Bill Heffernan, a close friend of Prime Minister John Howard, described Julia Gillard, the deputy leader of the opposition centre-left Labour Party, as ‘deliberately barren’. He was quoted saying, ‘If you’re a leader, you’ve got to understand your community. One of the great understandings in a community is family and the relationship between mum, dad and a bucket of nappies.’
These comments triggered demands for an apology from Labour lawmakers and condemnation from some government leaders.
Howard initially rejected Labour leader Kevin Rudd’s demand for an apology, but later told reporters he would discuss the matter with Heffernan, who afterwards issued a brief media statement, I apologize to Julia Gillard and anyone else who was offended by my completely inappropriate and insensitive remarks.
Howard’s Liberal Party deputy, Peter Costello, said Gillard’s private life was none of Heffernan’s business. And this is quite true!
