Roxon backs PM, slams sexism in final address Prime Minister Julia Gillard farewells former Labor minister Nicola Roxon after she gave her valedictory speech. Former Labor minister Nicola Roxon has railed against sexism in Australia while praising Julia Gillard as an "amazing Prime Minister." Delivering her valedictory speech in Parliament on Tuesday, Ms Roxon urged her Labor colleagues not to allow internal tensions to distract them from their mission. Australia's first female attorney-general described Ms Gillard as "a great Labor leader and an impressive woman" who had been subjected to "crass" and "plain rude" treatment for years. Ms Roxon, who became a member in 1998, quit the frontbench in a surprise move in February to spend more time with her young daughter. She also announced at the time that she would not recontest her Victorian seat of Gellibrand at the September election. Outgoing Labor Senator and Rudd supporter Trish Crossin also delivered her valedictory speech on Tuesday with a parting shot at Ms Gillard, who dumped her from the NT Senate ticket in favour of former Olympic gold medallist Nova Peris. Do we need more women in Parliament? Well, of course we do. But not at the expense of each other," Senator Crossin said. On Monday, Liberal moderate Judi Moylan gave her final speech, in which she voiced her opposition to the mandatory detention of asylum seekers and the detention of children. These practices have gone on in our name, and will stand as a matter of great shame. Over her 20-year career, Ms Moylan has been one of Parliament's strongest critics of the harsh treatment of asylum seekers. With Jonathan Swan