On 9 October 2022, it will be the ten-year anniversary of the Misogyny Speech delivered by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard AC.
The speech was made in Federal Parliament as a response to a motion by then Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott to remove Peter Slipper as the speaker of the house. Julia Gillard’s rebuttal speech included the now famous lines, “I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. I will not. And the government will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man – not now, not ever,”.
At the time, some members of the Canberra Press Gallery and other political commentators criticised the speech, but the Misogyny Speech had a life of its own. After the speech was published on ABC’s youtube channel, it went viral in Australia and made worldwide headlines.
In 2020, the speech was voted by Guardian Australia readers as the most unforgettable moment in Australian TV history.
About 14 months ago, singer, songwriter, concert artist and professional speaker Karen Jacobsen was watching Ms Represented with Annabel Crabb. The final episode of the series featured the Misogyny Speech, and within minutes of watching the speech again, Karen was so inspired by the speech, she started composing a 50-minute long-form pop orchestral work setting Julia Gillard’s words – word for word – to music (the Misogyny Opus). She sat at her piano for hours, and the music just flowed.
Karen reached out to Julia Gillard for her permission to set her words to music, and to her delight, Julia Gillard said yes!
Photo Credit: Tanya D’Herville Photography
The ‘Misogyny Opus’ will be released in February 2023. Karen will debut the Opus with a live performance accompanied by an orchestral ensemble on 24 February 2023.
The first part of the Opus was released on 1 October 2022 as a single titled ‘Better Standard Than This’.
Karen has uploaded to Youtube a seven-minute music video featuring seventy equality/inclusion advocates and celebrities who lip sync along to words from the speech while Karen sings and plays on an amazing grand piano.
The Lane Cove Connection
As ITC readers know, we like a Lane Cove connection when we publish a story.
Lane Cove local and voice-over artist/actor Caz Adams is one of the 70 equality/inclusion advocates in the video (you first see Caz at 1.43 -1.53). Karen and Caz worked together as voice-over artists in Sydney and have been friends ever since. Karen is the Australian Voice of Siri.
Caz contacted ITC and told us the following:
“Hi, thought this might be of interest….. 10 years ago, Australia’s Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, delivered a powerful speech to Parliament about Misogyny.
Karen Jacobsen (Australia’s Siri), released this video of Julia’s speech. Music and singing by Karen. One Lane Covian appears in the video. She was very honoured to have been asked to be a small part of it. You might spy the lady in bright blue shopping, having coffee or doing aqua aerobics at the Aquatic Centre!”
This connection in itself would normally have ITC posting Caz’s story on one of our many platforms asap. However, what Caz did not know is that Karen and ITC have been good friends for a long time. Karen sang at ITC’s wedding, and if you listen to ITC’s Podcast, you will hear Karen’s voice announcing the different segment’s intros.
Yes, it really is six degrees of separation in Lane Cove!! ITC is so delighted that Caz contacted us. Have a look at Karen’s Video here and enjoy!!
Further Information
Website: http://www.karenjacobsen.com
Instagram: @realkarenj
Facebook: @realkarenjacobsen
Youtube: https://youtu.be/Bi4ZqHg2zMk
Background
The video cast includes:
Caz Adams, Lucie Arnaz, Eammon Ashton-Atkinson, MiG Ayesa, Keesha Booth, Tarita Botsman, Jules Brooke, Belinda Brosnan, Jenny Bruce, Fynn Cameron, Jane Caro AM, Eryn Clark, Cr Jan Clifford, Kate Crowley-Smith, Emma Dean, Simone de Haas, Francesca de Valence, Annette Densham, Dr. Omekongo Dibinga, Mike Domitrz, Helen Donaldson, Fallon Drewett, Nick Earls, Lesley Everett, Netta Finney, Robyn Forsythe, Billie French, Bridget French, Robyn Hatcher, Jason Hewlett, Estelle Hope, Dr. Liz Hovey, Hayden Hudak, Tom Hudak, Belinda Jackson, Alka Joshi, Eleni Kelakos, Margaret King, Kathleen Kwan, Abby Laden, Wendy M. LaManque, Sharon Le Fort, Brian Lee, Joanie Leeds, Trish Lesina, Lisa Lockland-Bell, Alexandra McCallum, Katrina McCarter, Suzie McClement, Kay McGrath, Paula McGrath, Sophie McLean, Warwick Merry, Anja Neupert, Yael Niggemann Begun, The Hon. Sandra Nori, Dr. Dinesh Palipana, Marija Parente, Jess Pettitt, Marquesa Pettway, Anita Poteri, Michelle Ray, Brielle Roberts, Ian Roberts, Misha Rubin, Minal Sampat, Debbie Savy, Vicki Saylor, Karen Snyder, Susie Spann, Deb Suckling, Dani Thomas, Kylie Thomas, Karen Tui Boyes, Shirley Taylor, Mikey Webb, Stephanie Winters, Tracey Yarad and Sarah Yip.
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