Born in 1956 in the Adelaide Hills, her family home was an apple and cherry orchard. She studied law at the University of Adelaide.
By the age of 30 she had moved to Perth and was an established lawyer. She became managing partner in 1994 at the law firm Clayton Utz.
Four years later she became the member of parliament for Curtin in Western Australia which took her to Canberra.
She was made minister of ageing in 2003 in Prime Minister John Howard's government and had the education portfolio for nearly two years.
But it was while in opposition - after the 2007 federal election that brought Kevin Rudd and the Labor party to power - that she stumbled, experts say.
During a TV interview while she was shadow treasurer she stumbled over the level of the Reserve Bank cash rate.
She was also accused of plagiarising the Wall Street Journal in a speech to parliament. She quit four months after accepting the post.
She later served as shadow minister of foreign affairs and trade.
โ04-02-201509:25 AM - edited โ04-02-201509:27 AM
Glillard, Rudd, Gillard, Rudd...repeat, repeat. There is no deflection for the troubles Tony Abbott has brought upon himself.. Blame Labor for everything can't save him from himself now.
