Julia Gillard urges Labor to retain 50% female quota, warning women still at risk of being dragged back

Australia's only female prime minister marks 30th anniversary of ALP's affirmative action rule by advocating for its adoption across federal parliament

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Julia Gillard is urging the Labor party never to remove its 50% female quota for parliamentary candidates despite surpassing it federally, warning there are forces - especially in the toxic sewer" of social media - which can still drag women back.

In an interview to mark this month's 30th anniversary of Labor's controversial affirmative action rule, Australia's first and, so far, only female prime minister reflected on the hope she expressed the day she left office in 2013, that it would be easier for the next woman who runs the country.

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