Bob Carr’s not the first person to comment on former prime minister Julia Gillard’s voice.
But he is one of the more unlikely candidates to consider it mattered, even though in his new book Diary of a Foreign Minister the former senator takes aim at all manner of things: banquet food, the lack of pajamas provided in business class, Kevin Rudd’s treatment of ministers abroad, as well as some more important facets from his time in office such as the influence he believes the Israel Lobby had on Middle East policymaking and Gillard’s political judgement. (I sadly didn’t receive a pre-release copy so am relying on media reports.)
On the ABC’s 7:30 last night, Sarah Ferguson asked Carr why he was so scathing of Gillard’s voice in his book.
He said his comments were good-natured and Gillard was always comfortable with it. “I think I made gentle humour once or twice about what she’d joke about: her distinctive, broad Australian accent.”
But it seems there’s something about the sound of a voice that matters to Carr. Indeed, he notes his exceptional skills as a chairman were improved by his “masterly” voice, not to mention his penchant for wearing Hermes ties and the energy of “16 gladiators” he has for getting through media interviews. Carr’s certainly not shy on just what he can do: “I soar above the mundane and serve my country”.
Asked whether he really thinks things such as the way somebody speaks are important, and whether Gillard’s communication contributed to her downfall, Carr noted she was, most of the time, very good. “And I couldn’t understand the level of hostility that she ended up attracting, but you couldn’t ignore that. Minority status diminishes any government and then a campaign by Rudd to get back. Jacobean revenge drama, knives flashing, blood flowing, and for all of us in the Labor Party, it’s a relief to get beyond it. I wish both of them well.”
He told Ferguson he wanted Gillard’s leadership to work but after a number of bad political judgements realised social democracy was at stake with the demise of the Labor party. “So with some reluctance and with respect for her, but real doubts about her political judgment, I moved into the Rudd camp.”
So Carr had his glorious baritone, masterly voice, just the right tone to cut through at the negotiating table, while Gillard had her broad Australian accent — something that served former prime ministers like Bob Hawke and John Howard particularly well but couldn’t help the communication style of the first woman to take such a job.
The sound of Gillard’s voice was discussed at length during her prime ministership, a frequent distraction from the content of what she had to say, with voice coaches even using her as an example for how NOT to sound when attempting to be powerful — one even suggesting a magical combination of Gillard’s intellect matched with Cate Blanchett’s voice. Gillard’s voice was frequently derided as “annoying” and “excruciating” by different commentators. One paper even suggested Gillard must “de bogan to get attention”. Bob Carr’s accent, on the other hand — which I believe extends much further from that of the general Australian population — barely rated a mention during his NSW premiership or time as foreign minister.
So what if Gillard’s voice was more in tune with the sound of Carr’s? Would the focus have shifted to the content of what she was saying rather than the accent it was being said in?
We’ll never know.
And on a side note, how did Carr stay healthy and rested with all that travelling as foreign minister? Well he popped sleeping pills, ate blueberries, did pilates and experimented with Transcendental Meditation of course. He also lived by the mantra of “no flour, more power” in order to avoid temptations like bread. Some things to consider on your next business trip.