Politics · Australia · 16 hrs ago
Abbott calls Gillard's famous misogyny speech over the top
Tony Abbott says Julia Gillard's 2012 misogyny speech went too far.
The former Australian prime ministers recalled the moment for an ABC program, 14 years after Gillard delivered the speech in parliament.
The speech came during a dispute over Speaker Peter Slipper, who faced sexual harassment allegations from a former staffer and had sent him offensive text messages about women.
Gillard's minority government relied on support from independents, and Slipper's position helped it maintain its numbers in parliament.
Abbott had accused the government of hypocrisy over sexism for keeping Slipper as Speaker, while Gillard said she was angry at being targeted over the issue.
She had asked her staff to gather Abbott's past comments on women, and used some in her largely unscripted speech.
Slipper resigned by the end of the day, while the speech later became a widely remembered moment in Australian politics.
The two former leaders now offer sharply different views of the speech in the ABC program.
Tony Abbott has described Julia Gillard’s 2012 misogyny speech as “pretty over the top and unjustified”.
Gillard delivered the speech in parliament on 9 October 2012, responding to Abbott’s criticism of her government’s handling of Speaker Peter Slipper.
Abbott said he believed most of Gillard’s accusations against him were excessive or unfair.
Gillard said she felt anger and resentment at being targeted over sexism after years of gendered criticism.
The two recalled the speech in an episode of the ABC program I Was Actually There.
- Who
- Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott and former prime minister Julia Gillard.
- What
- Abbott called Gillard’s 2012 misogyny speech over the top and unjustified. Gillard said she was responding to what she saw as unfair gendered criticism.
- When
- Gillard delivered the speech on 9 October 2012. The program featuring their recollections was published by ABC Australia on 8 November 2026.
- Where
- In Australia’s parliament, during question time.
- Why
- Gillard was responding to Abbott’s motion criticising the government over its decision not to remove Speaker Peter Slipper. Abbott said he considered her attack excessive and unfair.
Tony Abbott
Julia Gillard
Assessment of the speech
Tony Abbott
Abbott said it was a “pretty over the top and unjustified attack” and that most accusations were excessive or slightly unfair.
Julia Gillard
Gillard said she felt unfairly targeted by gendered criticism and cited Abbott’s past comments and conduct on sexism.
Slipper controversy
Tony Abbott
Abbott said the government should have removed Slipper and later called his resignation a vindication of his position.
Julia Gillard
Gillard’s speech challenged Abbott’s criticism of the government’s handling of Slipper, whom it had kept as Speaker.
Abbott moved for Slipper to be removed as Speaker during question time.
Gillard delivered her misogyny speech in response to Abbott’s motion.
Slipper had resigned as Speaker.
ABC Australia published Abbott and Gillard’s recollections in I Was Actually There.
- Speech date
- 9 October 2012
- Speaker at issue
- Peter Slipper
- Accuser in Slipper case
- Former staffer James Ashby
- Program
- I Was Actually There
- ABC Australia publication
- 8 November 2026
2 sources
What people are saying
I thought it was a pretty over the top and unjustified attack
But again, I think most of those accusations were either over the top or slightly unfair.
For fuck’s sake, like, how did we end up here?
What was completely ironic about this attack, is Tony Abbott was almost, you know, rent-a-gaffe about sexism issues