Prime Minister Julia Gillard Answers Google+ Hangout with OurSay, Deakin University & Fairfax Media

At 11am AEST, on Saturday, July 21st 2012, Prime Minister Julia Gillard with OurSay, Deakin University and Fairfax Media responded live through a Google+ Hangout to the top voted questions from the Australian public via OurSay and additional questions from YouTube and Twitter.

Over the 60 minute Hangout, Ms. Gillard answered 15 questions. We've provided the platform for the conversation and we'd love to hear your thoughts - good or bad. So what do you think of the answers?

Keep the constructive conversation coming but please note we will be removing highly offensive comments so please keep it clean.

Here are the questions (abridged due to character count) by time:

3min 25sec - Ricky Campbell-Allen
"I'm wondering when your government is going to take leadership and implement the Gonski recommendations."

8min 35sec - Joshua Glanc
"Are you happy? And what does happiness mean to you?"

10min 24sec - Myra Robinson
"With our ageing population and an increasingly obese population what action can your government take now to prevent obesity and improve the food system in Australia?"

13min 35sec- Mark Everingham
"By how much measured in thousandths of degrees Celsius will the earth's temperature be reduced through the carbon tax?"

18min 40sec- Twitter Question - Peter Holingworth
"Will the Malaysia Solution require a choice between sending unaccompanied kids to Malaysia or seeing kids become the new business model for people smugglers?"

23min 11sec- Tracey Vandenberg
"In Queensland in particular we've had an enormous amount of jobs loss in the public sector. Id like to know what your government can do to keep creating jobs and opportunities for all Australians?"

27min 33sec- David Jamison - OurSay - Second highest voted question - 10,933 votes
"What has prevented you from fairly indexing military Superannuation entitlements at the same percentage used for the aging service pensions and will you reconsider your present position and fulfill the promise you made in opposition to index military superannuation pensions fairly to maintain their purchasing power?"

32min 04sec -- YouTube Video - Orsi Parkanyi
"How does it feel to be the first female Prime Minister in Australia and what message would you send to little girls and young women all around the world who are dreaming of becoming leaders or perhaps even Prime Ministers?"

34min 23sec- Ehon Chan
"How do we ensure that we are able to invest in innovation in mental health to ensure that men can have access to services that can successfully engage them? And how do you ensure that all this policy is actually aligned and compliment each other?"

38min 22sec- Emma Davidson
"What are your government's plans to encourage investing some development to increase the supply of housing in the affordable end of the private rental housing market?"

41min 11sec- Shane Bazzi - OurSay highest voted question - 12,749 votes
"How do you explain your opposition to same-sex marriage and "deeply held" belief that same-sex couples should continue to be discriminated against by a piece of legislation (the Marriage Act)? Why are heterosexual relationships more valued than same-sex relationships?"

47min15sec - Twitter Question -- Sue Damapalour
"How do you plan on encouraging more tolerance in our great nation?"

47min 37sec - YouTube Video - Mariam Al Musli
"What can we have in elections to stop bullying from happening? Why can't I just feel comfortable waking in the street without being bullied or harassed for not being full Aussie?"

50min 55sec- David Nicholls - OurSay - Third highest voted question - 10,756 votes
"Why do you allow the outrageous situation to continue where largely unqualified, religious evangelists have access to young children in public schools, in the form of the National School Chaplaincy Program?"

56min 20sec YouTube Video - Anton Calabrese
"How do you see Australia evolving over the next 10 years ensure that we aren't left behind the rest of the world and to ensure that we can realize our future potential?"

• Category

  Science & Technology

[NinJaMonKeY776]

JULIA IS SEXY

[Delorian82]

Bruce Wilson, AWU, Slater and Gordon. Please explain..

[tucker3601]

i agree with ur first statement, but not so true with ur second one.

[60Atreyu]

it is a truly great video - superb technical achievement and please do join us at the Julia appreciation group at . facebook.c om/pages/ PM-Julia-Gillard/2037815730565­56#!/groups/228215817274478/ see you there :-)

[pickypal100]

Women in power scares me...I'm not saying its bad OR good, it just scares me...absolutely terrifies me

[01SuperNova01]

She is great!

[christopher phillip skeates]

there is a power vaccum in politics which only woman can fill no matter what happens ..skeatesy

[lynnej1970]

Julia gillard is the Iron Lady of Australia she is exactly the same sign both western and chinese as maragret thatcher,,an libra oxen,,,,good on ya aussies. Now like Obama she is talking about attacking Iran..why dudnt anyone ask her about these trails in the sky,,i asked meterologists andi got no respeconce.

[diefascistscum]

julia is a racist, fascist , from corperate america.

[joe blow]

The Greens got the Arse kicked in the Council Elections .

Just wait for the Federal Election

[joe blow]

Question-If we really live in a democratic society why are we fined e.g punished for refusing vote? Be it Council,State,Federal??