Paul Keating
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the Australian Prime Minister.
Paul John Keating (born 18 January 1944) is an
Australian politician who was the
24th Prime Minister of Australia and the
Leader of the Labor Party from
1991 to
1996.
Having left school at 14, Keating was first elected to the
House of Representatives at 25, winning the seat of
Blaxland in
1969.
Keating was appointed
Treasurer of Australia by newly-elected
Prime Minister Bob Hawke in 1983.
Although lacking any formal education in economics, Keating went on to become arguably the most reforming Treasurer in Australian history. During his time as Treasurer, the
Australian dollar was floated, the financial sector deregulated, certain state sector industries were privatised, a capital gains tax was introduced, and a
Prices and Incomes Accord was struck. In 1990 he was elected
Deputy Leader of the Labor Party and made
Deputy Prime Minister.
Keating later challenged Hawke for leadership in June 1991, and resigned from the Government following defeat. Six months later he challenged Hawke again, this time successfully, and subsequently became
Prime Minister.
He would go on to deliver a record fifth consecutive victory for the Labor Party in
1993, despite consistently poor opinion polling following the effects of the
early 1990s recession.
The
Keating Government introduced
native title to
Aborigines, greatly increased the social wage and the family benefits system, saw increased bilateral relations between Australia and countries in
Asia, and aggressively promoted a vision of Australia as a
republic.
After being defeated by
John Howard in
1996, Keating resigned as Prime Minister and retired from
Parliament.
