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1984-85 Hawke Government Cabinet Papers Released

Jan 01, 2013

The National Archives has released Cabinet papers from the 1984-85 Hawke Labor government.

Because the Archives is transitioning from the old 30-year embargo rule to 20 years, two years worth of papers have been released.

CLICK HERE for details of the Cabinet documents.

Dr. Jim Stokes, the National Archives historical consultant, outlined the political climate of the time, whilst a former Hawke minister, Susan Ryan, provided a personal recollection of 1984-85. Transcripts of their talks are provided below. [Read more…]

Filed Under: A.L.P., Audio, Cabinet Papers, Hawke, Video Tagged With: , , ,

Achievements: ALP 1987 Federal Election Video For Party Members

Jul 01, 1987

This is an ALP video distributed to party members during the 1987 Federal election campaign.

Introduced by Immigration Minister Mick Young, the man who ran the ALP’s It’s Time campaign in 1972, the video gives some insight into the thinking inside the Labor government as it faced the electorate in an early double dissolution election.

Featuring Prime Minister Bob Hawke, Education Minister Senator Susan Ryan, Social Security Minister Brian Howe and Foreign Minister Bill Hayden, it is clear that the government is concerned that ALP members and supporters are less than enthusiastic about the government’s achievements. Whilst the Hawke government is now lauded for its program of economic reform, many of these policies were greeted sceptically in the 1980s. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 1987 Federal Election, A.L.P., Hawke, Video Tagged With: , , , ,