AustraliaWho is Paul Keating?
Paul John Keating is a former Labor prime minister, born in Sydney in 1944. He left school at 14, joined the Labor Party and won the federal seat of Blaxland in 1969 at the age of 25. As Bob Hawke's treasurer from 1983 he oversaw many of the government's economic reforms. He challenged Hawke and became prime minister in December 1991, won the 1993 election against expectations and lost heavily to John Howard in 1996. He has since been active as a commentator, especially on foreign policy.
Political views
As treasurer, oversaw the float of the dollar, the dismantling of tariffs and the deregulation of banking.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgContrasted Australian traditions of fairness and equity with the 'economic and social jungle' of Reaganism and Thatcherism.
Source: moadoph.gov.auDefended Medicare, a social safety net and an Accord with the unions as ways to manage economic change.
Source: moadoph.gov.auIntroduced compulsory employer superannuation, alongside a means-tested age pension.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgPromised to address two centuries of injustice to Indigenous Australians and complete the process of reconciliation.
Source: moadoph.gov.auProposed that Australians decide by referendum whether to become a republic with an Australian head of state.
Source: moadoph.gov.auSaw the fast-growing economies of Asia as Australia's great trading opportunity.
Source: moadoph.gov.auCalled the AUKUS nuclear submarine plan the 'worst deal in all history' in 2023.
Source: theguardian.com
Legacy
Admirers credit Keating with much of the economic opening of Australia in the 1980s and with long-term reforms such as compulsory superannuation and native title. His Redfern Park speech on the effects of colonisation is regarded as a landmark in Aboriginal reconciliation, and he is widely admired as a gifted and combative speaker. Critics blame him for the early 1990s recession, which he called 'the recession that Australia had to have', and note that his government introduced mandatory detention for asylum seekers. He was deeply unpopular in polls during his prime ministership. Since leaving office his calls for closer relations with China and his attacks on AUKUS have drawn criticism from both major parties.
In their words
There really never has been a clearer choice, between the Australian traditions of fairness and equity, and the economic and social jungle of Reaganism and Thatcherism which other countries have just abandoned.