Former PM Julia Gillard opens up on gender issues

Julia Gillard has opened up on some of the more controversial events of her prime ministership in a series of interviews she did during her final months in the job.

Ms Gillard will quit politics at the next federal election after losing a Labor leadership spill against Kevin Rudd.

She told The Monthly magazine that some of the contempt she was shown as prime minister was about being the first woman in the job.

She harked back to the incident when Opposition Leader Tony Abbott appeared at an anti-carbon tax rally with a sign appearing behind him that said "Ditch the Witch".