PM faces questions on sexism in India

17 Oct 2012, 7:52 am   -   Source: AAP
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Prime Minister Julia Gillard's speech on sexism has caught India's attention.

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Julia Gillard's blistering parliamentary attack on Tony Abbott has gone viral in India, prompting a very direct question from a local: "Do you like the man?"

Participating in a youth forum at the Australian High Commission in downtown New Delhi on Tuesday, Ms Gillard was asked about women in politics.

Before long, discussion turned to the divisive speech Ms Gillard delivered amidst the Peter Slipper controversy last week, in which she savaged Mr Abbott for alleged sexism and misogyny.

The event's moderator, popular local journalist Karan Thapar, said he watched the speech after it went viral on social media and couldn't take his eyes off the stunned and squirming Mr Abbott.

"Do you like the man?" Thapar asked.

Laughing, Ms Gillard responded: "That's a very hard question.

"Day to day I don't spend much time thinking about the leader of the opposition.

"I bear him no personal ill-will.

"And I hope he is leader of the opposition for the rest of his life," she said, prompting guffaws of laughter from the 40 Indian youngsters.

Ms Gillard said she was surprised by the international reaction to the speech, which also drew a wide audience in the United States.

"So I suspect I'm going to be talking about these issues for a long, long time to come. But that's a good thing."

Ms Gillard said she believed Australia was at a mid-point for women in politics.

"I think we'll get to a stage where our political dialogue is gender-blind but we're not quite there yet."

She also faced questions about the rise of China, America's increasing interest in the Asia Pacific, uranium sales and the 2009 and 2010 attacks on Indian students in Victoria, which sparked a firestorm of controversy in the subcontinent.

Ms Gillard suggested the Indian media had misrepresented the story and Australia's reaction to the attacks, but she believed the relationship had bounced back.

Earlier in the day, Ms Gillard attended a cricket clinic for impoverished slum kids in a New Delhi park.

But she couldn't be convinced to have a hit or roll her arm over, citing the infamous footage of John Howard's less-than-impressive display in 2005.

She also announced legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar would be awarded a membership of the Order of Australia.

She will meet with India's leaders on Wednesday before flying out on Wednesday night.

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Your Comments

India?

Joe blow - from Sydney, 7 months ago

Why exactly ate we kissing up to India? Oam, uranium, etc? Wats the real story?

Mr

Sam - from Wagga, 7 months ago

diversion... pfft You are suggesting that the only important thing that is happening in Australia at present is a carbon price; how pathetic a nation must we be if there isn't anything more worthy of discussion.

just not cricket

Betina - from Lakembah, 7 months ago

Nothing like a diversion ay Julia ? how come she hasn't raised the question of a price on carbon ?

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