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Sue, a teacher from Australia has given us her reaction to Bill Heffernan's comments. He described Labor Party deputy leader Julia Gillard as 'deliberately barren' and claimed she couldn't relate to the public because she doesn't have kids.

Here are some of the text messages we've been receiving:

MICHAEL IN HOLLAND
HEFFERNAN IS JOHN HOWARD'S ATTACK DOG, AND DOES NOTHING WITHOUT HOWARD'S APPROVAL, AND HE IS TERRIFIED OF LABOR'S NEW LEADERSHIP.

Shannon in Berlin
What if someone told the senator that he's unfit to be a politician because he's a man and half the population is female meaning he couldnt possibly understand them?

Ariz, Sydney
Julia gillard is not just a woman infact she's one hell of a woman. she's strong and has the guts to stand against these stereo typing politicians. heffernan apologized, but that doesn make any difference does it?

Anonymous text:
John, i am a man but is interesting debate. I think the secret of life is to have a children, any thing you do it makes no sence, remember the secret of life is children.

Anonymous text:
In Jamaica, Portia has many semi-adopted child in jam is different u need children to be considered man/woman children teach u about u.

Max, Singapore
Children affecting a career is OK. Career affecting children means the ruin of society.

Anon
Children should be making more of an impact on MEN'S careers.

Beatrice in Kampala
Ros, its very clear that chdn come in th way of career 4 women.There is no 2 ways about this.We just hav 2 find a way 2 work around it.

Julie, Nairobi
It seems that women r discriminated against in the workplace when they DO have babies AND also when they DONT have babies. Its a no win situation for us girls.

Mark, Uganda
I am a 20 yr old university student and the grateful son of a woman who gave up her career, at least at the time. Now, she is the H.R manager of an aid organisation, trotting the globe in the US as we speak. It's a win-win situation here, and I think it can be.

Callum
Physical aspects aside, in todays society, a woman can continue her career just as well as a man can give up his to remain at home to care for their children.