Misplaced Pages

Paul Keating: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 00:56, 3 June 2016 editClueBot NG (talk | contribs)Bots, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers6,438,385 editsm Reverting possible vandalism by Artyorito to version by Oshwah. Report False Positive? Thanks, ClueBot NG. (2674552) (Bot)← Previous edit Latest revision as of 22:59, 20 December 2024 edit undoJevansen (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers3,288,527 editsm added Category:Australian MPs 1987–1990Tag: AWB 
(690 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Prime Minister of Australia from 1991 to 1996}}
{{about|the prime minister of Australia|the British actor|Paul Keating (actor)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{About|the Australian Prime Minister|the British actor|Paul Keating (actor)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox officeholder {{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix = ] | honorific-prefix = ]
|name = Paul Keating | image = File:Keating Paul BANNER b.jpg
|image = Paul Keating - 2007-crop.jpg | caption = Official portrait {{ca.}} 1994
| alt = Keating smiling in front of a green background
|office = ] ]<br /><small>Elections: ], ]</small>
|monarch = ] | office = 24th ]
| monarch = ]
|governor-general = ]<br>]
| governor_general = {{ubl|]|]}}
|deputy = ]<br>]
| deputy = {{ubl|]|]}}
|term_start = 20 December 1991
|term_end = 11 March 1996 | term_start = 20 December 1991
|predecessor = ] | term_end = 11 March 1996
|successor = ] | predecessor = ]
| successor = ]
|office2 = ]
| office1 = 14th ]
|term_start2 = 20 December 1991
| term_start1 = ]
|term_end2 = 19 March 1996
| term_end1 = 19 March 1996
|deputy2 = ]<br>]
| deputy1 = {{ubl|Brian Howe|Kim Beazley}}
|predecessor2 = ]
|successor2 = ] | predecessor1 = Bob Hawke
| successor1 = Kim Beazley
|office1 = ]
| office2 = ]
|primeminister1 = ]
| primeminister2 = Bob Hawke
|term_start1 = 4 April 1990
|term_end1 = 3 June 1991 | term_start2 = 4 April 1990
|predecessor1 = ] | term_end2 = 3 June 1991
| predecessor2 = ]
|successor1 = ]
| successor2 = Brian Howe
|office3 = ]
| office3 = ]
|term_start3 = 4 April 1990
|term_end3 = 3 June 1991 | term_start3 = 4 April 1990
|leader3 = ] | term_end3 = 3 June 1991
|predecessor3 = ] | leader3 = Bob Hawke
| predecessor3 = Lionel Bowen
|successor3 = ]
|office4 = ] | successor3 = Brian Howe
|primeminister4 = ] | office4 = ]
| primeminister4 = Bob Hawke
|term_start4 = 11 March 1983
|term_end4 = 3 June 1991 | term_start4 = 11 March 1983
|predecessor4 = ] | term_end4 = 3 June 1991
|successor4 = ] | predecessor4 = John Howard
|office5 = ] | successor4 = ]
| office5 = ]
|primeminister5 = ] | primeminister5 = ]
|term_start5 = 21 October 1975 | term_start5 = 21 October 1975
|term_end5 = 11 November 1975 | term_end5 = 11 November 1975
|predecessor5 = ] | predecessor5 = ]
|successor5 = ] | successor5 = ]
|constituency_MP6 = ] | constituency_MP6 = ]
|parliament6 = Australian | parliament6 = Australian
|term_start6 = 25 October 1969 | term_start6 = 25 October 1969
|term_end6 = 23 April 1996 | term_end6 = 23 April 1996
|predecessor6 = ] | predecessor6 = ]
|successor6 = ] | successor6 = ]
|birth_name = Paul John Keating | birth_name = Paul John Keating
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1944|1|18|df=y}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1944|01|18|df=y}}
|birth_place = ], ] | birth_place = ], ], Australia
|party = ] | residence = ], ], Australia
|spouse = ] <br> (m. 1975–2008, divorced) | party = ]
| spouse = {{marriage|]|1976|2008|end=divorced}}{{fact|date=August 2024}}
|partner = ] (1999–present)
| partner = ] (1999–present)
|children = 4
| children = 4
|education = ]
| education = {{ubl|]|Belmore Technical College}}
|religion = ]
| profession = {{ubl|Trade unionist|Politician}}
|honorific-suffix =
| signature = Paul Keating signature 1998.svg
|profession = ]}}
| website = {{url|paulkeating.net.au}}
'''Paul John Keating''' (born 18 January 1944) is an ]n ] who was the ] ] and the ] from ] to ]. Born in a working-class Sydney suburb and having left school at 15, Keating was first elected to the ] at 25, winning the seat of ] in ].
| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Paul Keating Dollar Float.oga|title=Paul Keating's voice|type=speech|description=Keating on the floating of the dollar<br/>12 December 1983}}
}}
{{Paul Keating sidebar}}


'''Paul John Keating''' (born 18 January 1944) is an Australian former politician who served as the 24th ] from 1991 to 1996, holding office as the ] (ALP). He previously served as ] under Prime Minister ] from 1983 to 1991 and as the seventh ] from 1990 to 1991.
Keating was appointed ] by newly elected ] ] in 1983. Although lacking any formal education in economics, Keating went on to become arguably the most reforming Treasurer in ]. During his time as Treasurer, the ] was floated, the financial sector deregulated, certain state sector industries were privatised, a ] was introduced, and a ] was struck. In 1990 he was elected ] and made ].


Keating was born in ] and left school at the age of 14. He joined the Labor Party at the same age, serving a term as State president of ] and working as a research assistant for a trade union. He was elected to the ] at the age of 25, winning the ] at the ]. Keating briefly was ] from October to November 1975, in the final weeks of the ] - along with ], Keating is the last surviving minister who served under ]. After ] removed Labor from power, he held senior portfolios in the ] of Whitlam and ]. During this time he came to be seen as the leader of the ] faction, and developed a reputation as a talented and fierce parliamentary performer.
Keating later ] in June 1991, and resigned from the Government following defeat. Six months later he ], this time successfully, and subsequently became ]. He would go on to deliver the Labor government a record fifth consecutive victory and a record 13 years in government at the ], defeating the opposition led by ] and his 650-page ] policy package, despite consistently poor government opinion polls following the effects of the ]. The ] introduced ] to ], greatly increased the social wage and the family benefits system, saw increased bilateral relations between Australia and countries in ], and aggressively promoted a vision of Australia as a ]. After being defeated by ] at the ], Keating resigned as Prime Minister and retired from ].

After Labor's landslide victory at the ], Keating was appointed treasurer by prime minister ]. The pair developed a powerful political partnership, overseeing significant reforms intended to ] and strengthen the Australian economy. These included the ], the ] of the Australian dollar, the elimination of ]s, the deregulation of the financial sector, achieving the first federal ] in Australian history, and reform of the ], including the introduction of ], ], and ]. He also became recognised for his sardonic rhetoric, as a controversial but deeply skilled orator.<ref name="Johnson">{{cite web |last=Johnson |first=Carol |title=How Paul Keating transformed the economy and the nation |url=http://theconversation.com/how-paul-keating-transformed-the-economy-and-the-nation-131562 |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=The Conversation |date=16 June 2020 |archive-date=16 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616221730/http://theconversation.com/how-paul-keating-transformed-the-economy-and-the-nation-131562 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2013-11-11 |title=The collected insults of former PM Paul Keating |language=en-AU |work=] |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-12/the-collected-insults-of-paul-keating/5071412 |access-date=2022-06-17 |archive-date=17 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617104422/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-12/the-collected-insults-of-paul-keating/5071412 |url-status=live }}</ref> Keating became deputy prime minister in 1990, but in June 1991 he resigned from the government to ] Hawke for the leadership, believing he had reneged on the ]. He mounted ] six months later, and became prime minister.

Keating was appointed prime minister in the aftermath of ], which he had famously described as "the recession we had to have". This, combined with poor opinion polling, led many to predict Labor was certain to lose the ], but Keating's government was re-elected in an ]. In its second term, the ] enacted the landmark '']'' to enshrine ], introduced ] and ], created ], privatised ], ] and the ], established the ] leaders' meeting, and promoted ] by establishing the ].

At the ], after 13 years in office, his government suffered a landslide defeat to the ], led by ]. Keating resigned as leader of the Labor Party and retired from Parliament shortly after the election, with his deputy ] being ] to replace him. Keating has since remained active as a political commentator, whilst maintaining a broad series of business interests, including serving on the international board of the ] from 2005 to 2018.

As prime minister, Keating performed poorly in ]s, and in August 1993, received the lowest approval rating for any Australian prime minister since modern political polling began.<ref name="newspoll.com.au">{{cite web|url=https://infogram.com/federal-newspoll-archive-1gv4m7ejjndop18|title=Federal Newspoll Archive|via=Infogram|access-date=3 July 2022|archive-date=1 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301054328/https://infogram.com/federal-newspoll-archive-1gv4m7ejjndop18|url-status=live}}</ref> Since leaving office, Keating received broad praise from historians and commentators for his role in modernising the Australian economy as treasurer, although ].<ref name="Strangio-2021">{{cite web |last=Strangio |first=Paul |date=2 August 2021 |title=Who was Australia's best prime minister? Experts rank the winners and dunces |url=http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/aug/02/who-was-australias-best-prime-minister-experts-rank-the-winners-and-dunces |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802024636/http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/aug/02/who-was-australias-best-prime-minister-experts-rank-the-winners-and-dunces |archive-date=2 August 2021 |access-date=17 June 2022 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/ranking-australias-prime-ministers-20100624-z3bn.html|title=Ranking Australia's prime ministers|work=]|date=25 June 2010|access-date=17 August 2011|archive-date=25 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025091144/https://www.smh.com.au/national/ranking-australias-prime-ministers-20100624-z3bn.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=age1>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Prime-ministers-rank-and-file/2004/12/17/1102787277290.html|title=Prime ministers' rank and file|work=]|date=18 December 2004|access-date=30 December 2017|archive-date=14 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114084608/http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Prime-ministers-rank-and-file/2004/12/17/1102787277290.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Walker">Walker, Tony; Koutsoukis, Jason; "The good, the bad and the couldabeens", '']'', 3 January 2001.</ref> Keating has been recognised across the political spectrum for his charisma, debating skills, and his willingness to boldly confront social norms,<ref name="Johnson"/> including his famous ] on the impact of ] and ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Unforgettable Speeches (ABC Radio National) |url=https://www.abc.net.au/rn/features/speeches/ |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=www.abc.net.au |archive-date=17 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217211521/https://www.abc.net.au/rn/features/speeches/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


==Early life and education== ==Early life and education==
Keating was born at ] in ], ], on 18 January 1944.<ref>{{cite book |author=David Day |title=Paul Keating: The Biography |year=2015 |publisher=Fourth Estate |page=17|author-link=David Day (historian)}}</ref> He was the first of four children born to Minnie (née Chapman) and Matthew John Keating. His father worked as a ] for the ].<ref>Day (2015), p. 10.</ref> All of Keating's grandparents were born in Australia. On his father's side, he was descended from Irish immigrants born in counties ], ], and ].<ref>Day (2015), p. 8.</ref> On his mother's side, he was of mixed English and Irish descent. His maternal grandfather, Fred Chapman, was the son of two ], John Chapman and Sarah Gallagher, both of whom had been ] for theft in the 1830s.<ref>Day (2015), p. 3.</ref>
Keating grew up in ], a working-class suburb of Sydney. He was one of four children born to Matthew Keating, a boilermaker and trade union representative of ] descent, and his wife Minnie. His siblings include Anne Keating, a company director and businesswoman. Leaving De La Salle College—now known as ]—at the age of 14, Keating left high school<ref>{{cite web|url=http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/keating/before-office.aspx |title=Australia's Prime Ministers |publisher=National Archives of Australia |accessdate=1 June 2016}}</ref> and decided not to pursue higher education, and instead worked as a pay clerk at the Sydney County Council ( Electrical Supply Authority). He then worked as research assistant for a trade union, having joined the ] as soon as he was eligible. In 1966, he became president of NSW Young Labor.<ref name="bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.civicsandcitizenship.edu.au/cce/default.asp?id=14942 |title=Civics &#124; Paul Keating (1944–) |publisher=Civicsandcitizenship.edu.au |accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref> In the 1960s, Keating also managed rock band "The Ramrods".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.civicsandcitizenship.edu.au/cce/default.asp?id=14942 |title=Civicsandcitizenship.edu.au |publisher=Civicsandcitizenship.edu.au |accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref>


Keating grew up in ], a working-class suburb in western Sydney, the family home from 1942 to 1966 being a modest ]-and-brick bungalow at 3 Marshall Street (demolished for flat development in 2014).<ref name="Bell-2021">{{cite news |last=Bell |first=Matt |title=From a KFC to a Centrelink: What the former homes of Australia's prime ministers have become |url=https://www.realestate.com.au/news/from-a-kfc-to-a-centrelink-what-the-former-homes-of-australias-prime-ministers-have-become/ |access-date=25 September 2021 |agency=realestate.com.au |date=22 September 2021 |archive-date=25 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925173434/https://www.realestate.com.au/news/from-a-kfc-to-a-centrelink-what-the-former-homes-of-australias-prime-ministers-have-become/ |url-status=live }}</ref> His siblings include Anne Keating, a company director and businesswoman. Leaving De La Salle College—now known as ]—at the age of 14, Keating left high school rather than pursuing higher education, instead working as a pay clerk at the ]'s electricity distributor. Keating also attended Belmore Technical High School to further his education.<ref name="naa before">{{cite web |url=https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/paul-keating/before-office |title=Paul Keating: before office |work=Australia's Prime Ministers |publisher=National Archives of Australia |access-date=16 October 2020 |archive-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913190638/https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/paul-keating/before-office |url-status=live }}</ref> He then worked as research assistant for a trade union, having joined the ] as soon as he was eligible. In 1966, he became president of New South Wales Young Labor.<ref name="bio">{{cite web |url=http://www.civicsandcitizenship.edu.au/cce/default.asp?id=14942 |title=Civics &#124; Paul Keating (1944–) |date=14 June 2005 |publisher=Civicsandcitizenship.edu.au |access-date=25 April 2010 |archive-date=11 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511194352/http://www.civicsandcitizenship.edu.au/cce/default.asp?id=14942 |url-status=dead }}</ref> During the 1960s, Keating also managed a rock band named The Ramrods.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.civicsandcitizenship.edu.au/cce/default.asp?id=14942 |title=Paul Keating |date=14 June 2005 |publisher=Civicsandcitizenship.edu.au |access-date=25 April 2010 |archive-date=11 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511194352/http://www.civicsandcitizenship.edu.au/cce/default.asp?id=14942 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Member of Parliament, 1969–91==
], ] and ] in Wickham, Western Australia, in 1978]]
Through his contacts in the unions and the NSW Young Labor Council, Keating met future senior Labor figures such as ], ] and ]. He also developed a friendship with former ] ]. In 1971, he succeeded in having Lang re-admitted to the Labor Party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/rn/latenightlive/stories/2005/1509394.htm |title=Former PM Paul Keating and historian Frank Cain discuss Jack Lang's life, legacy and the Depression |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=17 November 2005 |accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref> Using his extensive contacts,{{citation needed|date=June 2014}} Keating eventually gained the Labor endorsement for the seat of ] in the western suburbs of Sydney, and was elected to the ] in ] when he was 25 years old.<ref name="bio"/>


==Early political career==
Keating was a backbencher for most of the ], although he briefly served as a Minister for the Northern Territory in October 1975, before the government was ] by the ] that November. After Labor's defeat in ] one month later, Keating was promoted to become an opposition spokesman; as an opposition spokesman, his parliamentary style was that of an aggressive debater. In 1981, he was elected president of the New South Wales Labor Party, thus becoming the leader of the dominant ] in Labor. At this time, he initially supported ] over ] as leadership tensions between the two men began to mount; part of the reason for his support was that he privately hoped to succeed Hayden in the near future.<ref>Edwards, John, ''Keating: The Inside Story, Viking'', 1996, p. 153</ref> However, by 1982, his faction had swung behind Hawke, and Keating endorsed his challenge. The formal announcement of Keating's support for Hawke was written by a fellow Labor politician, ].<ref name="Edwards, John 1996, p.159">Edwards, John, ''Keating: The Inside Story, Viking'', 1996, p. 159</ref> Although Hayden survived the challenge, pressure continued to mount on him, and he eventually resigned in February 1983 after a poor by-election result. Hawke was elected to replace him, and he subsequently led Labor to a landslide victory in the ] just six weeks later.<ref name="Edwards, John 1996, p.159"/>
]
Through his contacts in the unions and Young Labor, then known as Youth Council, Keating met future senior Labor figures such as ], ] and ]. He also developed a friendship with former ] ], who Keating took on as a political mentor. In 1971, he succeeded in having Lang re-admitted to the Labor Party.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/rn/latenightlive/stories/2005/1509394.htm |title=Former PM Paul Keating and historian Frank Cain discuss Jack Lang's life, legacy and the Depression |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=17 November 2005 |access-date=25 April 2010 |archive-date=3 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703074603/http://www.abc.net.au/rn/latenightlive/stories/2005/1509394.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Keating successfully gained the Labor nomination for the seat of ] in the western suburbs of Sydney, and was elected to the ] in ] when he was just 25 years old.<ref name="bio"/>


Keating was initially more ]; in his ] he declared that the Liberal government had "boasted about the increasing number of women in the workforce. Rather than something to be proud of, I feel it is something of which we should be ashamed".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dread-and-dry-mouth-first-speeches-in-parliament-20140703-zsv5p.html|title=Dread and dry mouth: first speeches in Parliament|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=5 June 2020|archive-date=5 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605041716/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dread-and-dry-mouth-first-speeches-in-parliament-20140703-zsv5p.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He later voted against former prime minister ]'s motion to decriminalise ] in 1973. According to ] he was originally a "very narrow-minded young man", who later "matured" and became far less socially conservative.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Parliament 1973: baby steps on Australian gay law reform|url=https://qnews.com.au/federal-parliament-1973-baby-steps-on-australian-gay-law-reform/%7Ctitle=Federal|website=Q News|access-date=16 July 2020|archive-date=20 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220054912/https://qnews.com.au/federal-parliament-1973-baby-steps-on-australian-gay-law-reform/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Federal Treasurer (1983–91)===
], ] and ] in ], 1978]]
Following Labor's victory in the 1983 election, Keating was appointed ] by Prime Minister ]&nbsp;– he would go on to hold that post until 1991. Keating succeeded John Howard as treasurer and was able to use the size of the budget deficit that the ] inherited to question the economic credibility of the Liberal–National Coalition. That the deficit had significantly increased in the lead up to the election had not been disclosed in pre-election documents released by the ].<ref name="Hawke, Bob 1994, p.148">Hawke, Bob, ''The Hawke Memoirs'', William Heinemann Australia, 1994, p. 148</ref> According to Hawke, the historically large $9.6&nbsp;billion budget deficit left by the Coalition "became a stick with which we were justifiably able to beat the Liberal National Opposition for many years".<ref name="Hawke, Bob 1994, p.148"/> Although Howard was widely regarded at this time as being "discredited" by the hidden deficit, he had in fact argued unsuccessfully against Fraser that the revised figures should be disclosed before the election.<ref>Errington, W., & Van Onselen, Peter, ''John Winston Howard: The Biography'', Melbourne University Press, 2007, Errington, W.,& Van Onselen, Peter, ''John Winston Howard: The Biography'', Melbourne University Press, 2007,</ref>


After Labor's victory at the ], Keating narrowly failed to be elected to serve in the ], instead being a backbencher for most of the ]. He was eventually appointed ] in October 1975, but served in the role only until the Government was ] by Governor-General ] the following month. In a 2013 interview with ], Keating called the dismissal a "coup" and raised the idea to "arrest " and "lock him up", adding that he would not have " it lying down" if he was prime minister.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Keating, on life, politics, and the day he suggested arresting the Governor-General|url=https://theconversation.com/keating-on-life-politics-and-the-day-he-suggested-arresting-the-governor-general-19980|website=The Conversation|date=7 November 2013|access-date=14 April 2021|archive-date=14 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414132348/https://theconversation.com/keating-on-life-politics-and-the-day-he-suggested-arresting-the-governor-general-19980|url-status=live}}</ref>
] news report on the first day of trading with a floating Australian dollar]]
Keating was one of the major driving forces behind the various extensive ] and ] reforms of the Hawke government.<ref>Toner, Kieron, ''The Cart Before the Horse: Australian Exchange Rate Policy and Economic Reform in the 1980s'', Earlybrave Publications, 2000.</ref> As Treasurer, Keating pursued economic policies such as ] the Australian dollar in 1983, reducing ]s on imports, completely reforming the tax system, moving from centralised wage-fixing to ], privatising publicly owned companies such as ],] and the ], and deregulating large parts of the banking system. Keating was also instrumental in the introduction of the ], an agreement between the ] (ACTU) and the government to negotiate wages. His management of the Accord, and close working relationship with ACTU President ], became a source of tremendous political power for Keating. Through the power given to him, Keating was often able to bypass the Cabinet altogether, notably in exercising monetary policy, and he was regularly referred to as "the most powerful Treasurer in modern times".<ref name="PKelly_EndOfCertainty1994">{{cite book|last=Kelly|first=Paul|authorlink=Paul Kelly (journalist)|title=The End of Certainty: Power, Politics, and Business in Australia|year=1994|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=EKXBgmYeO2QC&dq|accessdate=5 October 2007|publisher=]|isbn=1-86373-757-X}}</ref>


After Labor's defeat in the ], Keating was quickly added to the Shadow Cabinet, serving as Shadow Minister for Minerals, Resources and Energy until January 1983.<ref name="naa before"/> During this time he achieved a reputation as a flamboyant and fierce parliamentary performer, adopting the style of an aggressive debater. In 1981, he was elected president of the ], thus becoming the leader of the influential ] faction. At this time, he initially supported the former ] ] for Labor Leader over the former ] ] as leadership tensions between the two men began to mount; he later explained that part of his reasoning was that he privately hoped to succeed Hayden himself in the near future.<ref>Edwards, John, ''Keating: The Inside Story, Viking'', 1996, p. 153</ref> However, by 1982, the members of his faction had swung behind Hawke, and Keating endorsed his challenge. The formal announcement of Keating's support for Hawke was written by a fellow Labor politician, ].<ref name="Edwards">Edwards, John, ''Keating: The Inside Story, Viking'', 1996, p. 159</ref>
In 1985, Keating argued within the Cabinet for the introduction of a ], similar in nature to the ] that was later introduced by the ].<ref name="Eccleston">{{cite book|last=Eccleston|first=Richard|title=Taxing reforms: the politics of the consumption tax in Japan, the United States, Canada and Australia|year=2007|publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing|page=202|url=http://books.google.com.au/books?id=Wh-tt6G2lEYC&source=gbs_navlinks_s}}</ref><ref name="Malone">{{cite book|last=Malone|first=Paul|title=Australian Department Heads Under Howard&nbsp;– Career Paths and Practice|publisher=ANU Press|year=2006|page=136|url=http://books.google.com.au/books?id=Zi2Q5Dq_lQgC&source=gbs_navlinks_s}}</ref> In the build-up to the ], Hawke had promised a policy paper on taxation reform to be discussed with all stakeholders at a tax summit. Three options&nbsp;– A, B and C&nbsp;– were presented in the Draft White Paper, with Keating and his Treasury colleagues fiercely advocating for C, which included a consumption tax of 15% on goods and services along with reductions in personal and company income tax, a fringe benefits tax and a capital gains tax. Although Keating was able to win the support of a reluctant Cabinet, Hawke believed that the opposition from the public, the ACTU, and the business community would be too great. He therefore decided to abandon any plans for a consumption tax, although the remainder of the reforms were adopted in the tax reform package. The loss of the consumption tax was seen a bitter defeat for Keating; he later joked about it at a press conference, saying, "It's a bit like ''Ben Hur''. We've crossed the line with one wheel off, but we have crossed the line."<ref name="DAlpuget">{{cite book|last=D'Alpuget|first=Blanche|title=Hawke: The Prime Minister|publisher=Melbourne University Publishing|year=2011|url=http://books.google.com.au/books?id=3dsFOaoDqv4C&source=gbs_navlinks_s}}</ref>


Although Hayden survived the challenge, pressure continued to mount on him. In an attempt to shore up his position, Hayden promoted Keating to the role of Shadow Treasurer in January 1983. However this did not prove sufficient and Hayden resigned a month later, after a ]. Hawke was elected unopposed to replace him and Hawke subsequently led Labor to a landslide victory in the ] just six weeks later.<ref name="Edwards"/>
Keating's tenure as Treasurer was often criticised for high interest rates and the 1990s recession, which Keating referred to in an interview as "(the) recession we had to have". Through the 1980s, both the global and Australian economies grew quickly, and by the late 1980s inflation had grown to around 9%. By 1988, the Reserve Bank of Australia began tightening monetary policy, and household interest rates peaked at 18%. It is often said that the Bank was too slow in easing monetary policy, and that this ultimately led to a recession. In private, Keating had argued for rates to rise earlier than they did, and fall sooner, although his view was at odds with the Reserve Bank and his Treasury colleagues.<ref name="PKelly_EndOfCertainty1994" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/30/1093852180757.html |title=Keating still casts a shadow |publisher=Smh.com.au |date= 31 August 2004|accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref> Publicly, Hawke and Keating had said there would be no recession&nbsp;– or that there would be a "soft landing"&nbsp;– but this changed when Keating announced the country was indeed in recession in 1990. Claiming that the recession was something Australia "had to have" was referred to by ] as "perhaps the most stupid remark of Keating's career, and it nearly cost him the Prime Ministership." Kelly did also concede that, "... however, it is largely true that the boom begat the recession."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/the-real-reasons-why-it-was-the-1990s-recession-we-had-to-have/2006/12/01/1164777791623.html |publisher=theage.com.au |title=The real reasons why it was the 1990s recession we had to have |author=Ian McFarlane |date=2 December 2006 |accessdate=6 October 2011}}</ref> During the subsequent ], Keating would often criticise Howard for taking credit for the good economic conditions Australia experienced without acknowledging that it had been the early 1990s recession that had ended the inflation problem.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2007/s1945485.htm |title=Paul Keating on the lead-up to the federal election |publisher=]&nbsp;– ] |date=7 June 2007 |accessdate=15 July 2007}}</ref>


==Treasurer of Australia==
Hawke led Labor to a third consecutive victory in the ], but by his fifth anniversary as prime minister a year later, he had begun to suffer from poor opinion polling. It was at this time that Keating privately began to put pressure on Hawke to stand down in his favour as soon as possible. The two men eventually met at ] later that year to discuss the handover of the leadership to Keating. Eventually, Hawke agreed in front of two witnesses that he would resign in Keating's favour a short time after the ], which he convinced Keating he could win.<ref name="PKelly_EndOfCertainty1994" /> Hawke subsequently won that election, and appointed Keating his ] to replace the retiring ], in theory preparing Keating to assume the leadership. However, Keating quickly became dissatisfied with the lack of any indication from Hawke as to when he might stand down, and subsequently made a number of provocative speeches questioning the direction of the government. This caused tensions between the two men to grow very quickly, and Hawke told Keating that he would renege on the deal on the basis that Keating had been publicly disloyal. Keating eventually resigned from the ] and challenged Hawke for the leadership in June 1991. Hawke won the ballot by 66 votes to 44, and in a press statement afterwards Keating declared that he had fired his "one shot".<ref>Edwards, John, ''Keating: The Inside Story, Viking'', 1996, p.435</ref><ref>Edwards, John, ''Keating: The Inside Story'', Viking, 1996, p. 438</ref> Publicly, at least, this seemed to spell the end of his leadership ambitions. Having failed to defeat Hawke, Keating realised that events would have to move very much in his favour for a second challenge to be even possible, and he strongly considered retiring from politics altogether.<ref name="Edwards, John 1996, p.439">Edwards, John, ''Keating: The Inside Story'', Viking, 1996, p. 439</ref>
{{Further|Hawke government}}
===Early days===
Following Labor's victory in the 1983 election, Keating was appointed ] by Prime Minister ]; he succeeded ] in the position.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ministers.treasury.gov.au/AllMinisters.aspx |title=Past Treasury Ministers |work=The Treasury |publisher=] |year=2013 |access-date=19 September 2013 |archive-date=17 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917180416/http://ministers.treasury.gov.au/AllMinisters.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> He and Hawke were able to use the size of the budget deficit that the ] had inherited from the ] to question the economic credibility of the ] over the coming years.<ref name="Hawke-1994">{{cite book|title=The Hawke Memoirs|first=Bob|last=Hawke|authorlink=Bob Hawke|publisher=William Heinemann Australia|date=1994|page=148}}</ref> According to Hawke, the historically large $9.6&nbsp;billion budget deficit left by the Coalition "became a stick with which we were justifiably able to beat the Opposition".<ref name="Hawke-1994"/> Although Howard was widely regarded at this time as being "discredited" by the hidden deficit, he had in fact argued unsuccessfully against Fraser that the revised figures should be disclosed before the election.<ref>{{cite book|title=John Winston Howard: The Biography|first1=Wayne|last1=Errington|first2=Peter|last2=Van Onselen|publisher=Melbourne University Press|date=2007}}</ref>


In the ensuing years, Hawke and Keating developed an extremely powerful partnership, which proved to be essential to Labor's success in government; multiple Labor figures in years since have cited the partnership between the two as the party's greatest ever.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Hansard_Display?bid=chamber/hansards/79f1fe78-5449-42d1-be9b-3f40736f1a19/&sid=0004|title=Hansard Display|website=Aph.gov.au|access-date=23 September 2020|archive-date=27 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027134521/https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Hansard_Display?bid=chamber/hansards/79f1fe78-5449-42d1-be9b-3f40736f1a19/&sid=0004|url-status=live}}</ref> The two men proved a study in contrasts: Hawke was a Rhodes Scholar; Keating left high school early.<ref>{{cite book|title=Keating: The Inside Story|first=John|last=Edwards|publisher=Viking|date=1996|page=44}}</ref> Hawke's enthusiasms were cigars, betting and most forms of sport; Keating preferred ], ] symphonies and collecting ] and ] antiques.<ref>{{cite book|title=Keating: The Inside Story|first=John|last=Edwards|publisher=Viking|date=1996|page=6}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Keating: The Inside Story|first=John|last=Edwards|publisher=Viking|date=1996|page=48}}</ref> Despite not knowing one another before Hawke assumed the leadership in 1983, the two formed a personal as well as political relationship which enabled the Government to pursue a significant number of reforms, although there were occasional points of tension between the two.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/bob-hawke-memorial-paul-keating-leads-mourners-20190614-p51xpi|title=Hawke memorial: Keating on a friendship that lasted to the end|website=Afr.com|date=14 June 2019|access-date=23 September 2020|archive-date=1 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201105902/https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/bob-hawke-memorial-paul-keating-leads-mourners-20190614-p51xpi|url-status=live}}</ref>
Several factors over the coming months enabled Keating to mount a second challenge to Hawke. Over the remainder of 1991, the economy showed no signs of recovery from the recession, and unemployment continued to rise.<ref name="Hawke, Bob 1994, p.544">Hawke, Bob, ''The Hawke Memoirs'', William Heinemann Australia, 1994, p.544</ref><ref>Edwards, John, ''Keating: The Inside Story'', Viking, 1996, p. 440</ref> Opinion polling for Labor was poor, some of Keating's supporters actively undermined the government, and, perhaps more significantly, Liberal Leader ] introduced ']', an economic policy package which, according to Keating's biographer, "appeared to astonish and stun Hawke's Cabinet".<ref name="Edwards, John 1996, p.439"/><ref name="Hawke, Bob 1994, p.544"/><ref name="Edwards, John 1996, p.441">Edwards, John, ''Keating: The Inside Story'', Viking, 1996, p. 441</ref> According to Edwards, "Hawke was unprepared to attack it and responded with windy rhetoric".<ref name="Edwards, John 1996, p.441"/> Following Hawke's lacklustre response to 'Fightback!', many began to openly speculate that nearly nine years as prime minister had left Hawke "tired", and he began to lose the confidence of many in the Labor caucus.<ref>Edwards, John, ''Keating: The Inside Story'', Viking, 1996, p. 442</ref> Keating was viewed as the only viable replacement for Hawke, and on 19 December 1991, Keating challenged Hawke for a second time, this time defeating him by 56 votes to 51.


Keating, along with Hawke, oversaw a "National Economic Summit" in their first month in office, with Keating leading several sessions outlining the Government's economic agenda. The Summit, which brought together a significant number of senior business and industrial figures alongside trade union leaders and politicians, led to a unanimous adoption of a national economic strategy, generating sufficient political capital for the Government to begin a wide-ranging programme of economic reform previously resisted by much of the Labor Party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3400566.htm|title=Hawke: 1983 National Economic Summit established success|website=]|date=2 January 2012|access-date=23 September 2020|archive-date=29 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329090328/https://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3400566.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Prime Minister (1991–96)==
{{Main|Keating Government|Hawke–Keating Government}}
On 20 December 1991, following his successful leadership challenge, Keating was sworn in as the ] by the ]. Keating had an extensive legislative agenda upon taking office, which included reconciliation with Australia's ], furthering economic and cultural ties with Asia, and ]. The addressing of these issues came to be known as Keating's "big picture."<ref>, Shaun Carney, '']'', 20 November 2007</ref> Keating's legislative program also included establishing the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA), a review of the Sex Discrimination Act, and the establishment of native title rights for Australia's indigenous peoples following the ]. Throughout his time as prime minister, Keating took a number of steps to strengthen and develop bilateral links with Australia's closest neighbours; he frequently said that there was no country in the world that was more important to Australia than ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Sheriden|first=Greg|title=Farewell to Jakarta's Man of Steel|work=The Australian|date=28 January 2008|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23118079-5013460,00.html|accessdate=30 December 2008}}</ref> He also played a key role in the establishment of the ] Forum (APEC), initiating the annual leaders' meeting and ensuring that they continued thereafter. Arguably Keating's most far-reaching legislative achievement was the introduction of a ], implemented to address the long-term problem of low national savings. This built on policies that Keating had introduced whilst Treasurer, and was aimed at ensuring that most Australians would have enough money to retire. Keating also moved to introduce ].<ref name=SBS>, ], 17 June 2008</ref> On 10 December 1992, Keating delivered the ] on ], a speech which has regularly been cited as among the greatest in Australian political history.<ref>{{cite web|author= Phillip Adams |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20876,21673159-12272,00.html |title=The greatest speech |work=The Australian |date=5 May 2007 |accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Barani/news/KeatingsRedfernAddressanunforgettablespeech.htm |title=Keating's Redfern Address voted an unforgettable speech |publisher=Cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au |date= |accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref>
] footage of Keating visiting ] in 1992 and meeting with ] ].]]


===Macroeconomic reforms===
As Prime Minister, Keating maintained his aggressive debating style. When asked by ] ] why he would not call an early election after he had become prime minister, Keating replied, "because I want to do you slowly." He referred to the ] as "a motley, dishonest crew", and the ] as "dummies and dimwits; desperadoes". During an opposition debate that sought to censure Keating, he described being attacked by ] as "like being flogged with warm lettuce". Despite a very busy legislative agenda, many commentators predicted that the upcoming ] was "unwinnable" for Labor. The government had been in power for the previous decade, and the pace of economic recovery from the ] was slow.<ref>Dyster, B., & Meredith, D., ''Australia in the Global Economy'', Cambridge University Press, 1999, p. 309</ref>
] report on the first day of trading with a floating Australian dollar]]
Keating used the authority and relative autonomy provided to him by Hawke to become one of the major driving forces behind the various extensive ] reforms of the Government.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Cart Before the Horse? Australian Exchange Rate Policy and Economic Reform in the 1980s|first=Kieron|last=Toner|publisher=Earlybrave Publications|date=2000}}</ref> In December 1983, Hawke and Keating approved the ] of the ], disregarding advice from the ] ] to retain the fixed currency framework.<ref>{{cite news|title=The dollar floats free|work=]|first1=Russell|last1=Barton|first2=Simon|last2=Holberton|date=10 December 1983|page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Why we had to float the dollar|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=10 December 1983|page=12}}</ref> The success of the move, which was lauded by economic and media commentators, gave confidence to Keating to pursue even more reforms.<ref>{{cite news|title=Keen observers of the dollar's float|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|first=J.N.|last=Pierce|date=15 December 1983|page=15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-27/jericho-floating-the-dollar-was-worth-the-pain/5118028|title=Floating the dollar was worth the pain|work=]|first=Greg|last=Jericho|date=28 November 2013|access-date=1 December 2013|archive-date=1 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131201071505/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-27/jericho-floating-the-dollar-was-worth-the-pain/5118028|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/the-long-road-that-led-to-the-floating-of-the-australian-dollar-20141121-11ra30|title=The long road that led to the floating of the Australian dollar|work=]|first=Selwyn|last=Cornish|date=21 November 2014|access-date=27 November 2014|archive-date=16 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116185737/https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/the-long-road-that-led-to-the-floating-of-the-australian-dollar-20141121-11ra30|url-status=live}}</ref> Over the Hawke government's first and second terms, Keating oversaw the gradual elimination of ]s on imports,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/the-day-that-protectionism-died-in-australia-20031206-gdwvtc.html|title=The day that protectionism died in Australia|newspaper=]|date=6 December 2003|access-date=12 January 2014|archive-date=23 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323200439/http://www.theage.com.au/national/the-day-that-protectionism-died-in-australia-20031206-gdwvtc.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the privatisation of several state-owned companies such as ],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/cabinet-archives-199293-keatings-department-wanted-to-sell-royal-australian-mint-20161228-gtirvw.html|title=Cabinet archives 1992-93: Paul Keating's department wanted to sell Royal Australian Mint|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|first=Markus|last=Mannheim|date=1 January 2017|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-date=16 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916125527/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/cabinet-archives-199293-keatings-department-wanted-to-sell-royal-australian-mint-20161228-gtirvw.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://australiainstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/DP4_8.pdf|title=The privatisation of CSL Limited|publisher=]|first1=Clive|last1=Hamilton|first2=John|last2=Quiggin|date=June 1995|access-date=16 September 2021|archive-date=20 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220003336/https://australiainstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/DP4_8.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> and the ],<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Otchere|first1=Isaac|last2=Chan|first2=Janus|date=2003|title=Intra-industry effects of bank privatization: A clinical analysis of the privatization of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia|journal=Journal of Banking & Finance|volume=27|issue=5|pages=949–975|doi=10.1016/S0378-4266(02)00242-X}}</ref> the deregulation of significant sections of the banking system (including allowing for numerous foreign-owned banks to begin operating in Australia for the first time) and the granting of autonomy on decision-making to the ].


Keating was also instrumental in establishing the Hawke government's signature industrial relations and wages policy, the ]. This was an agreement directly between the ] (ACTU) and the Government to guarantee a reduction in demands for wage increases, in exchange for the Government providing a significant increase in social programmes, including the introduction of ] and the Family Assistance Scheme; in so doing, the Government was able to reduce inflation and unemployment over the decade.<ref name="Ryan-2003">{{cite book|title=The Hawke government: A Critical Retrospective|first1=Susan|last1=Ryan|first2=Troy|last2=Bramston|publisher=Pluto Press Australia|date=2003}}</ref> Keating's management of the Accord, and the close working relationship he developed with ACTU Secretary ], became a source of significant political power for Keating, who negotiated multiple versions of the Accord with Kelty throughout the Hawke government. Through the power given to him, Keating was often able to bypass the Cabinet altogether, notably in exercising monetary policy, and he was regularly referred to as "the most powerful Treasurer in modern times".<ref name="Kelly-1994">{{cite book|last=Kelly|first=Paul|author-link=Paul Kelly (journalist)|title=The End of Certainty: Power, Politics, and Business in Australia|year=1994|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EKXBgmYeO2QC|access-date=5 October 2007|publisher=]|isbn=1-86373-757-X|archive-date=20 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220054908/https://books.google.com/books?id=EKXBgmYeO2QC|url-status=live}}</ref>
Such was the expectation that Labor would lose, many senior Labor figures openly told Keating that his job was to save as many seats as possible, so that their time in opposition would be short. Despite the overwhelming predictions that Labor would lose, Keating succeeded in winning over the electorate with a strong campaign opposing 'Fightback!' and a focus on creating jobs to reduce unemployment. In particular, Keating focused a great deal of his campaign on attacking the proposed ], arguing that it would make unemployment worse and would prove "a dead weight" on the economy. He was helped in this by his opponent, ], struggling towards the end of the campaign to explain exactly which products would have the GST levied on them, and which would not. Having begun the campaign an average of ten points behind the ]/], Keating led Labor to an ] on 13 March 1993. At the party celebration Keating delivered the "true believers" speech – today remembered as one of the great Labor speeches.<ref>Bramston, Troy. (2012). ''For The True Believers: Great Labor Speeches that Shaped History''. Federation Press. ISBN 9781862878310.</ref><ref>Warhaft, Sarah. (7 August 2004). "The power of speech - Talking Point", ''The Age'', p8.</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Gordon|first=Michael|title=A True Believer: Paul Keating|year=1996|publisher=University of Queensland Press|isbn=0702229407|page=257}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Gahan|first=Peter|title=Solidarity Forever? The 1993 ACTU Congress|journal=The Journal of Industrial Relations|date=December 1993|volume=35|issue=4|page=607}}</ref> Opening with "This is a victory for the true believers", the speech has been described as providing a source of inspiration for the party faithful, but also criticised as helping to create a perception that Keating's Labor government was not a government for all Australians.<ref>]. (6 May 200) "", '']''. Retrieved 31 December 2014.</ref>
] ] (left) in 1993.]]
Having secured a mandate in his own right as prime minister, Keating immediately set about implementing as much of his "big picture" as possible, leading the consultation and introducing legislation that would eventually lead to a 1999 ]. Keating also continued to pursue improved relations with countries throughout Asia, in particular ]. In December 1993, he became involved in a diplomatic incident with ] when he described Prime Minister ] as "recalcitrant". The incident occurred after Mahathir refused to attend the 1993 ]. Keating said, ''"APEC is bigger than all of us&nbsp;– Australia, the U.S. and Malaysia, and Dr. Mahathir and any other recalcitrants."'' Mahathir demanded an apology from Keating, and threatened to reduce diplomatic ties and trade drastically with Australia, which became an enormous concern to Australian exporters. Some Malaysian officials talked of launching a "Buy Australian Last" campaign; Keating subsequently apologised to Mahathir over the remark.<ref name="NYT_recalcitrant">{{cite news |first=Philip |last=Shenon |title=Malaysia Premier Demands Apology |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE0DB113EF93AA35751C1A965958260 |work=The New York Times |date=9 December 1993 |accessdate=16 June 2008}}</ref> Keating dismantled the century-old ] that had been present in Australia, fuelling a productivity drive in the free market and increasing ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Protectionism no cure for our woes|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-13/cowan-protectionism/5257426|publisher=]|date=13 February 2014|accessdate=4 November 2014}}</ref>


In the wake of the raft of macroeconomic reforms introduced by Keating throughout the first term of the Hawke government in particular, in 1984 he was awarded the ],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.europeanspeakers.com/orateurs-keating.htm |title=SPEAKER ORATEUR: HON. PAUL J KEATING |publisher=European Speakers Bureau |access-date=2007-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205013103/http://www.europeanspeakers.com//orateurs-keating.htm |archive-date=2008-12-05 |url-status=dead}}</ref> an award which became colloquially known in Australia as the "World's Greatest Treasurer", becoming the first Australian treasurer to be presented with the award.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/let-the-gongs-sound-for-the-worlds-greatest-treasurer-20090615-casq.html|title=Let the gongs sound for the world's greatest treasurer|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|first=Alex|last=Millmow|date=16 June 2009|access-date=12 July 2012|archive-date=16 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916125527/https://www.smh.com.au/business/let-the-gongs-sound-for-the-worlds-greatest-treasurer-20090615-casq.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Keating's friendship with ] ] was criticised by human rights activists supportive of East Timorese independence, and by ] winner ], who would later go on to become East Timor's president and prime minister. The Keating government's cooperation with the Indonesian military, and the signing of the ], were also strongly criticised by these same groups. It was alleged that Keating was overlooking alleged human rights abuses by the Indonesian government as part of his effort to dramatically increase Australia's cultural, diplomatic and economic ties with Asia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/stories/s57063.htm |title=The World Today&nbsp;– 5/10/99: Howard hits back at Keating over criticism |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=5 October 1999 |accessdate=31 July 2012}}</ref>


===Microeconomic reforms===
Like Hawke before him, Keating benefited while prime minister from a split Liberal Party. Shortly after the 1993 election, ] was replaced as Liberal Leader by ], whose leadership was quickly marred by gaffes and controversies within months. After continuous poor polling, Downer resigned in 1995 and was replaced by ], who had previously led the Liberals from 1985 to 1989. Although at first showing no improvement, under Howard the Coalition soon regained momentum to move back ahead of Labor in opinion polls, and Keating was unable to wrest back the lead again. The first warning sign of a serious swing away from Labor came in March 1995, when Labor lost ] in a ]. Later in 1995, the Queensland Labor Party barely held onto its majority at the ], before losing it altogether in ]. That by-election took place a week after Keating had called the ]; the very public defeat severely hampered the launch of the Labor campaign, and the campaign was never able to regain momentum.
] Secretary-General ], 1985]]
Throughout the second and third terms of the Hawke government, Keating led a significant overhaul of the long-stagnant ]. In 1985, he became a passionate advocate within the Cabinet for the introduction of a ], similar in nature to the ] that was later introduced by the ], as a means of addressing Australia's chronic balance of payments issue.<ref name="Eccleston-2007">{{cite book|last=Eccleston|first=Richard|title=Taxing reforms: the politics of the consumption tax in Japan, the United States, Canada and Australia|year=2007|publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing|page=202|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wh-tt6G2lEYC|isbn=9781782543404|access-date=24 September 2016|archive-date=20 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220054904/https://books.google.com/books?id=Wh-tt6G2lEYC|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Malone-2006">{{cite book|last=Malone|first=Paul|title=Australian Department Heads Under Howard&nbsp;– Career Paths and Practice|publisher=ANU Press|year=2006|page=136|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zi2Q5Dq_lQgC|isbn=9781920942830|access-date=24 September 2016|archive-date=20 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220054909/https://books.google.com/books?id=Zi2Q5Dq_lQgC|url-status=live}}</ref> In the build-up to the ], Hawke promised a policy paper on taxation reform to be discussed with all stakeholders at a "National Taxation Summit". Three options&nbsp;– A, B and C&nbsp;– were presented in the paper, with Keating and his Treasury colleagues fiercely advocating for C, which included a consumption tax of 15% on goods and services along with reductions in personal and company income tax, a fringe benefits tax and a capital gains tax. Although Keating was able to win the support of a reluctant Cabinet, Hawke believed that the opposition from the public, the ACTU, and the business community would be too great. He therefore decided to abandon any plans for a consumption tax, although the remainder of the reforms were adopted in the tax reform package. The loss of the consumption tax was seen a defeat for Keating; he later joked about it at a press conference, saying, "It's a bit like ''Ben Hur''. We've crossed the line with one wheel off, but we have crossed the line."<ref name="D'Alpuget-2011">{{cite book|last=D'Alpuget|first=Blanche|title=Hawke: The Prime Minister|publisher=Melbourne University Publishing|year=2011|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3dsFOaoDqv4C|isbn=9780522858518|access-date=24 September 2016|archive-date=20 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220054904/https://books.google.com/books?id=3dsFOaoDqv4C|url-status=live}}</ref>


Whilst the remainder of the package represented the biggest overhaul of the Australian taxation system for decades, Keating continued to agitate for further changes to address the balance of payments problems faced by Australia. On 14 May 1986, frustrated at the slow pace of dealing with the issue, Keating caused considerable public comment and a degree of controversy when he declared on a radio programme that if Australia did not address the problem, it risked degenerating to the status of a "]".<ref name="Jericho-2014">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/31/cabinet-papers-show-paul-keating-had-a-budget-emergency-of-his-own |newspaper=] |title=Cabinet papers show Paul Keating had a 'budget emergency' of his own |first=Greg |last=Jericho |date=1 January 2014 |access-date=23 September 2020 |archive-date=7 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107084205/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/31/cabinet-papers-show-paul-keating-had-a-budget-emergency-of-his-own |url-status=live }}</ref> Although the remark was quickly disowned by Hawke in public, the Government increased efforts to deal with the growing balance of payments crisis. With no consumption tax to generate a significant increase in incomings, Keating and his ministerial colleagues led a process to significantly reduce Government outlays instead, resulting in some criticism from the grassroots of the Labor Party, who opposed cuts to spending.<ref name="Jericho-2014"/> Despite the criticism, the Government was able to produce a national ] for the years 1988, 1989 and 1990, with the surplus of 1988 proving to be the largest budget surplus in Australian history.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=CHAMBER;id=chamber/hansards/1987-09-17/0039;query=Id:%22chamber/hansards/1987-09-17/0087%22| title = Hansard| website = Parlinfo.aph.gov.au| access-date = 23 September 2020| archive-date = 20 February 2024| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240220054917/https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=CHAMBER;id=chamber/hansards/1987-09-17/0039;query=Id:%22chamber/hansards/1987-09-17/0087%22| url-status = live}}</ref>
Howard, determined to avoid a repeat of the 1993 election, adopted a "small target" strategy, publicly committing to keep Labor reforms such as ], and defusing the republic issue by promising to hold a ]. Howard was therefore successfully able to focus the campaign on the longevity of the Labor government, which by 1996 had been in power for 13 years. The narrative of "time for a change" proved impossible to defend against, and on 2 March 1996 the Keating government was swept from power in a landslide, suffering a five percent ] swing. Although this was not a large swing in and of itself, Labor lost 29 seats, including 13 in New South Wales and 11 in Queensland—in terms of seats lost, the second-worst defeat ever of a sitting government in Australian history. Keating tendered his resignation as prime minister on 11 March, 13 years to the day after ] had first taken office, and stepped down from ] just over a month later on 23 April 1996.<ref>National Archives of Australia, Retrieved on 9 June 2009</ref>


During the campaign for the ], Keating was credited as dealing a "fatal" blow to the Liberal-National Coalition's hopes for victory, after giving a press conference in which he exposed a significant accounting error in the costings the Liberal Party had released to demonstrate how its economic policies would be paid for.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.crikey.com.au/2005/09/30/chess-john-howard-and-the-box-hill-town-hall/|title = Chess, John Howard and the Box Hill town hall|date = 30 September 2005|access-date = 23 September 2020|archive-date = 6 December 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201206021544/https://www.crikey.com.au/2005/09/30/chess-john-howard-and-the-box-hill-town-hall/|url-status = dead}}</ref> Then-Opposition Leader John Howard accepted the error, and subsequent opinion polling reported that the mistake greatly contributed to Labor's vote in what proved to be a landslide victory.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hawke savours the glory of victory|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|first=Peter|last=Bowers|date=12 July 1987|page=3}}</ref>
==Retirement and later life (1996–present)==
]
Soon after leaving Parliament, Keating became a director of various companies and a senior adviser to ], an investment banking firm.<ref>For example {{cite web |url=http://www.asx.com.au/asx/research/CompanyInfoSearchResults.jsp?searchBy=asxCode&allinfo=on&asxCode=BRC |title=ASX listing for Brain Resource Company Ltd |publisher=Australian Stock Exchange |accessdate=21 August 2007 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070607181407/http://www.asx.com.au/asx/research/CompanyInfoSearchResults.jsp?searchBy=asxCode&allinfo=on&asxCode=BRC |archivedate=7 June 2007}}</ref><ref>Lazard (2010). . Retrieved 11 September 2010.</ref> In 1997, Keating declined appointment as a ], an honour which has been offered to all former Prime Ministers since the modern ] was introduced in 1975.<ref name=naa_afteroffice>{{cite web |title=After office |work=Australia's PMs&nbsp;– Paul Keating |publisher=National Archives of Australia |url=http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/keating/after-office.aspx |accessdate = 15 July 2010}}</ref>


Keating's later tenure as treasurer was heavily criticised by some for consistently high interest rates, which Keating argued was necessary to reduce economic growth gradually so that demand for imports did not grow out of control. Throughout the 1980s, both the global and Australian economies grew quickly, and by the late 1980s, inflation had grown to around 9%. By 1988, the Reserve Bank of Australia began tightening monetary policy, and household interest rates peaked at 18%. It is often said that the bank was too slow in easing monetary policy, and that this ultimately led to a recession. In private, Keating had argued for rates to rise earlier than they did, and fall sooner, although his view was at odds with the Reserve Bank and his Treasury colleagues.<ref name="Kelly-1994" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/30/1093852180757.html |title=Keating still casts a shadow |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=31 August 2004 |access-date=25 April 2010 |archive-date=29 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629195802/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/30/1093852180757.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Publicly, Hawke and Keating had said there would be no recession&nbsp;– or that there would be a "soft landing"&nbsp;– but this changed when Keating announced the country was indeed in recession in 1990, several months after the Hawke government had won an unprecedented fourth consecutive term in office. Announcing the recession, Keating memorably stated that the recession was a "recession Australia had to have". The remark was referred to by political journalist ] as "perhaps the most stupid remark of Keating's career, and it nearly cost him the Prime Ministership." Kelly did also concede that, "...however, it is largely true that the boom begat the recession."<ref>{{cite news|author=McFarlane|first=Ian|date=2 December 2006|title=The real reasons why it was the 1990s recession we had to have|newspaper=The Age|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/the-real-reasons-why-it-was-the-1990s-recession-we-had-to-have/2006/12/01/1164777791623.html|url-status=dead|access-date=6 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402011541/http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/the-real-reasons-why-it-was-the-1990s-recession-we-had-to-have/2006/12/01/1164777791623.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2|archive-date=2 April 2016}}</ref>
In 2000, he published his first book since leaving office, ''Engagement: Australia Faces the Asia-Pacific'', which focused on foreign policy during his term as prime minister.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://booksinprint.seekbooks.com.au/featuredbook1.asp?StoreUrl=booksinprint&bookid=0732910196&db=au |title=Books in Print |publisher=Booksinprint.seekbooks.com.au |date= |accessdate=25 April 2010}}</ref> In 2002, Keating's former speechwriter and adviser, ], published '']''. The book first drew criticism from Keating's estranged wife, ], who said that it understated her contribution, a complaint Watson rejected.<ref>Michelle Grattan, "Annita Keating Draws Ire", ''The Age'', 22 April 2004, p. 3.</ref> Keating himself was so unhappy with the book that it brought the two men's friendship to an abrupt end.<ref>Michael Gordon, "Loves Lies Bleeding: The PM and the Pen", ''The Age'', 20 August 2011.</ref> Keating's primary complaint was about Watson's claim that he had authored the ], something Keating strenuously denied.<ref>Andrew West, "Hear, Hear: Keating and May Add to Aural History", ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 25 August 2010, p. 3.</ref><ref>Paul Keating, "On That Historic Day in Redfern, the Words I Spoke Were Mine", ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 26 August 2010, p. 15</ref>


The economic reform package throughout the 1980s has been claimed by numerous economic commentators and journalists to have been the basis for an unprecedentedly long period of economic growth, with Australia's ] increasing unbroken every year for 30 years, and the end of chronic inflation and balance of payments difficulties, along with the increasingly globalised domestic economy, enabling long periods of stability and growth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2007/s1945485.htm |title=Paul Keating on the lead-up to the federal election |publisher=]&nbsp;– ] |date=7 June 2007 |access-date=15 July 2007 |archive-date=10 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070710230111/http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2007/s1945485.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/australias-economy-expands-strongly-in-2q-1536115061|title=Australia's record-breaking economic growth continues|newspaper=]|date=4 September 2018|access-date=28 December 2018|archive-date=31 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231131850/https://www.wsj.com/articles/australias-economy-expands-strongly-in-2q-1536115061|url-status=live}}</ref>
] in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens]]


===Leadership challenges===
During ]'s time as prime minister, Keating made occasional speeches strongly criticising his successor's social policies, and defending his own policies, such as those on ]. Keating described Howard as a "desiccated coconut" who was "]d to the seat", and described him as "... an old ] 19th century person who wanted to stomp forever ... on ordinary people's rights to organise themselves at work ... he's a pre-] ]" when criticising Howard's controversial ] policy.<ref name="Middle-of-the-road fascists can't compose IR policy">{{cite news |title=Middle-of-the-road fascists can't compose IR policy |url=|work=] |date=2 May 2007|accessdate=14 July 2007}}</ref> He described Howard's deputy, ], as being "all tip and no iceberg" when referring to an alleged pact made by Howard to hand the leadership over to Costello after two terms.<ref name="coconut">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2007/s1863256.htm |title=The World Today&nbsp;– Keating criticises ALP over compulsory super plan |publisher=] |year=2007 |accessdate=14 March 2007}}</ref> After Labor's landslide victory at the ], Keating said that he was relieved, rather than happy, that the Howard government had been removed. He claimed that there was "relief that the nation had put itself back on course...relief that the toxicity of the Liberal social agenda, the active disparagement of particular classes and groups, that feeling of alienation in your own country, was over."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22821565-5013904,00.html |title=Paul Keating relieved John Howard era is over |work=Herald Sun |date=26 November 2007 |accessdate=12 January 2007}}</ref>
At the end of 1988, Keating, who had long believed that he would succeed Hawke as prime minister, began to put pressure on Hawke to retire in the new year. Hawke rejected this advice, but reached a ] with Keating that he would remain as leader through to the ], and that he would resign in Keating's favour shortly after the election, which he convinced Keating he could win.<ref name="Kelly-1994" /> Hawke subsequently won that election, albeit narrowly, and appointed Keating his ] to replace the retiring ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/former-deputy-pm-lionel-bowen-dead-20120401-1w64w.html|title=Former deputy PM Lionel Bowen dead|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=1 April 2012|access-date=11 August 2017|archive-date=26 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226071827/http://www.smh.com.au/national/former-deputy-pm-lionel-bowen-dead-20120401-1w64w.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, by the end of 1990, frustrated at the lack of any indication from Hawke as to when he might retire, Keating delivered a provocative speech questioning the direction of the government. As a result, Hawke told Keating he would renege on the deal on the basis that Keating had been publicly disloyal.<ref>{{cite news |title=True rivals |author=Gordon, Michael |date=16 July 2010 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/true-rivals-20100715-10cpx.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=11 March 2018 |archive-date=12 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312022354/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/true-rivals-20100715-10cpx.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


Although tensions between the two remained private for some time, Keating eventually resigned from the ] in June 1991 and ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Revelation of pact provided trigger|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|first=Michael|last=Millett|date=1 June 1991|page=2}}</ref> Hawke won the ballot by 66 votes to 44,<ref>{{cite news|title=Kerin takes over as Treasurer|work=]|first=Michelle|last=Grattan |author-link=Michelle Grattan |date=4 June 1991|page=1}}</ref> and in a press statement afterwards Keating declared that he had fired his "one shot" as regards the leadership.<ref>{{cite book|title=Keating: The Inside Story|first=John|last=Edwards|publisher=Viking|date=1996|page=435}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Keating: The Inside Story|first=John|last=Edwards|publisher=Viking|date=1996|page=438}}</ref> Publicly, at least, this seemed to spell the end of his leadership ambitions. Having failed to defeat Hawke, Keating realised that events would have to move very much in his favour for a second challenge to be even possible, and he strongly considered retiring from politics altogether.<ref name="Edwards-1996">{{cite book|title=Keating: The Inside Story|first=John|last=Edwards|publisher=Viking|date=1996|page=439}}</ref> However, Hawke's leadership was regarded by many as being "wounded" as a result of losing his long-term political partner and the growing confidence of the Liberal-National Coalition under the new leadership of ].<ref name="Hawke-1994a">{{cite book|title=The Hawke Memoirs|first=Bob|last=Hawke|authorlink=Bob Hawke|publisher=William Heinemann Australia|date=1994|page=544}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Keating: The Inside Story|first=John|last=Edwards|publisher=Viking|date=1996|page=440}}</ref> After Hawke was forced to sack ], the man appointed to replace Keating as treasurer, for a public gaffe in attempting to combat the Coalition's new ']' policy,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2001/03/04/contribute-six-names-to-our-lists-and-win-a-free-crikey-sub/|title=Contribute six names to our lists and win a free Crikey sub|publisher=]|date=4 March 2001|access-date=1 February 2019|archive-date=12 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612181000/https://www.crikey.com.au/2001/03/04/contribute-six-names-to-our-lists-and-win-a-free-crikey-sub/|url-status=live}}</ref> Keating took the opportunity to ] in December 1991, this time emerging victorious by 56 votes to 51.<ref>{{cite news|title=Keating scrapes in|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|first=Peter|last=Hartcher|date=20 December 1991|page=1}}</ref> Keating paid tribute to Hawke's nine years as prime minister, and stated that he would provide a robust challenge to Hewson.<ref>{{cite book|title=Keating: The Inside Story|first=John|last=Edwards|publisher=Viking|date=1996|page=442}}</ref>
Keating was also publicly critical of the leadership team of ]. Just before the 2007 election, he criticised Rudd's deputy, ], saying that she lacked an understanding of principles such as enterprise-bargaining that had been set under the ] in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He also attacked Rudd's chief of staff, David Epstein, and ], who was at that time a candidate for ]'s former seat of ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2007/s1945485.htm |title=Lateline, 7-Jun-2007 |publisher=Abc.net.au |date= |accessdate=31 July 2012}}</ref>


==Prime Minister of Australia (1991–1996)==
In May 2007, Keating suggested that Sydney, rather than ], should be the capital of Australia, saying that, "John Howard has already effectively moved the ] there. Cabinet meets in ] in Sydney, and when they do go to Canberra, they fly down to the bush capital, and everybody flies out on Friday. There is an air of unreality about Canberra. If Parliament sat in Sydney, they would have a better understanding of the problems being faced by their constituents. These real things are camouflaged from Canberra."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://abc.net.au/canberra/stories/s1933102.htm|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071017161019/http://abc.net.au/canberra/stories/s1933102.htm|archivedate=17 October 2007|title=Keating: Sydney should be the capital|publisher=] |date=25 May 2007 |accessdate=12 July 2007}}</ref>
{{Main|Keating government|Hawke–Keating government}}
On 20 December 1991, Keating was sworn in as prime minister by the ] Bill Hayden.
On becoming prime minister, Keating thought of becoming treasurer again, noting that state premiers had often been their own treasurers, but decided against it.<ref>Edwards, John, Keating - The Inside Story, pp. 458-9</ref>
John Dawkins was appointed treasurer instead.


Keating entered office with an extensive legislative agenda, including pursuing reconciliation with Australia's ], deepening Australia's economic and cultural ties with Asia, and ]. The addressing of these issues came to be known as Keating's "big picture".<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102174444/http://www.theage.com.au/news/federal-election-2007-news/fast-forward/2007/11/19/1195321698340.html?page=fullpage |date=2 November 2012 }}, Shaun Carney, '']'', 20 November 2007</ref>
In February 2008, Keating joined former Prime Ministers ], ] and ] in ] to witness Kevin Rudd deliver the apology to the ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Dylan |last=Welch |title=Kevin Rudd says sorry |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/prime-minister-kevin-rudd-made-today-an--historic-one-for-australia/2008/02/13/1202760342960.html |publisher=] |date=13 February 2008 |accessdate=22 February 2008 }}</ref> In August 2008, he spoke at the book launch of ''Unfinished Business: Paul Keating's Interrupted Revolution'', authored by economist David Love. Among the topics discussed during the launch were the need to increase compulsory superannuation contributions, as well as to restore incentives for people to receive their superannuation payments in annuities.<ref> {{wayback|url=http://www.themonthly.com.au/tm/node/1153 |date=20130813084513 |df=y }}</ref>


===Indigenous land rights and domestic policy===
Keating is currently a Visiting Professor of Public Policy at the ]. He has been awarded ] from ] in Tokyo (1995), the ] (1999), the ] (2003) and ] (2012).<ref name=naa_afteroffice/>
] footage of Keating visiting ] in 1992 and meeting with Indonesian president ]]]
Shortly after Keating became prime minister, the ] handed down a ] in a long-running case on ]; the judgement would come to be known as ''Mabo'', and declared that a right to ] did exist in Australia, overturning ], but not clarifying exactly who had the right to access the title.<ref name="Mabo #2 HCA">{{cite AustLII|HCA|23|1992|litigants=Mabo v Queensland (No 2) |parallelcite=(1992) 175 ] 1 |date=3 June 1992 |courtname=]}}.</ref> Keating led the Government's response to the ruling, beginning a high-profile public campaign on raising awareness of the issue, and advocating repeatedly in favour of the judgment and for an expansion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land rights. On 10 December 1992, Keating delivered a major address which came to be known as the ] on ], a speech which has since regularly been cited as among the greatest in Australian political history, in which he explicitly noted the responsibility of settler Australians for destroying much of Indigenous society.<ref>{{cite web |author=Phillip Adams |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20876,21673159-12272,00.html |title=The greatest speech |work=]|date=5 May 2007 |access-date=25 April 2010 |archive-date=21 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221143930/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20876,21673159-12272,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Barani/news/KeatingsRedfernAddressanunforgettablespeech.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070903172050/http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani/news/KeatingsRedfernAddressanunforgettablespeech.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 September 2007 |title=Keating's Redfern Address voted an unforgettable speech |publisher=Cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au |access-date=25 April 2010 }}</ref>

This work culminated in the passage of the ] in 1993, which "provide(d) a national system for the recognition and protection of ] and for its co-existence with the national land management system".<ref name="Mabo #2 HCA"/> As well as creating the legal field of native title, the act established an ], who was required to prepare an annual report to the ] on the operation of the Native Title Act and its effect on the exercise and enjoyment of human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to report, when requested by the attorney-general, on any other matter relating to the rights of Indigenous people under the act.<ref name=ahrcnt>{{cite web | title=Native Title | website=Australian Human Rights Commission | date=27 November 2015 | url=https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-social-justice/projects/native-title | access-date=4 August 2020 | archive-date=15 August 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815045235/https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-social-justice/projects/native-title | url-status=live }} ] Text was copied from this source, which is available under a {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016190421/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |date=16 October 2020 }} licence. (Statement {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920115655/https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/commission-general/copyright |date=20 September 2020 }}.)</ref>

] on 10 December 1992]]
Elsewhere in domestic policy, Keating established and promoted the first Commonwealth cultural policy, known as 'Creative Nation'.<ref name="creative nation">{{cite web |url=https://theconversation.com/paul-keatings-creative-nation-a-policy-document-that-changed-us-33537 |website=] |title=Paul Keating's Creative Nation: a policy document that changed us |date=30 October 2014 |access-date=23 September 2020 |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001225049/https://theconversation.com/paul-keatings-creative-nation-a-policy-document-that-changed-us-33537 |url-status=live }}</ref> The policy allocated AU$250 million over four years to promote the cultural and creative arts sectors in Australia. Keating had frequently espoused the benefits of the arts in public, and used the policy as an opportunity to develop the Australian cultural sector.<ref name="creative nation"/> During the Keating government, ] was also introduced for the first time.<ref name=SBS> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113231604/http://www.ajustaustralia.com/informationandresources_researchandpapers.php?act=papers&id=101 |date=13 November 2011 }}, ], 17 June 2008</ref>

===Superannuation and economic policy===
]

Arguably Keating's most far-reaching achievement as prime minister was the full introduction of the ], implemented to address Australia's long-term problem of chronically low national savings. This initiative built on policies that Keating had pursued whilst treasurer, and was aimed at ensuring that most Australians would have enough money to retire. In 1992, the compulsory employer contribution scheme became a part of a wider reform package addressing this retirement income dilemma. It had been demonstrated that Australia, along with many other Western nations, would experience a major ] in the coming decades, due to ageing population, and it was claimed that this would result in increased pension payments that would place an unaffordable strain on the ].

Keating's solution was a "three pillars" approach to retirement income, requiring compulsory employer contributions to superannuation funds, permitting further contributions to superannuation funds and other investments, and introducing, where this was insufficient, a safety net consisting of a means-tested government-funded age pension.<ref>{{citation|chapter-url=http://taxreview.treasury.gov.au/content/StrategicPaper.aspx?doc=html/Publications/Papers/Retirement_Income_Strategic_Issues_Paper/Chapter_2.htm|title=Retirement Income Strategic Issues Paper|publisher=Australian Government|chapter=Chapter 2: Australia's three-pillar system|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228145533/http://taxreview.treasury.gov.au/content/StrategicPaper.aspx?doc=html%2FPublications%2FPapers%2FRetirement_Income_Strategic_Issues_Paper%2FChapter_2.htm|archive-date=28 February 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The compulsory employer contributions were branded "Superannuation Guarantee" (SG) contributions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://theconversation.com/compulsory-super-its-good-it-works-and-we-want-more-of-it-5975|title=Compulsory super: it's good, it works and we want more of it|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913190822/http://theconversation.com/compulsory-super-its-good-it-works-and-we-want-more-of-it-5975|archive-date=13 September 2015|date=28 March 2012|first=Trevor|last=Cook|publisher=The Conversation}}</ref> As a result of this policy, along with the gradual increases in the minimum contribution amount, Australia grew to become the fourth largest holder of pension fund assets in the world, with a balance of AU$3.3 trillion in superannuation assets at the end of the June 2022 quarter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.superannuation.asn.au/resources/superannuation-statistics|title=Superannuation Statistics|publisher=The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia|access-date=23 September 2020|archive-date=28 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928230519/https://www.superannuation.asn.au/resources/superannuation-statistics|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the aftermath of the 1990 recession, Keating appointed his close ally ] as treasurer, and together the two developed an economic package to counter the Liberal-National Coalition's ']' proposals; this package came to be known as 'One Nation', and involved using funding from the budget surplus to produce new welfare-to-work programmes, as well as introducing a new degree of competition within the telecommunications and communications industries and creating the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA).<ref name="Murphy-2016">{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/cabinet-papers-199293-released-paul-keatings-one-nation-and-the-economy-20161216-gtd3mg.html |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |title=Cabinet papers 1992-93: Paul Keating's One Nation and the economy |first=Damien |last=Murphy |date=20 December 2016 |access-date=23 September 2020 |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001231655/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/cabinet-papers-199293-released-paul-keatings-one-nation-and-the-economy-20161216-gtd3mg.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 'One Nation' also proposed a series of further tax cuts for middle-income workers coming in two tranches, in 1993 and 1995, although these would later be deferred to 1995 and 1998, a move which cost the Government considerable political support among the public.<ref name="Murphy-2016"/> A further major economic policy development was the introduction of an ] scheme as part of the final stage of the ], intended to allow for greater flexibility and economies of scale within industrial wage arbitration, although much of this was curtailed by the Howard government after 1996.<ref name="Murphy-2016"/>

===Foreign policy===
{{See also|Australia and the Indonesian occupation of East Timor#Keating era Keating era 1994–98}}
] ] (left) in 1993]]

Throughout his time as prime minister, Keating took a number of steps to strengthen and develop bilateral links with Australia's closest neighbours; he frequently said that there was no country in the world that was more important to Australia than ], and undertook his first overseas visit to the country, becoming the first Australian prime minister to do so.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sheriden|first=Greg|title=Farewell to Jakarta's Man of Steel|work=The Australian|date=28 January 2008|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23118079-5013460,00.html|access-date=30 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322053012/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nocookies|archive-date=22 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Keating made a conscious effort to develop a personal relationship with ] ], and to include Indonesia in multilateral forums attended by Australia. Keating's friendship with Suharto was criticised by human rights activists supportive of ]ese independence, and by ] winner ]. The Keating government's cooperation with the Indonesian military, and the signing of the ], were also strongly criticised by these same groups. It was alleged by some that Keating was overlooking alleged human rights abuses by the Indonesian government as part of his effort to dramatically increase Australia's cultural, diplomatic and economic ties with Asia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/stories/s57063.htm |title=The World Today&nbsp;– 5/10/99: Howard hits back at Keating over criticism |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=5 October 1999 |access-date=31 July 2012 |archive-date=10 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110213709/http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/stories/s57063.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following the creation of the ] (APEC) Economic Forum by ], Keating developed the idea further, winning the support in 1993 of recently elected ] ] and ] ] to expand APEC to a full Leaders' Meeting. This led to APEC becoming one of the most significant high-level international summits, and at the 1994 APEC Leaders' Meeting, hosted by Indonesia, members agreed to the Keating government's proposals for what became known as the ], which set targets for a significant increase in free trade and investment between industrialised APEC countries by 2010 and between developing APEC countries by 2020.<ref name="pecc.org">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pecc.org/resources/regional-cooperation/601-back-to-canberra-founding-apec/file|title=Back to Canberra: Founding APEC|website=Pecc.org|access-date=28 June 2022|archive-date=29 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329012108/https://www.pecc.org/resources/regional-cooperation/601-back-to-canberra-founding-apec/file|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 1993, Keating became involved in a diplomatic incident with ] when he described Prime Minister ] as "recalcitrant". The incident occurred after Mahathir refused to attend the 1993 ]. Keating said "APEC is bigger than all of us&nbsp;– Australia, the U.S. and Malaysia, and Dr. Mahathir and any other recalcitrants." The translation of the word "recalcitrant" into Malaysian rendered the word a more egregious insult, and Mahathir demanded an apology from Keating, threatening to reduce diplomatic ties and trade drastically with Australia, which became an enormous concern to Australian exporters. Some Malaysian officials talked of launching a "Buy Australian Last" campaign; Keating subsequently apologised to Mahathir over the remark.<ref name="Shenon-1993">{{cite news |first=Philip |last=Shenon |title=Malaysia Premier Demands Apology |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE0DB113EF93AA35751C1A965958260 |work=The New York Times |date=9 December 1993 |access-date=16 June 2008 |archive-date=20 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220054918/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/09/world/malaysia-premier-demands-apology.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===1993 and 1996 elections===
] in 1993]]

As prime minister, Keating maintained his aggressive debating style. When asked by ] ] why he would not call an early election, Keating replied, "because I want to do you slowly." He referred to the ] as "a motley, dishonest crew", and the ] as "dummies and dimwits; desperadoes". During an opposition debate that sought to censure Keating, he described being attacked by ] as "like being flogged with warm lettuce". Despite this renewed attack on the Opposition, and a busy legislative agenda, many commentators predicted that the ] was "unwinnable" for Labor.<ref>Dyster, B., & Meredith, D., ''Australia in the Global Economy'', Cambridge University Press, 1999, p. 309</ref>

During the campaign, Keating focused a great amount of effort on attacking the Coalition's proposed ] (GST), arguing that it would prove "a dead weight" on the economy, and stating that "every time you put your hand in your pocket, ] will be in there with you". He was helped by Hewson struggling towards the end of the campaign to ] would have the GST levied on them, and which would not. Having begun the campaign far behind the Coalition in opinion polls, on 13 March Keating led Labor to an unexpected and record-breaking ], picking up a two-seat swing. The speech Keating delivered at the victory celebration has been described as one of the great Labor speeches.<ref>Bramston, Troy. (2012). ''For The True Believers: Great Labor Speeches that Shaped History''. Federation Press. {{ISBN|9781862878310}}.</ref><ref>Warhaft, Sarah. (7 August 2004). "The power of speech – Talking Point", ''The Age'', p8.</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Gordon|first=Michael|title=A True Believer: Paul Keating|year=1996|publisher=University of Queensland Press|isbn=0702229407|page=257}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Gahan|first=Peter|title=Solidarity Forever? The 1993 ACTU Congress|journal=The Journal of Industrial Relations|date=December 1993|volume=35|issue=4|page=607|doi=10.1177/002218569303500406|s2cid=153901163}}</ref> Opening with "This is a victory for the true believers; the men and women of Australia who, in difficult times, have kept the faith", the speech has been described as providing a source of inspiration for Labor Party faithful to the present day.<ref>]. (6 May 2002) " {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629074205/https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/05/05/1019441460858.html |date=29 June 2018 }}", ''The Sydney Morning Herald''. Retrieved 31 December 2014.</ref>

Like Hawke before him, Keating was able to benefit from disunity in the Liberal Party. Fourteen months after the March 1993 election, John Hewson was replaced as Liberal Leader by ], whose leadership was quickly marred by gaffes and controversies within months. Keating routinely succeeded in outwitting Downer within Parliament, and in early 1995, Downer resigned to be replaced by ], who had previously led the Liberals from 1985 to 1989. Howard was able to give the Coalition renewed momentum after Labor lost the seat of ] in a ]. In contrast to Hewson, Howard adopted a "small target" campaign strategy for the ], publicly committing to keep numerous Labor reforms such as ], and defusing the republic issue by promising to hold a ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/133338929?browse=ndp%3Abrowse%2Ftitle%2FC%2Ftitle%2F11%2F1995%2F02%2F28%2Fpage%2F14181026%2Farticle%2F133338929|title=Dazzling Meteor That Disappeared|author=Norman Abjorensen|newspaper=]|date=28 February 1995|access-date=28 June 2022|archive-date=1 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201113043/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/133338929?browse=ndp%3Abrowse%2Ftitle%2FC%2Ftitle%2F11%2F1995%2F02%2F28%2Fpage%2F14181026%2Farticle%2F133338929|url-status=live}}</ref> This combined with a narrative of "time for a change" led to a heavy defeat for the Keating government on 2 March 1996, suffering a five percent ] swing and losing 29 seats, making it the second-worst defeat of a sitting government in Australian history. Keating announced he would retire as Labor Leader and from Parliament, and tendered his resignation as prime minister on 11 March, 13 years to the day after ] had first taken office.<ref name="naa_afteroffice">{{cite web |publisher=] |url=https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/paul-keating/after-office |title=Paul Keating: after office |work=Australia's Prime Ministers |access-date=16 October 2020 |archive-date=1 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201114716/https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/paul-keating/after-office |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Post-political career==
]
After leaving Parliament in 1996, Keating moved to the affluent ] suburb of ].<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 March 2017|title=Keating to quit Woollahra home|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/keating-staying-at-st-kevins/news-story/e4ceeb5cde954f881d622ecc4a18fe70%7C|website=Daily Telegraph}}</ref> He accepted appointment as a director for various companies, and also became a senior adviser to ], an investment banking firm.<ref>For example {{cite web |url=http://www.asx.com.au/asx/research/CompanyInfoSearchResults.jsp?searchBy=asxCode&allinfo=on&asxCode=BRC |title=ASX listing for Brain Resource Company Ltd |publisher=Australian Stock Exchange |access-date=21 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070607181407/http://www.asx.com.au/asx/research/CompanyInfoSearchResults.jsp?searchBy=asxCode&allinfo=on&asxCode=BRC |archive-date=7 June 2007}}</ref><ref>Lazard (2010). {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528142454/http://www.lazard.com.au/advisory-team.aspx |date=28 May 2010 }}. Retrieved 11 September 2010.</ref> Keating was also appointed to the advisory council to the ].<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/foreign-interference-laws-chinese-russian-state-media-will-have-to-declare-as-foreign-agents-20171206-gzzyol.html/| title=Foreign interference laws: Paul Keating may have to declare as foreign agent| date=6 December 2017| access-date=20 February 2020| archive-date=1 February 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201193056/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/foreign-interference-laws-chinese-russian-state-media-will-have-to-declare-as-foreign-agents-20171206-gzzyol.html/| url-status=live}}</ref> He was also appointed a visiting professor of public policy at the ] and was awarded ] from ] in Tokyo (1995), the ] (1999), the University of New South Wales (2003) and ] (2012).<ref name=naa_afteroffice/> In 1997, Keating declined appointment in the ] as a ], an honour which has been offered to all former prime ministers since the modern ] was introduced in 1975.<ref name="naa_afteroffice"/> On his refusal, Keating expressed that he had long believed honours should be reserved for those whose work in the community went unrecognised and that having been prime minister was sufficient public recognition.<ref>{{cite news |title=Keating: gone wrong |agency=] |date=26 January 1997 |page=3}}</ref>

In 2000, he published his first book since leaving office, ''Engagement: Australia Faces the Asia-Pacific'', which focused on foreign policy during his time as prime minister.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://booksinprint.seekbooks.com.au/featuredbook1.asp?StoreUrl=booksinprint&bookid=0732910196&db=au |title=Books in Print |publisher=Booksinprint.seekbooks.com.au |access-date=25 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706111729/http://booksinprint.seekbooks.com.au/featuredbook1.asp?StoreUrl=booksinprint&bookid=0732910196&db=au |archive-date=6 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2002, Keating's former speechwriter and adviser, ], published '']''. The book first drew criticism from Keating's by then-estranged wife, ], who said that it understated her contribution, a complaint Watson rejected.<ref>{{cite web |date=2004-04-22 |title=Annita Keating draws ire |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/annita-keating-draws-ire-20040422-gdxprp.html |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=] |first=Michelle |last=Grattan |author-link=Michelle Grattan |archive-date=5 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105100231/https://www.theage.com.au/national/annita-keating-draws-ire-20040422-gdxprp.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Keating himself was so unhappy with the book that it brought the two men's friendship to an abrupt end.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gordon |first=Michael |date=2011-08-19 |title=Loves lies bleeding: the PM and the pen |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/loves-lies-bleeding-the-pm-and-the-pen-20110819-1j22o.html |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |archive-date=5 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105100233/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/loves-lies-bleeding-the-pm-and-the-pen-20110819-1j22o.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Keating initially avoided public political comment during the Howard government, although made occasional speeches criticising his successor's social policies. Ahead of the ], Keating joined former Labor Prime Ministers ] and ] to campaign against Howard, describing Howard as a "desiccated coconut" who was "]d to the seat", as an "...old ] 19th century person who wanted to stomp forever...on ordinary people's rights to organise themselves at work...he's a pre-] ]".<ref name="Middle-of-the-road fascists can't compose IR policy">{{cite news |title=Middle-of-the-road fascists can't compose IR policy |work=] |date=2 May 2007}}</ref> He also described Howard's deputy, ], as being "all tip and no iceberg" when referring to an alleged pact made by Howard to hand the leadership over to Costello after two terms.<ref name="coconut">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2007/s1863256.htm |title=The World Today&nbsp;– Keating criticises ALP over compulsory super plan |publisher=] |year=2007 |access-date=14 March 2007 |archive-date=7 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070307083232/http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2007/s1863256.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 2008, after Labor's victory in the 2007 election, Keating joined former prime ministers Whitlam, Fraser and Hawke in ] to witness new prime minister ] deliver the ] to the ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Dylan |last=Welch |title=Kevin Rudd says sorry |url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/national/prime-minister-kevin-rudd-made-today-an--historic-one-for-australia/2008/02/13/1202760342960.html |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=13 February 2008 |access-date=22 February 2008 |archive-date=27 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227233812/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/prime-minister-kevin-rudd-made-today-an--historic-one-for-australia/2008/02/13/1202760342960.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2008, he spoke at the book launch of ''Unfinished Business: Paul Keating's Interrupted Revolution'', authored by economist David Love. Among the topics discussed during the launch were the need to increase compulsory superannuation contributions, as well as to restore incentives for people to receive their superannuation payments in annuities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themonthly.com.au/tm/node/1152|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202220300/http://www.themonthly.com.au/tm/node/1153|url-status=dead|title=Video of speech, part 2|archive-date=2 December 2008|access-date=28 June 2022}}</ref>

]

In 2013, Keating took part in a series of four-hour-long interviews with ] which were broadcast on the ] in November of that year. The series covered Keating's early life, his entry into Parliament, his years as treasurer and prime minister, and canvassing his academic, musical and artistic interests, economic and cultural vision for Australia, and commitment to Australia's integration into Asia. O'Brien used these conversations as the basis for a 2014 book ''Keating: The Interviews''. Keating repeatedly declared he would not write a memoir, so his cooperation with O'Brien was perceived as the closest he would come to producing an autobiography.

In 2016, Troy Bramston, a journalist for '']'' and a political historian, wrote an unauthorised biography that Keating cooperated with titled ''Paul Keating: The Big-Picture Leader''. Bramston was given full access to Keating's personal papers, was granted a series of interviews with Keating and also interviewed more than 100 other people. It was described as the "authoritative" and "definitive" Keating biography written by a "first class" political historian.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://spectator.com.au/2017/02/bankstown-lefty-3/|author=Stephen Loosley|newspaper=]|title=Bankstown lefty|date=2 February 2017|access-date=17 September 2021|archive-date=16 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916234152/https://spectator.com.au/2017/02/bankstown-lefty-3/|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the ], Keating gave his support for the privatisation agenda of the Liberal government and slammed the Labor Party for its anti-privatisation position.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-28/keating-full-of-praise-for-nsw-liberal-premier/5925960 |title=Former prime minister Paul Keating praises performance of NSW Liberal Premier Mike Baird |newspaper=ABC News |publisher=ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) |date=2014-11-28 |access-date=2016-11-13 |last1=Gerathy |first1=Sarah |archive-date=18 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118025358/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-28/keating-full-of-praise-for-nsw-liberal-premier/5925960 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, during campaigning for that year's ], Keating spoke out against the ] by calling them "nutters".<ref name="Greene-2019">{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/former-pm-paul-keating-attacks-security-agencies-on-china-stance/11081978|title=Former PM Paul Keating Attacks Security Agencies On China Stance|date=6 May 2019|last=Greene|first=Andrew|work=]|access-date=21 November 2019|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108000633/https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/former-pm-paul-keating-attacks-security-agencies-on-china-stance/11081978|url-status=live}}</ref> His remarks attracted media criticism, and Labor Leader ] distanced himself from Keating's views.<ref name="Mitchell-2019">{{cite web|url=https://www.3aw.com.au/the-china-conflict-paul-keating-has-you-need-to-be-aware-of/|title=The China 'conflict' Paul Keating has you 'need to be aware of'|date=6 May 2019|last=Mitchell|first=Neil|work=3AW Radio|access-date=21 November 2019|archive-date=9 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809051504/https://www.3aw.com.au/the-china-conflict-paul-keating-has-you-need-to-be-aware-of/|url-status=live}}</ref> Keating later issued a joint statement with ] endorsing Labor's economic plan as part of the election campaign, and condemning the Liberal Party for "completely up the economic reform agenda". They stated that "Shorten's Labor is the only party of government focused on the need to modernise the economy to deal with the major challenge of our time: human induced climate change"; it was the first joint press statement released by the two since 1991.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bob Hawke and Paul Keating reunite for the first time in 28 years to endorse Labor's economic plan|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=8 May 2019|access-date=8 May 2019|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6111996/old-foes-bury-the-hatchet-to-endorse-shorten/?cs=14350|archive-date=13 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813082510/https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6111996/old-foes-bury-the-hatchet-to-endorse-shorten/?cs=14350|url-status=live}}</ref> After Hawke's death in the same month, Keating gave an address at Hawke's ] service at ] on 14 June, where he reflected on the "great friendship and partnership" the two had enjoyed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/keating-pays-tribute-to-great-friendship-hawke-in-emotional-speech-20190614-p51xoz.html|title=Paul Keating pays tribute to 'great friendship' with Bob Hawke|website=Smh.com.au|date=14 June 2019|access-date=23 September 2020|archive-date=22 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922024353/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/keating-pays-tribute-to-great-friendship-hawke-in-emotional-speech-20190614-p51xoz.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2021, following the announcement of the ] trilateral military alliance between the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, Keating criticised the alliance, saying that "Australia turns its back on the 21st century, the century of Asia, for the jaded and faded Anglosphere" and the deal would be "locking the country and its military forces into the force structure of the United States by acquiring US submarines". Keating went on to criticise Labor's opposition foreign affairs spokesperson ], accusing the Labor opposition of being complicit with the Liberal government in "false representation of China's foreign policy".<ref name="Hurst-2021">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/10/throwing-toothpicks-at-the-mountain-paul-keating-says-aukus-submarines-plan-will-have-no-impact-on-china |title='Throwing toothpicks at the mountain': Paul Keating says Aukus submarines plan will have no impact on China |last=Hurst |first=Daniel |newspaper=The Guardian |date=10 November 2021 |access-date=10 November 2021 |archive-date=9 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109150448/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/10/throwing-toothpicks-at-the-mountain-paul-keating-says-aukus-submarines-plan-will-have-no-impact-on-china |url-status=live }}</ref> His comments were criticised by Labor MPs ] and ].<ref name="Galloway-2021">{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-mps-lash-paul-keating-for-china-comments-20210922-p58tut.html |title=Labor MPs lash Paul Keating for China comments |last=Galloway |first=Anthony |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=23 September 2021 |access-date=10 November 2021 |archive-date=9 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109150506/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-mps-lash-paul-keating-for-china-comments-20210922-p58tut.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2022, Keating accused British foreign secretary ] of making "demented" comments about Chinese military aggression in the Pacific, saying that "Britain suffers delusions of grandeur and relevance deprivation."<ref>{{cite news |title=Former Australian PM Paul Keating criticises Liz Truss over 'demented' China comments |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jan/24/former-australian-pm-paul-keating-criticises-liz-truss-over-demented-china-comments |work=The Guardian |date=24 January 2022 |access-date=27 January 2022 |archive-date=8 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708182227/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jan/24/former-australian-pm-paul-keating-criticises-liz-truss-over-demented-china-comments |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2023, Keating went on to call the AUKUS pact "the worst deal in all history" and lambasting the Labor government for being "incompetent" and stating that the decision was the worst by a Labor government since ] attempted to introduce conscription during World War I.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/15/paul-keating-labels-aukus-submarine-pact-worst-deal-in-all-history-in-attack-on-albanese-government |title=Paul Keating labels Aukus submarine pact 'worst deal in all history' in attack on Albanese government |last=Karp |first=Paul |newspaper=The Guardian |date=15 March 2023 |access-date=15 March 2023 |archive-date=15 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315053254/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/15/paul-keating-labels-aukus-submarine-pact-worst-deal-in-all-history-in-attack-on-albanese-government |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2024, Keating criticized ], claimed ] is "]", and that Taiwan is comparable to ].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farrer |first=Martin |last2=Hurst |first2=Daniel |date=2024-08-08 |title=Aukus pact will turn Australia into ‘51st state’ of the US, Paul Keating says |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/08/aukus-pact-will-turn-australia-into-51st-state-of-the-us-says-paul-keating |access-date=2024-08-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>


==Personal life== ==Personal life==
In 1975, Keating married ], a Dutch-born flight attendant for ]. They had four children, who spent some of their teenage years in ], the Prime Minister's official residence in ]. The couple separated in November 1998. While they did not formally divorce until 2008, Annita had resumed her maiden name long before then. Since 1999, Keating's partner has been actress ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/coy-keating-must-publicly-fess-his-love/story-fni0cvc9-1226659632261|title=Coy Keating must publicly 'fess his love|last=Sharp|first=Annette|publisher=]|date=2013-06-08}}</ref> Keating's daughter, ], is a former adviser to former New South Wales minister ] as well as former ] ]. Keating's interests include the music of ] and collecting French ] clocks.<ref name="bio"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/keating-promoted-culture-as-something-to-celebrate-20090915-fp5e.html |title=Keating promoted culture as something to celebrate |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=15 September 2009 |accessdate=5 December 2010}}</ref> He currently resides in ], in inner-city Sydney. In 1976, Keating married ], a Dutch-born flight attendant for ]. They had four children, who spent some of their teenage years in ], the prime minister's official residence in ]. The couple separated in November 1998. While they did not formally divorce until 2008,{{fact|date=August 2024}} Annita had resumed her maiden name long before then. Before his marriage to van Iersel, Keating had in 1972 announced his engagement to fashion consultant Kristine Kennedy, but they did not marry.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/195857431|title=Parliamentarian to marry beauty|newspaper=]|date=2 March 1972|access-date=23 March 2020|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806065014/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/195857431|url-status=live}}</ref> Since 1999, Keating's partner has been the actress ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/coy-keating-must-publicly-fess-his-love/story-fni0cvc9-1226659632261|title=Coy Keating must publicly 'fess his love|last=Sharp|first=Annette|work=]|date=8 June 2013|access-date=3 June 2014|archive-date=17 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517101414/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/coy-keating-must-publicly-fess-his-love/story-fni0cvc9-1226659632261|url-status=live}}</ref> Keating's daughter, Katherine Keating, is a former adviser to former New South Wales Minister ] as well as former ] ].


In the early 1970s, Keating moved from the family home in Bankstown when he purchased a new brick-veneer house at 12 Gerard Avenue, ], two doors up from his parents' new home at No. 8 Gerard Avenue.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schwartz |first=Larry |title=When the Treasurer lived in Black Charlie's Hill |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=17 January 1987 |page=3}}</ref> This became the family home after his marriage in 1976 until 1983, when the Keatings sold the property for $123,000 and moved to a one-storey rental house in the ] suburb of ] to be closer to work.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Paul |title=Inside the PM's piggy bank |agency=The Age |date=21 June 1992 |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Barrowclough |first1=Nikki |last2=McGeough |first2=Paul |title=Woman of Mystery - The Trump Card Keating Hasn't Played |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=8 June 1991 |page=35}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Barrowclough |first1=Nikki |last2=McGeough |first2=Paul |title=Anita: woman of mystery |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=8 June 1991 |page=41}}</ref>
==Musical==

In 2005, '']'', a musical based on Keating's life and career, premiered at the ]. It went on to run until 2010, winning a number of awards and eventually being broadcast on ].<ref name="arse">{{cite web |author=Staff writer |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/08/10/1186530622418.html |title=Bleeding heart songs from the 'arse end' |work=The Age |date=11 August 2007 |accessdate=6 October 2008}}</ref>
Keating's interests include the music of ] and collecting French ] clocks.<ref name="bio"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/keating-promoted-culture-as-something-to-celebrate-20090915-fp5e.html |title=Keating promoted culture as something to celebrate |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=15 September 2009 |access-date=5 December 2010 |archive-date=19 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819100355/http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/keating-promoted-culture-as-something-to-celebrate-20090915-fp5e.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He currently resides in ], in inner-city Sydney, and has a holiday home on the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/resurrecting-keating-20050528-ge08zs.html|title=Resurrecting Keating|newspaper=]|date=28 May 2005|access-date=16 September 2021|archive-date=16 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916101758/https://www.theage.com.au/national/resurrecting-keating-20050528-ge08zs.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/the-election-loss-that-still-haunts-paul-keating-20150115-12r51d.html|title=The election loss that still haunts Paul Keating|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|first=David|last=Day|date=29 January 2015|access-date=30 January 2015|archive-date=27 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327212040/https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/the-election-loss-that-still-haunts-paul-keating-20150115-12r51d.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Keating is a supporter of the ] in the ].

==Popular culture==
In 2005, '']'', a musical based on Keating's life and career, premiered at the ]. It went on to run until 2010, winning a number of awards and being broadcast on ].<ref name="arse">{{cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/08/10/1186530622418.html |title=Bleeding heart songs from the 'arse end' |work=The Age |date=11 August 2007 |access-date=6 October 2008 |archive-date=2 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102074430/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/08/10/1186530622418.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
{{Portal|Australia|New South Wales|Politics|Biography|Organized Labour|City of Bankstown}} {{Portal|Australia|New South Wales|Politics|Biography|Organized Labour}}
* ]
* ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
{{clear}}
* ]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}


==Further reading== ==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* Carew, Edna (1991), ''Paul Keating Prime Minister'', Allen and Unwin.
* {{Cite book |last=Bramston |first=Troy |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/953224423 |title=Paul Keating : the big-picture leader |date=2016 |isbn=978-1-925321-74-6 |location=Melbourne |oclc=953224423 |access-date=5 January 2023 |archive-date=20 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220070101/https://search.worldcat.org/title/953224423 |url-status=live }}
* Edwards, John (1996), ''Keating: The Inside Story'', Viking.
* {{Cite book |last=Carew |first=Edna |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/27109329 |title=Paul Keating, prime minister |date=1992 |publisher=] |isbn=1-86373-271-3 |edition=Updated |location=North Sydney, NSW, Australia |oclc=27109329 |access-date=5 January 2023 |archive-date=20 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220060017/https://search.worldcat.org/title/27109329 |url-status=live }}
* Gordon, Michael (1993), ''A Question of Leadership. Paul Keating. Political Fighter'', University of Queensland Press, St Lucia, Queensland. ISBN 0-7022-2494-4
* {{Cite book |last=Edwards |first=John |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/35910120 |title=Keating : the inside story |date=1996 |publisher=Viking |isbn=0-670-82028-8 |location=New York |oclc=35910120 |access-date=5 January 2023 |archive-date=20 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520034429/http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/35910120 |url-status=live }}
* Gordon, Michael (1996), ''A True Believer: Paul Keating'', UQP.
* {{Cite book |last=Gordon |first=Michael |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/28460001 |title=A question of leadership : Paul Keating political fighter |date=1993 |publisher=] |isbn=0-7022-2494-4 |location=Queensland, Australia |oclc=28460001 |access-date=5 January 2023 |archive-date=20 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220055954/https://search.worldcat.org/title/28460001 |url-status=live }}
* Gordon, Michael (1996), ''A True Believer: Paul Keating'', University of Queensland Press.
* Keating, Paul (1995), ''Advancing Australia'', Big Picture. * Keating, Paul (1995), ''Advancing Australia'', Big Picture.
* {{Cite book |last=Keating |first=Paul |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/754851936 |title=After words : post-prime ministerial speeches |date=2011 |publisher=] |isbn=978-1-74237-759-9 |location=Crows Nest, N.S.W. |oclc=754851936 |access-date=5 January 2023 |archive-date=20 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220060133/https://search.worldcat.org/title/754851936 |url-status=live }}
* Keating, Paul (2011), "After Words", Allen & Unwin, ISBN 978-1-74237-759-9
* Lowe, David (2008), '']'', Scribe. * Lowe, David (2008), '']'', Scribe.
* ] (2002), '']'', Knopf. * ] (2002), '']'', Knopf.
{{refend}}
* Paul Keating (2011), ''After Words: The Post-Prime Ministerial Speeches'', Allen & Unwin.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{sisterlinks|d=Q242654|c=Category:Paul Keating|s=Author:Paul John Keating|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|species=no}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{cite web|title=Paul Keating |url=https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/paul-keating|work= Australia's Prime Ministers |publisher=] |access-date=14 February 2022}}
{{wikisource author|Paul Keating}}
* {{cite web |title=Prime Ministers of Australia: Paul Keating |publisher=] |url=http://www.nma.gov.au/primeministers/paul_keating |access-date=29 June 2010 |archive-date=26 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111226195111/http://www.nma.gov.au/primeministers/paul_keating |url-status=dead }}
*
*
* {{cite web|title=Paul Keating |url=http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/keating/|work= Australia's Prime Ministers |publisher=] |accessdate=29 June 2010 }}
* at the ]
* {{cite web|title=Prime Ministers of Australia: Paul Keating |publisher=]|url=http://www.nma.gov.au/primeministers/paul_keating |accessdate=29 June 2010}}
*
*
* {{YouTube|uKN4qWo7x1Y|Video&nbsp;– Re: The Great Motion}}
* {{YouTube|F77RdystNxE|Video&nbsp;– Floating the dollar}}
* *
* *
* *
* Watch a recording of the on * Video of the
*{{C-SPAN|22020}}
* The Redfern Address was added to the ]'s ] registry in 2010


{{s-start}} {{s-start}}
{{s-par|au}} {{s-par|au}}
{{s-bef|before=]}} {{s-bef|before=]}}
{{s-ttl|title=]<br>for ]|years=1969–1996}} {{s-ttl|title=]|years=1969–1996}}
{{s-aft|after=]}} {{s-aft|after=]}}
|- |-
{{s-off}} {{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=]}} {{s-bef|before=]}}
{{s-ttl|title=]|years=1975}} {{s-ttl|title=]|years=1975}}
{{s-aft|after=]}} {{s-aft|after=]}}
{{s-bef|before=]}} {{s-bef|before=]}}
{{s-ttl|title=]|years=1983–1991}} {{s-ttl|title=]|years=1983–1991}}
{{s-aft|after=]}} {{s-aft|after=]}}
|- |-
{{s-bef|before=]}} {{s-bef|before=]}}
Line 194: Line 268:
{{s-ppo}} {{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=]}} {{s-bef|before=]}}
{{s-ttl|title=]|years=1979–1983}} {{s-ttl|title=]|years=1979–1983}}
{{s-aft|after=]}} {{s-aft|after=]}}
{{s-bef|before=]}} {{s-bef|before=]}}
{{s-ttl|title=]|years=1990–1991}} {{s-ttl|title=]|years=1990–1991}}
{{s-aft|after=]}} {{s-aft|after=]}}
|- |-
{{s-bef|before=]}} {{s-bef|before=]}}
{{s-ttl|title=]|years=1991–1996}} {{s-ttl|title=]|years=1991–1996}}
{{s-aft|after=]}} {{s-aft|after=]}}
{{s-end}} {{s-end}}
Line 207: Line 281:
{{Prime Ministers of Australia}} {{Prime Ministers of Australia}}
{{Deputy Prime Ministers of Australia}} {{Deputy Prime Ministers of Australia}}
{{Treasurers of Australia}}
{{First Keating Ministry}} {{First Keating Ministry}}
{{Leaders of the Australian Labor Party}} {{Leaders of the Australian Labor Party}}
{{Australian Labor Party}} {{Australian Labor Party}}
{{City of Bankstown topics}} {{City of Canterbury-Bankstown topics|state=collapsed}}


{{Authority control}} {{Authority control}}



{{DEFAULTSORT:Keating, Paul}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Keating, Paul}}
] ]
]
]
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 22:59, 20 December 2024

Prime Minister of Australia from 1991 to 1996 This article is about the prime minister of Australia. For the British actor, see Paul Keating (actor).

The HonourablePaul Keating
Keating smiling in front of a green backgroundOfficial portrait c. 1994
24th Prime Minister of Australia
In office
20 December 1991 – 11 March 1996
MonarchElizabeth II
Governors General
Deputy
Preceded byBob Hawke
Succeeded byJohn Howard
14th Leader of the Labor Party
In office
19 December 1991 – 19 March 1996
Deputy
  • Brian Howe
  • Kim Beazley
Preceded byBob Hawke
Succeeded byKim Beazley
Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
In office
4 April 1990 – 3 June 1991
Prime MinisterBob Hawke
Preceded byLionel Bowen
Succeeded byBrian Howe
Deputy Leader of the Labor Party
In office
4 April 1990 – 3 June 1991
LeaderBob Hawke
Preceded byLionel Bowen
Succeeded byBrian Howe
Treasurer of Australia
In office
11 March 1983 – 3 June 1991
Prime MinisterBob Hawke
Preceded byJohn Howard
Succeeded byJohn Kerin
Minister for Northern Australia
In office
21 October 1975 – 11 November 1975
Prime MinisterGough Whitlam
Preceded byRex Patterson
Succeeded byIan Sinclair
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Blaxland
In office
25 October 1969 – 23 April 1996
Preceded byJim Harrison
Succeeded byMichael Hatton
Personal details
BornPaul John Keating
(1944-01-18) 18 January 1944 (age 80)
Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyLabor
Spouse Annita van Iersel ​ ​(m. 1976; div. 2008)
Domestic partnerJulieanne Newbould (1999–present)
Children4
Residence(s)Potts Point, New South Wales, Australia
Education
Profession
  • Trade unionist
  • Politician
Signature
Websitepaulkeating.net.au
Paul Keating's voice Keating on the floating of the dollar
12 December 1983
This article is part of
a series about
Paul Keating


Deputy Prime Minister of Australia



Prime Minister of Australia


Term of government (1991–1996)


Ministries


Elections


Government of Australia

Paul John Keating (born 18 January 1944) is an Australian former politician who served as the 24th prime minister of Australia from 1991 to 1996, holding office as the leader of the Labor Party (ALP). He previously served as treasurer under Prime Minister Bob Hawke from 1983 to 1991 and as the seventh deputy prime minister from 1990 to 1991.

Keating was born in Sydney and left school at the age of 14. He joined the Labor Party at the same age, serving a term as State president of Young Labor and working as a research assistant for a trade union. He was elected to the Australian House of Representatives at the age of 25, winning the division of Blaxland at the 1969 election. Keating briefly was minister for Northern Australia from October to November 1975, in the final weeks of the Whitlam government - along with Doug McClelland, Keating is the last surviving minister who served under Gough Whitlam. After the Dismissal removed Labor from power, he held senior portfolios in the Shadow Cabinets of Whitlam and Bill Hayden. During this time he came to be seen as the leader of the Labor Right faction, and developed a reputation as a talented and fierce parliamentary performer.

After Labor's landslide victory at the 1983 election, Keating was appointed treasurer by prime minister Bob Hawke. The pair developed a powerful political partnership, overseeing significant reforms intended to liberalise and strengthen the Australian economy. These included the Prices and Incomes Accord, the float of the Australian dollar, the elimination of tariffs, the deregulation of the financial sector, achieving the first federal budget surplus in Australian history, and reform of the taxation system, including the introduction of capital gains tax, fringe benefits tax, and dividend imputation. He also became recognised for his sardonic rhetoric, as a controversial but deeply skilled orator. Keating became deputy prime minister in 1990, but in June 1991 he resigned from the government to unsuccessfully challenge Hawke for the leadership, believing he had reneged on the Kirribilli Agreement. He mounted a second successful challenge six months later, and became prime minister.

Keating was appointed prime minister in the aftermath of the early 1990s economic downturn, which he had famously described as "the recession we had to have". This, combined with poor opinion polling, led many to predict Labor was certain to lose the 1993 election, but Keating's government was re-elected in an upset victory. In its second term, the Keating government enacted the landmark Native Title Act to enshrine Indigenous land rights, introduced compulsory superannuation and enterprise bargaining, created a national infrastructure development program, privatised Qantas, Commonwealth Serum Laboratories and the Commonwealth Bank, established the APEC leaders' meeting, and promoted republicanism by establishing the Republic Advisory Committee.

At the 1996 election, after 13 years in office, his government suffered a landslide defeat to the Liberal–National Coalition, led by John Howard. Keating resigned as leader of the Labor Party and retired from Parliament shortly after the election, with his deputy Kim Beazley being elected unopposed to replace him. Keating has since remained active as a political commentator, whilst maintaining a broad series of business interests, including serving on the international board of the China Development Bank from 2005 to 2018.

As prime minister, Keating performed poorly in opinion polls, and in August 1993, received the lowest approval rating for any Australian prime minister since modern political polling began. Since leaving office, Keating received broad praise from historians and commentators for his role in modernising the Australian economy as treasurer, although ratings of his premiership have been mixed. Keating has been recognised across the political spectrum for his charisma, debating skills, and his willingness to boldly confront social norms, including his famous Redfern Park Speech on the impact of colonisation in Australia and Aboriginal reconciliation.

Early life and education

Keating was born at St Margaret's Hospital in Darlinghurst, Sydney, on 18 January 1944. He was the first of four children born to Minnie (née Chapman) and Matthew John Keating. His father worked as a boilermaker for the New South Wales Government Railways. All of Keating's grandparents were born in Australia. On his father's side, he was descended from Irish immigrants born in counties Galway, Roscommon, and Tipperary. On his mother's side, he was of mixed English and Irish descent. His maternal grandfather, Fred Chapman, was the son of two convicts, John Chapman and Sarah Gallagher, both of whom had been transported for theft in the 1830s.

Keating grew up in Bankstown, a working-class suburb in western Sydney, the family home from 1942 to 1966 being a modest fibro-and-brick bungalow at 3 Marshall Street (demolished for flat development in 2014). His siblings include Anne Keating, a company director and businesswoman. Leaving De La Salle College—now known as LaSalle Catholic College—at the age of 14, Keating left high school rather than pursuing higher education, instead working as a pay clerk at the Sydney County Council's electricity distributor. Keating also attended Belmore Technical High School to further his education. He then worked as research assistant for a trade union, having joined the Labor Party as soon as he was eligible. In 1966, he became president of New South Wales Young Labor. During the 1960s, Keating also managed a rock band named The Ramrods.

Early political career

Keating in 1970, shortly after he was first elected to Parliament

Through his contacts in the unions and Young Labor, then known as Youth Council, Keating met future senior Labor figures such as Laurie Brereton, Graham Richardson and Bob Carr. He also developed a friendship with former New South Wales Premier Jack Lang, who Keating took on as a political mentor. In 1971, he succeeded in having Lang re-admitted to the Labor Party. Keating successfully gained the Labor nomination for the seat of Blaxland in the western suburbs of Sydney, and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1969 when he was just 25 years old.

Keating was initially more socially conservative; in his maiden speech he declared that the Liberal government had "boasted about the increasing number of women in the workforce. Rather than something to be proud of, I feel it is something of which we should be ashamed". He later voted against former prime minister John Gorton's motion to decriminalise homosexuality in 1973. According to Tom Uren he was originally a "very narrow-minded young man", who later "matured" and became far less socially conservative.

Keating aged 34, second from left, with Labor figures (from left) Colin Jamieson, Peter Walsh and Stewart West in Wickham, 1978

After Labor's victory at the 1972 election, Keating narrowly failed to be elected to serve in the Cabinet, instead being a backbencher for most of the Whitlam government. He was eventually appointed Minister for Northern Australia in October 1975, but served in the role only until the Government was controversially dismissed by Governor-General John Kerr the following month. In a 2013 interview with Kerry O'Brien, Keating called the dismissal a "coup" and raised the idea to "arrest " and "lock him up", adding that he would not have " it lying down" if he was prime minister.

After Labor's defeat in the 1975 election, Keating was quickly added to the Shadow Cabinet, serving as Shadow Minister for Minerals, Resources and Energy until January 1983. During this time he achieved a reputation as a flamboyant and fierce parliamentary performer, adopting the style of an aggressive debater. In 1981, he was elected president of the New South Wales Labor Party, thus becoming the leader of the influential Labor Right faction. At this time, he initially supported the former treasurer Bill Hayden for Labor Leader over the former ACTU President Bob Hawke as leadership tensions between the two men began to mount; he later explained that part of his reasoning was that he privately hoped to succeed Hayden himself in the near future. However, by 1982, the members of his faction had swung behind Hawke, and Keating endorsed his challenge. The formal announcement of Keating's support for Hawke was written by a fellow Labor politician, Gareth Evans.

Although Hayden survived the challenge, pressure continued to mount on him. In an attempt to shore up his position, Hayden promoted Keating to the role of Shadow Treasurer in January 1983. However this did not prove sufficient and Hayden resigned a month later, after a poor by-election result in the federal electorate of Flinders in Victoria. Hawke was elected unopposed to replace him and Hawke subsequently led Labor to a landslide victory in the 1983 election just six weeks later.

Treasurer of Australia

Further information: Hawke government

Early days

Following Labor's victory in the 1983 election, Keating was appointed Treasurer of Australia by Prime Minister Bob Hawke; he succeeded John Howard in the position. He and Hawke were able to use the size of the budget deficit that the Hawke government had inherited from the Fraser government to question the economic credibility of the Liberal-National Coalition over the coming years. According to Hawke, the historically large $9.6 billion budget deficit left by the Coalition "became a stick with which we were justifiably able to beat the Opposition". Although Howard was widely regarded at this time as being "discredited" by the hidden deficit, he had in fact argued unsuccessfully against Fraser that the revised figures should be disclosed before the election.

In the ensuing years, Hawke and Keating developed an extremely powerful partnership, which proved to be essential to Labor's success in government; multiple Labor figures in years since have cited the partnership between the two as the party's greatest ever. The two men proved a study in contrasts: Hawke was a Rhodes Scholar; Keating left high school early. Hawke's enthusiasms were cigars, betting and most forms of sport; Keating preferred classical architecture, Mahler symphonies and collecting British Regency and French Empire antiques. Despite not knowing one another before Hawke assumed the leadership in 1983, the two formed a personal as well as political relationship which enabled the Government to pursue a significant number of reforms, although there were occasional points of tension between the two.

Keating, along with Hawke, oversaw a "National Economic Summit" in their first month in office, with Keating leading several sessions outlining the Government's economic agenda. The Summit, which brought together a significant number of senior business and industrial figures alongside trade union leaders and politicians, led to a unanimous adoption of a national economic strategy, generating sufficient political capital for the Government to begin a wide-ranging programme of economic reform previously resisted by much of the Labor Party.

Macroeconomic reforms

ABC News report on the first day of trading with a floating Australian dollar

Keating used the authority and relative autonomy provided to him by Hawke to become one of the major driving forces behind the various extensive macroeconomic reforms of the Government. In December 1983, Hawke and Keating approved the floating of the Australian dollar, disregarding advice from the Treasury Secretary John Stone to retain the fixed currency framework. The success of the move, which was lauded by economic and media commentators, gave confidence to Keating to pursue even more reforms. Over the Hawke government's first and second terms, Keating oversaw the gradual elimination of tariffs on imports, the privatisation of several state-owned companies such as Qantas, CSL Limited, and the Commonwealth Bank, the deregulation of significant sections of the banking system (including allowing for numerous foreign-owned banks to begin operating in Australia for the first time) and the granting of autonomy on decision-making to the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Keating was also instrumental in establishing the Hawke government's signature industrial relations and wages policy, the Prices and Incomes Accord. This was an agreement directly between the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and the Government to guarantee a reduction in demands for wage increases, in exchange for the Government providing a significant increase in social programmes, including the introduction of Medicare and the Family Assistance Scheme; in so doing, the Government was able to reduce inflation and unemployment over the decade. Keating's management of the Accord, and the close working relationship he developed with ACTU Secretary Bill Kelty, became a source of significant political power for Keating, who negotiated multiple versions of the Accord with Kelty throughout the Hawke government. Through the power given to him, Keating was often able to bypass the Cabinet altogether, notably in exercising monetary policy, and he was regularly referred to as "the most powerful Treasurer in modern times".

In the wake of the raft of macroeconomic reforms introduced by Keating throughout the first term of the Hawke government in particular, in 1984 he was awarded the Euromoney Finance Minister of the Year, an award which became colloquially known in Australia as the "World's Greatest Treasurer", becoming the first Australian treasurer to be presented with the award.

Microeconomic reforms

Keating with OECD Secretary-General Jean-Claude Paye, 1985

Throughout the second and third terms of the Hawke government, Keating led a significant overhaul of the long-stagnant Australian taxation system. In 1985, he became a passionate advocate within the Cabinet for the introduction of a broad-based consumption tax, similar in nature to the goods and services tax that was later introduced by the Howard government, as a means of addressing Australia's chronic balance of payments issue. In the build-up to the 1984 election, Hawke promised a policy paper on taxation reform to be discussed with all stakeholders at a "National Taxation Summit". Three options – A, B and C – were presented in the paper, with Keating and his Treasury colleagues fiercely advocating for C, which included a consumption tax of 15% on goods and services along with reductions in personal and company income tax, a fringe benefits tax and a capital gains tax. Although Keating was able to win the support of a reluctant Cabinet, Hawke believed that the opposition from the public, the ACTU, and the business community would be too great. He therefore decided to abandon any plans for a consumption tax, although the remainder of the reforms were adopted in the tax reform package. The loss of the consumption tax was seen a defeat for Keating; he later joked about it at a press conference, saying, "It's a bit like Ben Hur. We've crossed the line with one wheel off, but we have crossed the line."

Whilst the remainder of the package represented the biggest overhaul of the Australian taxation system for decades, Keating continued to agitate for further changes to address the balance of payments problems faced by Australia. On 14 May 1986, frustrated at the slow pace of dealing with the issue, Keating caused considerable public comment and a degree of controversy when he declared on a radio programme that if Australia did not address the problem, it risked degenerating to the status of a "banana republic". Although the remark was quickly disowned by Hawke in public, the Government increased efforts to deal with the growing balance of payments crisis. With no consumption tax to generate a significant increase in incomings, Keating and his ministerial colleagues led a process to significantly reduce Government outlays instead, resulting in some criticism from the grassroots of the Labor Party, who opposed cuts to spending. Despite the criticism, the Government was able to produce a national budget surplus for the years 1988, 1989 and 1990, with the surplus of 1988 proving to be the largest budget surplus in Australian history.

During the campaign for the 1987 election, Keating was credited as dealing a "fatal" blow to the Liberal-National Coalition's hopes for victory, after giving a press conference in which he exposed a significant accounting error in the costings the Liberal Party had released to demonstrate how its economic policies would be paid for. Then-Opposition Leader John Howard accepted the error, and subsequent opinion polling reported that the mistake greatly contributed to Labor's vote in what proved to be a landslide victory.

Keating's later tenure as treasurer was heavily criticised by some for consistently high interest rates, which Keating argued was necessary to reduce economic growth gradually so that demand for imports did not grow out of control. Throughout the 1980s, both the global and Australian economies grew quickly, and by the late 1980s, inflation had grown to around 9%. By 1988, the Reserve Bank of Australia began tightening monetary policy, and household interest rates peaked at 18%. It is often said that the bank was too slow in easing monetary policy, and that this ultimately led to a recession. In private, Keating had argued for rates to rise earlier than they did, and fall sooner, although his view was at odds with the Reserve Bank and his Treasury colleagues. Publicly, Hawke and Keating had said there would be no recession – or that there would be a "soft landing" – but this changed when Keating announced the country was indeed in recession in 1990, several months after the Hawke government had won an unprecedented fourth consecutive term in office. Announcing the recession, Keating memorably stated that the recession was a "recession Australia had to have". The remark was referred to by political journalist Paul Kelly as "perhaps the most stupid remark of Keating's career, and it nearly cost him the Prime Ministership." Kelly did also concede that, "...however, it is largely true that the boom begat the recession."

The economic reform package throughout the 1980s has been claimed by numerous economic commentators and journalists to have been the basis for an unprecedentedly long period of economic growth, with Australia's gross domestic product increasing unbroken every year for 30 years, and the end of chronic inflation and balance of payments difficulties, along with the increasingly globalised domestic economy, enabling long periods of stability and growth.

Leadership challenges

At the end of 1988, Keating, who had long believed that he would succeed Hawke as prime minister, began to put pressure on Hawke to retire in the new year. Hawke rejected this advice, but reached a secret agreement with Keating that he would remain as leader through to the 1990 election, and that he would resign in Keating's favour shortly after the election, which he convinced Keating he could win. Hawke subsequently won that election, albeit narrowly, and appointed Keating his deputy prime minister to replace the retiring Lionel Bowen. However, by the end of 1990, frustrated at the lack of any indication from Hawke as to when he might retire, Keating delivered a provocative speech questioning the direction of the government. As a result, Hawke told Keating he would renege on the deal on the basis that Keating had been publicly disloyal.

Although tensions between the two remained private for some time, Keating eventually resigned from the Cabinet in June 1991 and challenged for the leadership. Hawke won the ballot by 66 votes to 44, and in a press statement afterwards Keating declared that he had fired his "one shot" as regards the leadership. Publicly, at least, this seemed to spell the end of his leadership ambitions. Having failed to defeat Hawke, Keating realised that events would have to move very much in his favour for a second challenge to be even possible, and he strongly considered retiring from politics altogether. However, Hawke's leadership was regarded by many as being "wounded" as a result of losing his long-term political partner and the growing confidence of the Liberal-National Coalition under the new leadership of John Hewson. After Hawke was forced to sack John Kerin, the man appointed to replace Keating as treasurer, for a public gaffe in attempting to combat the Coalition's new 'Fightback!' policy, Keating took the opportunity to challenge a second time in December 1991, this time emerging victorious by 56 votes to 51. Keating paid tribute to Hawke's nine years as prime minister, and stated that he would provide a robust challenge to Hewson.

Prime Minister of Australia (1991–1996)

Main articles: Keating government and Hawke–Keating government

On 20 December 1991, Keating was sworn in as prime minister by the Governor-General Bill Hayden. On becoming prime minister, Keating thought of becoming treasurer again, noting that state premiers had often been their own treasurers, but decided against it. John Dawkins was appointed treasurer instead.

Keating entered office with an extensive legislative agenda, including pursuing reconciliation with Australia's Indigenous population, deepening Australia's economic and cultural ties with Asia, and making Australia a republic. The addressing of these issues came to be known as Keating's "big picture".

Indigenous land rights and domestic policy

ABC News footage of Keating visiting Indonesia in 1992 and meeting with Indonesian president Suharto

Shortly after Keating became prime minister, the High Court of Australia handed down a judgment in a long-running case on Indigenous land rights; the judgement would come to be known as Mabo, and declared that a right to native title did exist in Australia, overturning terra nullius, but not clarifying exactly who had the right to access the title. Keating led the Government's response to the ruling, beginning a high-profile public campaign on raising awareness of the issue, and advocating repeatedly in favour of the judgment and for an expansion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land rights. On 10 December 1992, Keating delivered a major address which came to be known as the Redfern Park Speech on Aboriginal reconciliation, a speech which has since regularly been cited as among the greatest in Australian political history, in which he explicitly noted the responsibility of settler Australians for destroying much of Indigenous society.

This work culminated in the passage of the Native Title Act in 1993, which "provide(d) a national system for the recognition and protection of native title and for its co-existence with the national land management system". As well as creating the legal field of native title, the act established an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, who was required to prepare an annual report to the attorney-general on the operation of the Native Title Act and its effect on the exercise and enjoyment of human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to report, when requested by the attorney-general, on any other matter relating to the rights of Indigenous people under the act.

Keating delivering the Redfern Park Speech on 10 December 1992

Elsewhere in domestic policy, Keating established and promoted the first Commonwealth cultural policy, known as 'Creative Nation'. The policy allocated AU$250 million over four years to promote the cultural and creative arts sectors in Australia. Keating had frequently espoused the benefits of the arts in public, and used the policy as an opportunity to develop the Australian cultural sector. During the Keating government, mandatory detention for asylum seekers was also introduced for the first time.

Superannuation and economic policy

Keating and his Cabinet, 1994

Arguably Keating's most far-reaching achievement as prime minister was the full introduction of the National Superannuation Scheme, implemented to address Australia's long-term problem of chronically low national savings. This initiative built on policies that Keating had pursued whilst treasurer, and was aimed at ensuring that most Australians would have enough money to retire. In 1992, the compulsory employer contribution scheme became a part of a wider reform package addressing this retirement income dilemma. It had been demonstrated that Australia, along with many other Western nations, would experience a major demographic shift in the coming decades, due to ageing population, and it was claimed that this would result in increased pension payments that would place an unaffordable strain on the Australian economy.

Keating's solution was a "three pillars" approach to retirement income, requiring compulsory employer contributions to superannuation funds, permitting further contributions to superannuation funds and other investments, and introducing, where this was insufficient, a safety net consisting of a means-tested government-funded age pension. The compulsory employer contributions were branded "Superannuation Guarantee" (SG) contributions. As a result of this policy, along with the gradual increases in the minimum contribution amount, Australia grew to become the fourth largest holder of pension fund assets in the world, with a balance of AU$3.3 trillion in superannuation assets at the end of the June 2022 quarter.

In the aftermath of the 1990 recession, Keating appointed his close ally John Dawkins as treasurer, and together the two developed an economic package to counter the Liberal-National Coalition's 'Fightback!' proposals; this package came to be known as 'One Nation', and involved using funding from the budget surplus to produce new welfare-to-work programmes, as well as introducing a new degree of competition within the telecommunications and communications industries and creating the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA). 'One Nation' also proposed a series of further tax cuts for middle-income workers coming in two tranches, in 1993 and 1995, although these would later be deferred to 1995 and 1998, a move which cost the Government considerable political support among the public. A further major economic policy development was the introduction of an enterprise bargaining scheme as part of the final stage of the Prices and Incomes Accord, intended to allow for greater flexibility and economies of scale within industrial wage arbitration, although much of this was curtailed by the Howard government after 1996.

Foreign policy

See also: Australia and the Indonesian occupation of East Timor § Keating era Keating era 1994–98
Keating with U.S. President Bill Clinton (left) in 1993

Throughout his time as prime minister, Keating took a number of steps to strengthen and develop bilateral links with Australia's closest neighbours; he frequently said that there was no country in the world that was more important to Australia than Indonesia, and undertook his first overseas visit to the country, becoming the first Australian prime minister to do so. Keating made a conscious effort to develop a personal relationship with Indonesian President Suharto, and to include Indonesia in multilateral forums attended by Australia. Keating's friendship with Suharto was criticised by human rights activists supportive of East Timorese independence, and by Nobel Peace Prize winner José Ramos-Horta. The Keating government's cooperation with the Indonesian military, and the signing of the Timor Gap Treaty, were also strongly criticised by these same groups. It was alleged by some that Keating was overlooking alleged human rights abuses by the Indonesian government as part of his effort to dramatically increase Australia's cultural, diplomatic and economic ties with Asia.

Following the creation of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Forum by Bob Hawke, Keating developed the idea further, winning the support in 1993 of recently elected US President Bill Clinton and Chinese Premier Li Peng to expand APEC to a full Leaders' Meeting. This led to APEC becoming one of the most significant high-level international summits, and at the 1994 APEC Leaders' Meeting, hosted by Indonesia, members agreed to the Keating government's proposals for what became known as the Bogor Declaration, which set targets for a significant increase in free trade and investment between industrialised APEC countries by 2010 and between developing APEC countries by 2020. In December 1993, Keating became involved in a diplomatic incident with Malaysia when he described Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad as "recalcitrant". The incident occurred after Mahathir refused to attend the 1993 APEC summit. Keating said "APEC is bigger than all of us – Australia, the U.S. and Malaysia, and Dr. Mahathir and any other recalcitrants." The translation of the word "recalcitrant" into Malaysian rendered the word a more egregious insult, and Mahathir demanded an apology from Keating, threatening to reduce diplomatic ties and trade drastically with Australia, which became an enormous concern to Australian exporters. Some Malaysian officials talked of launching a "Buy Australian Last" campaign; Keating subsequently apologised to Mahathir over the remark.

1993 and 1996 elections

Keating at the White House in 1993

As prime minister, Keating maintained his aggressive debating style. When asked by Opposition Leader John Hewson why he would not call an early election, Keating replied, "because I want to do you slowly." He referred to the Liberal Party as "a motley, dishonest crew", and the National Party as "dummies and dimwits; desperadoes". During an opposition debate that sought to censure Keating, he described being attacked by Peter Costello as "like being flogged with warm lettuce". Despite this renewed attack on the Opposition, and a busy legislative agenda, many commentators predicted that the 1993 election was "unwinnable" for Labor.

During the campaign, Keating focused a great amount of effort on attacking the Coalition's proposed goods and services tax (GST), arguing that it would prove "a dead weight" on the economy, and stating that "every time you put your hand in your pocket, Dr. Hewson's will be in there with you". He was helped by Hewson struggling towards the end of the campaign to explain exactly which products would have the GST levied on them, and which would not. Having begun the campaign far behind the Coalition in opinion polls, on 13 March Keating led Labor to an unexpected and record-breaking fifth consecutive election victory, picking up a two-seat swing. The speech Keating delivered at the victory celebration has been described as one of the great Labor speeches. Opening with "This is a victory for the true believers; the men and women of Australia who, in difficult times, have kept the faith", the speech has been described as providing a source of inspiration for Labor Party faithful to the present day.

Like Hawke before him, Keating was able to benefit from disunity in the Liberal Party. Fourteen months after the March 1993 election, John Hewson was replaced as Liberal Leader by Alexander Downer, whose leadership was quickly marred by gaffes and controversies within months. Keating routinely succeeded in outwitting Downer within Parliament, and in early 1995, Downer resigned to be replaced by John Howard, who had previously led the Liberals from 1985 to 1989. Howard was able to give the Coalition renewed momentum after Labor lost the seat of Canberra in a by-election. In contrast to Hewson, Howard adopted a "small target" campaign strategy for the 1996 election, publicly committing to keep numerous Labor reforms such as Medicare, and defusing the republic issue by promising to hold a constitutional convention. This combined with a narrative of "time for a change" led to a heavy defeat for the Keating government on 2 March 1996, suffering a five percent two party preferred swing and losing 29 seats, making it the second-worst defeat of a sitting government in Australian history. Keating announced he would retire as Labor Leader and from Parliament, and tendered his resignation as prime minister on 11 March, 13 years to the day after Bob Hawke had first taken office.

Post-political career

Keating in 2007

After leaving Parliament in 1996, Keating moved to the affluent eastern Sydney suburb of Woollahra. He accepted appointment as a director for various companies, and also became a senior adviser to Lazard, an investment banking firm. Keating was also appointed to the advisory council to the Chinese Government Development Bank. He was also appointed a visiting professor of public policy at the University of New South Wales and was awarded honorary doctorates in law from Keio University in Tokyo (1995), the National University of Singapore (1999), the University of New South Wales (2003) and Macquarie University (2012). In 1997, Keating declined appointment in the Australia Day Honours as a Companion of the Order of Australia, an honour which has been offered to all former prime ministers since the modern Australian Honours System was introduced in 1975. On his refusal, Keating expressed that he had long believed honours should be reserved for those whose work in the community went unrecognised and that having been prime minister was sufficient public recognition.

In 2000, he published his first book since leaving office, Engagement: Australia Faces the Asia-Pacific, which focused on foreign policy during his time as prime minister. In 2002, Keating's former speechwriter and adviser, Don Watson, published Recollections of a Bleeding Heart: A Portrait of Paul Keating PM. The book first drew criticism from Keating's by then-estranged wife, Annita Keating, who said that it understated her contribution, a complaint Watson rejected. Keating himself was so unhappy with the book that it brought the two men's friendship to an abrupt end.

Keating initially avoided public political comment during the Howard government, although made occasional speeches criticising his successor's social policies. Ahead of the 2007 election, Keating joined former Labor Prime Ministers Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke to campaign against Howard, describing Howard as a "desiccated coconut" who was "Araldited to the seat", as an "...old antediluvian 19th century person who wanted to stomp forever...on ordinary people's rights to organise themselves at work...he's a pre-Copernican obscurantist". He also described Howard's deputy, Peter Costello, as being "all tip and no iceberg" when referring to an alleged pact made by Howard to hand the leadership over to Costello after two terms.

In February 2008, after Labor's victory in the 2007 election, Keating joined former prime ministers Whitlam, Fraser and Hawke in Parliament House to witness new prime minister Kevin Rudd deliver the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. In August 2008, he spoke at the book launch of Unfinished Business: Paul Keating's Interrupted Revolution, authored by economist David Love. Among the topics discussed during the launch were the need to increase compulsory superannuation contributions, as well as to restore incentives for people to receive their superannuation payments in annuities.

Keating in 2017

In 2013, Keating took part in a series of four-hour-long interviews with Kerry O'Brien which were broadcast on the ABC in November of that year. The series covered Keating's early life, his entry into Parliament, his years as treasurer and prime minister, and canvassing his academic, musical and artistic interests, economic and cultural vision for Australia, and commitment to Australia's integration into Asia. O'Brien used these conversations as the basis for a 2014 book Keating: The Interviews. Keating repeatedly declared he would not write a memoir, so his cooperation with O'Brien was perceived as the closest he would come to producing an autobiography.

In 2016, Troy Bramston, a journalist for The Australian and a political historian, wrote an unauthorised biography that Keating cooperated with titled Paul Keating: The Big-Picture Leader. Bramston was given full access to Keating's personal papers, was granted a series of interviews with Keating and also interviewed more than 100 other people. It was described as the "authoritative" and "definitive" Keating biography written by a "first class" political historian.

During the 2015 New South Wales state election, Keating gave his support for the privatisation agenda of the Liberal government and slammed the Labor Party for its anti-privatisation position.

In 2019, during campaigning for that year's federal election, Keating spoke out against the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation by calling them "nutters". His remarks attracted media criticism, and Labor Leader Bill Shorten distanced himself from Keating's views. Keating later issued a joint statement with Bob Hawke endorsing Labor's economic plan as part of the election campaign, and condemning the Liberal Party for "completely up the economic reform agenda". They stated that "Shorten's Labor is the only party of government focused on the need to modernise the economy to deal with the major challenge of our time: human induced climate change"; it was the first joint press statement released by the two since 1991. After Hawke's death in the same month, Keating gave an address at Hawke's state memorial service at Sydney Opera House on 14 June, where he reflected on the "great friendship and partnership" the two had enjoyed.

In September 2021, following the announcement of the AUKUS trilateral military alliance between the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, Keating criticised the alliance, saying that "Australia turns its back on the 21st century, the century of Asia, for the jaded and faded Anglosphere" and the deal would be "locking the country and its military forces into the force structure of the United States by acquiring US submarines". Keating went on to criticise Labor's opposition foreign affairs spokesperson Penny Wong, accusing the Labor opposition of being complicit with the Liberal government in "false representation of China's foreign policy". His comments were criticised by Labor MPs Anthony Byrne and Peter Khalil. In January 2022, Keating accused British foreign secretary Liz Truss of making "demented" comments about Chinese military aggression in the Pacific, saying that "Britain suffers delusions of grandeur and relevance deprivation." In 2023, Keating went on to call the AUKUS pact "the worst deal in all history" and lambasting the Labor government for being "incompetent" and stating that the decision was the worst by a Labor government since Billy Hughes attempted to introduce conscription during World War I. In 2024, Keating criticized AUKUS, claimed Taiwan is "Chinese real estate", and that Taiwan is comparable to Tasmania.

Personal life

In 1976, Keating married Annita van Iersel, a Dutch-born flight attendant for Alitalia. They had four children, who spent some of their teenage years in The Lodge, the prime minister's official residence in Canberra. The couple separated in November 1998. While they did not formally divorce until 2008, Annita had resumed her maiden name long before then. Before his marriage to van Iersel, Keating had in 1972 announced his engagement to fashion consultant Kristine Kennedy, but they did not marry. Since 1999, Keating's partner has been the actress Julieanne Newbould. Keating's daughter, Katherine Keating, is a former adviser to former New South Wales Minister Craig Knowles as well as former New South Wales Premier Bob Carr.

In the early 1970s, Keating moved from the family home in Bankstown when he purchased a new brick-veneer house at 12 Gerard Avenue, Condell Park, two doors up from his parents' new home at No. 8 Gerard Avenue. This became the family home after his marriage in 1976 until 1983, when the Keatings sold the property for $123,000 and moved to a one-storey rental house in the Canberra suburb of Red Hill to be closer to work.

Keating's interests include the music of Gustav Mahler and collecting French antique clocks. He currently resides in Potts Point, in inner-city Sydney, and has a holiday home on the Hawkesbury River.

Keating is a supporter of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League.

Popular culture

In 2005, Keating!, a musical based on Keating's life and career, premiered at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. It went on to run until 2010, winning a number of awards and being broadcast on ABC2.

See also

References

  1. ^ Johnson, Carol (16 June 2020). "How Paul Keating transformed the economy and the nation". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  2. "The collected insults of former PM Paul Keating". ABC News. 11 November 2013. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  3. "Federal Newspoll Archive". Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2022 – via Infogram.
  4. Strangio, Paul (2 August 2021). "Who was Australia's best prime minister? Experts rank the winners and dunces". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  5. "Ranking Australia's prime ministers". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 June 2010. Archived from the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  6. "Prime ministers' rank and file". The Age. 18 December 2004. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  7. Walker, Tony; Koutsoukis, Jason; "The good, the bad and the couldabeens", Australian Financial Review, 3 January 2001.
  8. "Unforgettable Speeches (ABC Radio National)". www.abc.net.au. Archived from the original on 17 February 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  9. David Day (2015). Paul Keating: The Biography. Fourth Estate. p. 17.
  10. Day (2015), p. 10.
  11. Day (2015), p. 8.
  12. Day (2015), p. 3.
  13. Bell, Matt (22 September 2021). "From a KFC to a Centrelink: What the former homes of Australia's prime ministers have become". realestate.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Paul Keating: before office". Australia's Prime Ministers. National Archives of Australia. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Civics | Paul Keating (1944–)". Civicsandcitizenship.edu.au. 14 June 2005. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  16. "Paul Keating". Civicsandcitizenship.edu.au. 14 June 2005. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  17. "Former PM Paul Keating and historian Frank Cain discuss Jack Lang's life, legacy and the Depression". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 17 November 2005. Archived from the original on 3 July 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  18. "Dread and dry mouth: first speeches in Parliament". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  19. "Parliament 1973: baby steps on Australian gay law reform". Q News. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  20. "Keating, on life, politics, and the day he suggested arresting the Governor-General". The Conversation. 7 November 2013. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  21. Edwards, John, Keating: The Inside Story, Viking, 1996, p. 153
  22. ^ Edwards, John, Keating: The Inside Story, Viking, 1996, p. 159
  23. "Past Treasury Ministers". The Treasury. Commonwealth of Australia. 2013. Archived from the original on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  24. ^ Hawke, Bob (1994). The Hawke Memoirs. William Heinemann Australia. p. 148.
  25. Errington, Wayne; Van Onselen, Peter (2007). John Winston Howard: The Biography. Melbourne University Press.
  26. "Hansard Display". Aph.gov.au. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  27. Edwards, John (1996). Keating: The Inside Story. Viking. p. 44.
  28. Edwards, John (1996). Keating: The Inside Story. Viking. p. 6.
  29. Edwards, John (1996). Keating: The Inside Story. Viking. p. 48.
  30. "Hawke memorial: Keating on a friendship that lasted to the end". Afr.com. 14 June 2019. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  31. "Hawke: 1983 National Economic Summit established success". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 January 2012. Archived from the original on 29 March 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  32. Toner, Kieron (2000). The Cart Before the Horse? Australian Exchange Rate Policy and Economic Reform in the 1980s. Earlybrave Publications.
  33. Barton, Russell; Holberton, Simon (10 December 1983). "The dollar floats free". The Age. p. 1.
  34. "Why we had to float the dollar". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 December 1983. p. 12.
  35. Pierce, J.N. (15 December 1983). "Keen observers of the dollar's float". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 15.
  36. Jericho, Greg (28 November 2013). "Floating the dollar was worth the pain". ABC News (Australia). Archived from the original on 1 December 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  37. Cornish, Selwyn (21 November 2014). "The long road that led to the floating of the Australian dollar". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 16 November 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  38. "The day that protectionism died in Australia". The Age. 6 December 2003. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  39. Mannheim, Markus (1 January 2017). "Cabinet archives 1992-93: Paul Keating's department wanted to sell Royal Australian Mint". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  40. Hamilton, Clive; Quiggin, John (June 1995). "The privatisation of CSL Limited" (PDF). The Australia Institute. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  41. Otchere, Isaac; Chan, Janus (2003). "Intra-industry effects of bank privatization: A clinical analysis of the privatization of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia". Journal of Banking & Finance. 27 (5): 949–975. doi:10.1016/S0378-4266(02)00242-X.
  42. Ryan, Susan; Bramston, Troy (2003). The Hawke government: A Critical Retrospective. Pluto Press Australia.
  43. ^ Kelly, Paul (1994). The End of Certainty: Power, Politics, and Business in Australia. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86373-757-X. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2007.
  44. "SPEAKER ORATEUR: HON. PAUL J KEATING". European Speakers Bureau. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2007.
  45. Millmow, Alex (16 June 2009). "Let the gongs sound for the world's greatest treasurer". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  46. Eccleston, Richard (2007). Taxing reforms: the politics of the consumption tax in Japan, the United States, Canada and Australia. Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 202. ISBN 9781782543404. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  47. Malone, Paul (2006). Australian Department Heads Under Howard – Career Paths and Practice. ANU Press. p. 136. ISBN 9781920942830. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  48. D'Alpuget, Blanche (2011). Hawke: The Prime Minister. Melbourne University Publishing. ISBN 9780522858518. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  49. ^ Jericho, Greg (1 January 2014). "Cabinet papers show Paul Keating had a 'budget emergency' of his own". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 January 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  50. "Hansard". Parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  51. "Chess, John Howard and the Box Hill town hall". 30 September 2005. Archived from the original on 6 December 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  52. Bowers, Peter (12 July 1987). "Hawke savours the glory of victory". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 3.
  53. "Keating still casts a shadow". The Sydney Morning Herald. 31 August 2004. Archived from the original on 29 June 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  54. McFarlane, Ian (2 December 2006). "The real reasons why it was the 1990s recession we had to have". The Age. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  55. "Paul Keating on the lead-up to the federal election". Lateline – ABC. 7 June 2007. Archived from the original on 10 July 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
  56. "Australia's record-breaking economic growth continues". The Wall Street Journal. 4 September 2018. Archived from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  57. "Former deputy PM Lionel Bowen dead". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 April 2012. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  58. Gordon, Michael (16 July 2010). "True rivals". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  59. Millett, Michael (1 June 1991). "Revelation of pact provided trigger". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 2.
  60. Grattan, Michelle (4 June 1991). "Kerin takes over as Treasurer". The Age. p. 1.
  61. Edwards, John (1996). Keating: The Inside Story. Viking. p. 435.
  62. Edwards, John (1996). Keating: The Inside Story. Viking. p. 438.
  63. Edwards, John (1996). Keating: The Inside Story. Viking. p. 439.
  64. Hawke, Bob (1994). The Hawke Memoirs. William Heinemann Australia. p. 544.
  65. Edwards, John (1996). Keating: The Inside Story. Viking. p. 440.
  66. "Contribute six names to our lists and win a free Crikey sub". Crikey. 4 March 2001. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  67. Hartcher, Peter (20 December 1991). "Keating scrapes in". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 1.
  68. Edwards, John (1996). Keating: The Inside Story. Viking. p. 442.
  69. Edwards, John, Keating - The Inside Story, pp. 458-9
  70. Fast Forward Archived 2 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Shaun Carney, The Age, 20 November 2007
  71. ^ Mabo v Queensland (No 2) [1992] HCA 23, (1992) 175 CLR 1 (3 June 1992), High Court.
  72. Phillip Adams (5 May 2007). "The greatest speech". The Australian. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  73. "Keating's Redfern Address voted an unforgettable speech". Cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on 3 September 2007. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  74. "Native Title". Australian Human Rights Commission. 27 November 2015. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020. Text was copied from this source, which is available under a Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) Archived 16 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine licence. (Statement here Archived 20 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine.)
  75. ^ "Paul Keating's Creative Nation: a policy document that changed us". The Conversation. 30 October 2014. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  76. Detention timeline Archived 13 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Special Broadcasting Service, 17 June 2008
  77. "Chapter 2: Australia's three-pillar system", Retirement Income Strategic Issues Paper, Australian Government, archived from the original on 28 February 2015
  78. Cook, Trevor (28 March 2012). "Compulsory super: it's good, it works and we want more of it". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 13 September 2015.
  79. "Superannuation Statistics". The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  80. ^ Murphy, Damien (20 December 2016). "Cabinet papers 1992-93: Paul Keating's One Nation and the economy". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  81. Sheriden, Greg (28 January 2008). "Farewell to Jakarta's Man of Steel". The Australian. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  82. "The World Today – 5/10/99: Howard hits back at Keating over criticism". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 October 1999. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  83. "Back to Canberra: Founding APEC". Pecc.org. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  84. Shenon, Philip (9 December 1993). "Malaysia Premier Demands Apology". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
  85. Dyster, B., & Meredith, D., Australia in the Global Economy, Cambridge University Press, 1999, p. 309
  86. Bramston, Troy. (2012). For The True Believers: Great Labor Speeches that Shaped History. Federation Press. ISBN 9781862878310.
  87. Warhaft, Sarah. (7 August 2004). "The power of speech – Talking Point", The Age, p8.
  88. Gordon, Michael (1996). A True Believer: Paul Keating. University of Queensland Press. p. 257. ISBN 0702229407.
  89. Gahan, Peter (December 1993). "Solidarity Forever? The 1993 ACTU Congress". The Journal of Industrial Relations. 35 (4): 607. doi:10.1177/002218569303500406. S2CID 153901163.
  90. Watson, Don. (6 May 2002) "The Keating we never knew Archived 29 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine", The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  91. Norman Abjorensen (28 February 1995). "Dazzling Meteor That Disappeared". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  92. ^ "Paul Keating: after office". Australia's Prime Ministers. National Archives of Australia. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  93. "Keating to quit Woollahra home". Daily Telegraph. 28 March 2017.
  94. For example "ASX listing for Brain Resource Company Ltd". Australian Stock Exchange. Archived from the original on 7 June 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2007.
  95. Lazard (2010). Advisory Team Archived 28 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  96. "Foreign interference laws: Paul Keating may have to declare as foreign agent". 6 December 2017. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  97. "Keating: gone wrong". The Sun-Herald. 26 January 1997. p. 3.
  98. "Books in Print". Booksinprint.seekbooks.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  99. Grattan, Michelle (22 April 2004). "Annita Keating draws ire". The Age. Archived from the original on 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  100. Gordon, Michael (19 August 2011). "Loves lies bleeding: the PM and the pen". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  101. "Middle-of-the-road fascists can't compose IR policy". The Australian. 2 May 2007.
  102. "The World Today – Keating criticises ALP over compulsory super plan". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2007. Archived from the original on 7 March 2007. Retrieved 14 March 2007.
  103. Welch, Dylan (13 February 2008). "Kevin Rudd says sorry". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 27 February 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2008.
  104. "Video of speech, part 2". Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  105. Stephen Loosley (2 February 2017). "Bankstown lefty". The Spectator Australia. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  106. Gerathy, Sarah (28 November 2014). "Former prime minister Paul Keating praises performance of NSW Liberal Premier Mike Baird". ABC News. ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Archived from the original on 18 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  107. Greene, Andrew (6 May 2019). "Former PM Paul Keating Attacks Security Agencies On China Stance". AM. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  108. Mitchell, Neil (6 May 2019). "The China 'conflict' Paul Keating has you 'need to be aware of'". 3AW Radio. Archived from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  109. "Bob Hawke and Paul Keating reunite for the first time in 28 years to endorse Labor's economic plan". The Canberra Times. 8 May 2019. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  110. "Paul Keating pays tribute to 'great friendship' with Bob Hawke". Smh.com.au. 14 June 2019. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  111. Hurst, Daniel (10 November 2021). "'Throwing toothpicks at the mountain': Paul Keating says Aukus submarines plan will have no impact on China". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  112. Galloway, Anthony (23 September 2021). "Labor MPs lash Paul Keating for China comments". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  113. "Former Australian PM Paul Keating criticises Liz Truss over 'demented' China comments". The Guardian. 24 January 2022. Archived from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  114. Karp, Paul (15 March 2023). "Paul Keating labels Aukus submarine pact 'worst deal in all history' in attack on Albanese government". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  115. Farrer, Martin; Hurst, Daniel (8 August 2024). "Aukus pact will turn Australia into '51st state' of the US, Paul Keating says". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  116. "Parliamentarian to marry beauty". The Biz. 2 March 1972. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  117. Sharp, Annette (8 June 2013). "Coy Keating must publicly 'fess his love". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  118. Schwartz, Larry (17 January 1987). "When the Treasurer lived in Black Charlie's Hill". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 3.
  119. Robinson, Paul (21 June 1992). "Inside the PM's piggy bank". The Age. p. 1.
  120. Barrowclough, Nikki; McGeough, Paul (8 June 1991). "Woman of Mystery - The Trump Card Keating Hasn't Played". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 35.
  121. Barrowclough, Nikki; McGeough, Paul (8 June 1991). "Anita: woman of mystery". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 41.
  122. "Keating promoted culture as something to celebrate". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 September 2009. Archived from the original on 19 August 2010. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
  123. "Resurrecting Keating". The Age. 28 May 2005. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  124. Day, David (29 January 2015). "The election loss that still haunts Paul Keating". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  125. "Bleeding heart songs from the 'arse end'". The Age. 11 August 2007. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2008.

Further reading

External links

Parliament of Australia
Preceded byJim Harrison Member for Blaxland
1969–1996
Succeeded byMichael Hatton
Political offices
Preceded byRex Patterson Minister for Northern Australia
1975
Succeeded byIan Sinclair
Preceded byJohn Howard Treasurer of Australia
1983–1991
Succeeded byJohn Kerin
Preceded byLionel Bowen Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
1990–1991
Succeeded byBrian Howe
Preceded byBob Hawke Prime Minister of Australia
1991–1996
Succeeded byJohn Howard
Party political offices
Preceded byJohn Ducker President of the New South Wales Labor Party
1979–1983
Succeeded byJohn MacBean
Preceded byLionel Bowen Deputy Leader of the Labor Party
1990–1991
Succeeded byBrian Howe
Preceded byBob Hawke Leader of the Labor Party
1991–1996
Succeeded byKim Beazley
Prime ministers of Australia (list)
Category
Deputy prime ministers of Australia
Treasurers of Australia
First Keating ministry (1991–93)
Prime Minister: Paul Keating
Cabinet
Keating
Paul Keating
Outer Ministry
Parliamentary Secretaries
Leaders of the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
Leaders
Deputy leaders
Governments
Ministries
Shadow cabinets
State branches
Party institutions
Factions
Current
Historical
History
Leadership votes
City of Canterbury Bankstown suburbs, localities, and other topics
Suburbs and localities
within City of Canterbury Bankstown
History
Education
Public transport bus service
Public transport by rail
Sports facilities and
public parks
Other utilities
Sports teams
Notable residents
past and present
Electorates
Other topics
List of Sydney suburbs
Categories: