Julia Gillard 'going fine' after losing Labor leadership to Kevin Rudd

Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Craig Emerson MP at the Lodge in Canberra. Source: News Limited

JULIA Gillard is more focused on babies than politics and is "going fine" according to long-time friend and political ally Craig Emerson.

Dr Emerson, who quit his senior ministerial roles after Ms Gillard was knifed as prime minister last month, said his former girlfriend had been buoyed by her sister's daughter giving birth and was not thinking about her future post the election.

"She is going fine," Dr Emerson told Sky News.

"She has had some positive family developments - her sister's daughter has had a baby. I think that's a really terrific thing.

"So there's always wonderful developments in life and that's really what we should be thinking about in the future."

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Last week Dr Emerson visited Ms Gillard at The Lodge for a "cup of tea".

He said the former prime minister hadn't as yet decided where to live.

Asked on what Ms Gillard would be doing in the immediate future he said she would be "taking a break".

"Working out where is the best place to live," Dr Emerson told ABC radio.

"She has some plans, I don't think I should reveal them.

"Julia's in pretty good shape actually. She's a very tough, resilient person and she has much of which to be proud."

Ms Gillard and her partner Tim Mathieson formally moved out of The Lodge in Canberra on the weekend, 11 days after she was removed from the prime ministership.

When Kevin Rudd was axed in 2010, he took just five days for he and his family to move out of The Lodge.

Ms Gillard agreed to quit politics at the election.

Dr Emerson said she hadn't spent much time thinking about her future prospects.

"(But) Julia will have a marvellous future," he said.

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