Julia Gillard awarded honorary doctorate at University of Sydney
Julia Gillard has warned university graduates that the “ultra-rich” are being encouraged by US policy to roll back diversity, equality and inclusion policies.
The former Prime Minister received an honorary doctorate from the University of Sydney on Wednesday for his ongoing leadership in education and mental health.
“From a very young age my parents instilled in me that education was not only the key to a good job, but also the cornerstone of a good life,” Ms Gillard said at the graduation ceremony.
“I had the privilege of attending quality public schools that prepared me for college, put me on the path to law, and eventually served in our nation’s legislature.”
The university cited Ms Gillard’s government’s work to raise educational standards and her subsequent post-political work to educate women and the disadvantaged as the reason for the honour.
Since retiring from politics, Ms Gillard has chaired the Global Education Partnership, which focuses on education in low-income countries, and more recently represented the Australian charity Campaign for Women’s Education.
Ms Gillard studied arts and law at the University of Melbourne, but was awarded a Doctor of Letters from the University of Sydney on Wednesday. Doctorates are generally awarded for contributions to the humanities.
Ms Gillard used her speech to warn graduates about reducing progressive policies by the super-rich.
“There are many challenges we face today … but I want to draw your attention in particular to three challenges that run counter to the values of this university: the rise of the privileged and powerful ultra-rich, the adoption of a more authoritarian form of politics in the United States and many parts of the world, and an alarming backlash against gender equality,” she said.
“Take, for example, the Trump administration’s harsh response to diversity, equity and inclusion policies.
“Unfortunately, we have seen many large, well-known companies like Meta, Amazon, and Bank of America cancel or proactively roll back their DEI programs.
“Workers are losing morale and leaving these organizations, and companies like Apple, Costco, and Delta Air Lines are reversing that trend,” he said.
“Just as the founders of this university believed that doors should be open and not shut in people’s faces because of their religion, social status, or gender, our world today must strive to eliminate all remaining barriers of gender, race, class, and disability that unfairly hold people back.”
