Politics
Kamala Harris Steals the Show in Australia with Fiery Speech on Power, Empathy and AI Threats
In her first-ever trip to Australia, the former US Vice President took center stage at a major real estate conference, throwing shade at Elon Musk and warning against rising authoritarianism.
Former US Vice President Kamala Harris made a powerful debut on Australian soil this week, delivering a headline-grabbing speech at the 2025 Australian Real Estate Conference on the Gold Coast. Speaking to an audience of over 4,500 real estate professionals, Harris didn’t just talk business—she delivered a masterclass in leadership, empathy, and resilience that has since gone viral.
Walking onstage to Beyoncé’s “Halo”, Harris immediately charmed the crowd with humor and humility, joking, “I’m unemployed right now.” But her message quickly turned serious. In a candid on-stage interview with real estate mogul John McGrath, Harris unpacked global challenges—from rising authoritarianism to artificial intelligence—and didn’t hold back.
Without naming him directly, Harris took aim at Elon Musk, referencing a controversial comment he made on a podcast with Joe Rogan, where he described empathy as a “bug” in Western civilization. Harris countered fiercely: “We must remember the 1930s. When people lose empathy, history teaches us what can follow. Isolation does not equal insulation.”
The jab was clearly aimed at Musk, who now runs the Department of Efficiency under the Trump administration and has publicly criticized the Democratic party’s immigration stance. Harris, who has remained outspoken since leaving office four months ago, used the moment to draw a sharp line between innovation and ethics. “Technology is powerful, but without guardrails, it can threaten our humanity, our jobs, and our truth.”
She also shared intimate insights from her political journey, recalling how she was often the “first woman in the room” and constantly told she wasn’t ready. Her defiant response? “I eat ‘no’ for breakfast.” The crowd erupted in applause, many visibly moved by her candor and conviction.
In her speech, Harris emphasized values often overlooked in political discourse: trust, honesty, friendship, and doing what’s right. These principles, she argued, are not just moral—they’re necessary in a world tilting toward division and extremism.
The former Vice President also took time to reflect on a tense moment from her time in Washington: a stand-off with a Wall Street power broker, which she described as a defining lesson in negotiation, patience, and knowing when to stand your ground.
Harris continues to make waves globally despite stepping out of political office. In April, she accused her successor of leading a “wholesale abandonment of America’s highest ideals” and recently sent her well wishes to former President Joe Biden after his cancer diagnosis.
Her Gold Coast appearance, though not political in nature, sent a clear message: Kamala Harris is far from done influencing the global stage.