Gillard was welcomed with cheers from almost 6000 delegates who have gathered for the conference in Melbourne.

"The rolling back of women's rights is not being done in secret, it's being heralded by key global political leaders," she said at the opening ceremony on Monday night.

"It's not being disguised or done in tiny increments, it is overt, strategic and being attempted in bounding leaps.

"We must push back in the same way and find the courage to take bounding leaps as well (because) gender equality is not a luxury and (it) is not just an issue for women."

Ms Gillard is chair of the Global Institute for Women's Leadership at King's College London and later founded its sister institute based at the Australian National University in Canberra.

She said research conducted by the institutes had shown more gender-equal communities offered everyone, including men, better economic prospects and a fuller range of life choices.

"We have not always been as loud as we should have been about making this case," Ms Gillard said.

"So-called populist movements have exploited this and worked to create the impression that gender equality is a zero-sum game, where if women and girls get more then men and boys must get less.

"We need to make sure that we are continuing to make an inclusive case for gender equality."

As only the second woman appointed to the position, Governor-General Sam Mostyn said the gendered language of opposition was alive and well.

"I hope I speak for all the women who step up into positions of leadership and authority ... in saying the least interesting thing about us, actually, is our gender," she said.

"In fact, the most important thing for a generation of young women and men across the globe is to know there should be no barriers whatsoever, gender or otherwise, to the very best people assuming leadership in our society."

The five-day Women Deliver schedule includes notable speakers from the political sphere including former prime ministers such as New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern and Canada's Justin Trudeau.

Attendees will also have the chance to hear from other global leaders and advocates for gender equality including eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant and Olympic gold medallist Emma McKeon.