Prime Minister Paul Keating (1991-1996)

Paul John 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

Jul 12, 2010: Keating’s letter to Bob Hawke regarding Blanche D’Alpuget’s biography
Sep 03, 2003: Address At The Launch Of ‘The History Wars’
Jul 05, 2002: ‘John Curtin’s World And Ours’: Curtin Memorial Lecture
Mar 03, 2002: Howard Government Attacks Australia’s Great National Institutions: listen to extracts of a Keating speech.
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Jun 14, 2000: The Australian Media – speech by Keating
Mar 30, 2000: “Engagement” – Keating launches his new book on Australia’s relations with Asia
Oct 1999: A Tribute To Paul Keating – listen to Keating’s Life Membership Acceptance Speech to the 1999 Annual Conference of the NSW Labor Party.
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Feb 14, 1996: Campaign Launch – Keating’s Speech Launching the ALP’s 1996 Election Campaign
Jun 07, 1995: An Australian Republic: The Way Forward – the Speech that started the Republican debate – with audio
Nov 11, 1993: Funeral Service Of The Unknown Australian Soldier – the acclaimed speech at the National War Memorial
Jul 31, 1993: Corowa Centenary – Keating’s Speech at the Corowa Federation Centenary Dinner
Mar 13, 1993: Keating’s election night victory speech – “The Sweetest Victory Of All”