Paul Keating

Paul Keating was Prime Minister of Australia between 1991-1996. He entered Parliament in 1969 as the ALP member for Blaxland, at the age of 25. He was briefly the Minister for Minerals and Energy in the last month of the Whitlam Government in 1975, and became Treasurer in the Hawke Government in 1983, a position he held until 1991.

Keating unsuccessfully challenged Bob Hawke for the ALP leadership and the Prime Ministership in July 1991, went to the backbench, and launched another successful challenge on December 19, 1991. As Prime Minister, he introduced the Native Title legislation in the wake of the High Court's Mabo decision, initiated moves towards Australia becoming a republic, and promoted Australia's relations with Asia. He defeated the coalition in the 1993 elections, but lost the 1996 elections.

Since leaving Parliament, Keating has established a business career. He makes occasional public addresses on domestic and international political issues.

Keating Words

Address At The Launch Of 'The History Wars' [September 03, 2003]
'John Curtin's World And Ours': Curtin Memorial Lecture [July 5, 2002]
Howard Government Attacks Australia's Great National Institutions - sound clips from a speech by Keating [March 3, 2002]
The Australian Media - speech by Keating [June 14, 2000]
"Engagement" - Keating launches his new book on Australia's relations with Asia [March 30, 2000]
A Tribute To Paul Keating - listen to Keating's Life Membership Acceptance Speech to the 1999 Annual Conference of the NSW Labor Party [October 1999]
Campaign Launch - Keating's Speech Launching the ALP's 1996 Election Campaign [February 14, 1996]
An Australian Republic: The Way Forward - the Speech that started the Republican debate - with audio [June 7, 1995]
Funeral Service Of The Unknown Australian Soldier - the acclaimed speech at the National War Memorial [November 11, 1993]
Corowa Centenary - Keating's Speech at the Corowa Federation Centenary Dinner [July 31, 1993]
The Redfern Speech - Keating's seminal speech on Australia's treatment of the Aboriginal people [December 10, 1992]

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