Former prime minister Julia Gillard interviewed by TikTok star who made her misogyny speech go viral

Julia Gillard has urged Australian women to turn their ‘anger into action’ in a conversation with TikTok star Abbey Hansen. 

Last year a TikTok video of Ms Gillard’s 2012 misogyny speech, dubbed over footage of Ms Hansen putting on makeup and getting dressed, went viral.

In the interview streamed on the social media app, the pair discussed sexism in politics, women in leadership and feminism. 

Former prime minister Julia Gillard (top) interviewed by TikTok star Abbey Hansen (bottom)

‘Justice 4 Women’ marches were held in cities around Australia on March 15 to protest sexual violence towards women, following an allegation by former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins that she was raped in Parliament House. 

Ms Hansen asked Ms Gillard what she would have said if she were a speaker at one of those rallies.

‘Turn that anger into action,’ said Ms Gillard. 

‘Going to a march is absolutely fantastic, but you have to take that anger and turn it into action day by day, by day.

‘This changing the culture in Parliament House and beyond, making sure we live in a world where women are safe and able to forge their own path without gender barriers, that takes persistent effort.’ 

Ms Hansen made Ms Gillard’s 2012 misogyny speech go viral with Generation Z last year

The former Prime Minister also said it was more important than ever that women and girls consider going into politics, despite revelations of workplace sexual harassment within Canberra. 

‘The more women who come forward for leadership, the greater our power to knock those barriers out of the way,’ she said.  

‘Don’t let any of the stuff about sexism and misogyny put you off. We need young women stepping forward for leadership.

‘We need you to own and claim your space. There are gender barriers, we have to be really honest about that, but the joys that come with leadership and the ability to put your values into action outweighs those gender barriers.’ 

Ms Hansen (pictured) said she was surprised her original TikTok was so popular 

In 2012, Ms Gillard made a speech in response to sexist criticism by the Opposition Party, including comments she was ‘unfit for leadership’ because she was unmarried.

The video Ms Hansen made of the speech went viral, which she told Daily Mail Australia was a surprise.

‘I wasn’t surprised that the response was so positive,’ she said.

‘[But I was surprised] by how many people had seen it and interacted with it.’  

Ms Hansen said Ms Gillard’s message was clear.

‘Don’t be deferred from stepping into leadership because of past displays of misogyny. The world needs women in leadership,’ she said. 

The midwife has made other videos under the handle @minorfauna, many of which touch on politics, while others broached more light-hearted topics. 

Videos include ‘turning the heinous and ridiculous things Scomo says into computer savers’ and one captioned ‘Scotty from marketing is at it again’. 

The TikTok star makes content under the handle @minorfauna on a range of topics

Ms Hanson’s politically-themed videos are popular among Zoomers and Millennials