On a special episode of Parliamentary Conversations in the Commonwealth, the former Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, sits down with CPA Secretary-General and former UK MP, Stephen Twigg, for a wide-ranging conversation.

Gillard, who served as Prime Minister from 2010 to 2013:

• praises affirmative action as a proven solution to increase the representation of women in Parliament (07:16)
• warns that 'we could be back to ground zero' unless world leaders urgently address vaccine inequality (19:10)
• highlights that COVID-19 had left 'unanswered questions' about children's mental health (22:55)
• calls the situation in Afghanistan 'absolutely heart-breaking to watch' (31:12)
• admits that the Commonwealth must 'stare' its colonial history 'in the face' in order to move forward (32:40)

Music: Vine Crawler by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

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