Julia Gillard was Australian Prime Minister until a few hours ago when she lost the battle for her party’s leadership to former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.

Of course, politics is a “dirty business” all the world over, and leaders come and go all the time. The media will be full of the intricate details of what led up to this situation.

Did you know that Julia Gillard is an atheist, unmarried, and childless? Not that that’s a bad thing, but, as a leader of a super power, she is unique in a number of ways.

Firstly, she was not even born in Australia but is actually Welsh. The weather in Wales, being what it is, meant that the family had to move to a warmer, sunnier climate for the sake of Julia’s health, which was not good as a child.

She only gave up her British Citizenship on entering parliament in 1998. Twelve years later, she became Australia’s first woman Prime Minister. This, in itself, was no mean feat. However, what is equally noteworthy, is that Julia Gillard was not married to the man she had been living with for the preceding four years.

Previously, she had also been involved in a couple of high profile relationships with a fellow Member of Parliament and then a leading union official.

But Australia is not America. Although the American public may be quite forgiving about what their leaders do once in office, getting elected in the first place, with her profile, is currently impossible.

Although Julia Gillard has expressed opposition to same-sex marriage, she is in favour of freely available abortion. But it is not so much her policies that matter but more what she is and what she says openly.

When interviewed in 2010, she said:

“I think it would be inconceivable, if I were an American, for me to have turned up at the highest echelon of American politics being an atheist, single, and childless.”

She might have added that American voters would also have taken a dim view of her not being married to her partner!

So, Australia has lost a unique leader. But, with her character, I’m sure that will prove to be only a temporary setback.

We have not heard the last of Julia Gillard!

Do you think Julia Gillard, or any self declared atheist could or would be elected to the White House? what about someone not married to their partner? Sound off in the comments below.