Paul Keating

1. Paul Keating M.P., Treasurer, P.M.

2. Background Paul Keating was born on 18 January 1944 at Bankstown, Sydney, into a working class Catholic family.  He left De La Salle College at 14 and worked as a clerk with the Sydney County Council, continuing with evening study at Belmore Technical College and managing a rock band, the Ramrods. At 15 Paul Keating joined the Labour party and in 1966 became president of the NSW youth Council. Mr Keating married in 1975. He has four children, Patrick, Caroline, Katherine and Alexandra. In 1969 he was elected Member for Blaxland this was his first step into the game called politics.

3. Insult 1 Contributions Paul Keating became member for Blaxland in 1969. And until he was given a portfolio he worked extremely hard for his local area. Paul Keating while in office was a large advocate for Aboriginal rights. He passed Legislation while P.M. that made it able for the Mabo decision to be given in Favour of the indigenous people of the area. Paul Keating was also a tireless worker in reforming the education system and the vocational training system. He also as treasurer deregulated the financial and banking sectors.

4. Contributions to Labor The main contributions Paul Keating mad to the Labor party was by changing their ideology. Before Paul Keating came along the Labor party was a very traditional party. They wanted everything to stay at what it was. That meant no changes to major policies and no changes to major constitutions. Paul Keating changed these views. He helped to radically change the Labor parties’ policies. And some believe this is why they were elected to government in 1983. Paul Keating was a real reformist he wanted the Labor party policy to change with the economic and political environment of the day.

5. Insult 2 Contributions as Treasurer As the Treasurer for Bob Hawke’s government Paul Keating still wanted to make radical changes to the parties’ policy’. He reshaped Australia’s Banking and financial sector by deregulating the banks and by trying to introduce foreign banking shook things up. He also made many changes to Australia’s tax system and made Superannuation compulsory which has made retirement much more enjoyable for many Australian’s. While he was treasurer he also sharpened his tongue and was known to be able to reverse people’s opinions and kill someone’s ambitions with his words.

6. Contributions as P.M. As Prime Minister Paul Keating did many great things, He is probably most famous work though was his part in recognising that Aboriginal people have a right to their own land in Australia. He was also the first P.M. to realise that to continue prospering Australia must have a good relationship with Asia. He signed a defence treaty with Indonesia and signed the Bogor Declaration which stated that there will be free trade throughout Asia pacific by 2020. He also introduced the National Training Authority which its goal was to have Unemployment down to 5% by 2000 and it was and still is under 5%.

7. Insult 3 Contributions as a civilian Paul Keating was ousted from government in 1993 but since then has also made many contributions. He has been a spokesperson for Asian relations, and also and advocate for Aboriginal rights. He has been an advisor to important figures in the area of law and tax reform. He has also written a book Engagement: Australia and the Asia Pacific

8. Significance of Contributions To Labor Paul Keating’s work was very significant inside the Labor Party. Without his ideas for reform and change some could argue that the Labor party would not have been elected back to government in the Hawke era. His Legacy also lasts today; the Labor party is now more open to change and not as traditionalistic.

9. Insult 4 Significance of Contributions As Treasurer The significance of Paul Keating deregulating the banking finance sector was that it encouraged growth and competition throughout the industry it made markets better for the consumer. He lowered tax which made it easier for the Australian household budget. Making superannuation compulsory was extremely significant it made sure more Australians, retired with more money. It took some strain of the pension system.

10. Significance of Contributions As P.M. The most Significant piece of Legislation passed by the Keating government was the Act in recognition of the Mabo v Qld high court case. This legislation created a framework for land right cases. Another significant piece of legislation was the National Training Authority Act. This was significant because it established a foundation for lower unemployment rates by the year 2000. This goal was met by the year 2000 but under a different government.

11. Insult 5 P.M. cont. As Prime Minister Paul Keating made a very important speech at Redfern. That detailed the governments and his personal stance on the Aboriginal people’s treatment by white settlers. He recognised the subjugation and pain they suffered. Another significant breakthrough that Paul Keating made while he was in government, was that he forged relations with Asia, promising a free trade agreement by 2020, and he also signed a defence treaty with President Suharto of Indonesia.

12. Legislation while P.M. The Australian National Training Authority Act 1992 established the Australian National Training Authority and its administration. The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 provided for national uniform legislation to make discrimination on the basis of disability unlawful. The Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 provided a framework for the protection of endangered species and ecological communities. The Broadcasting Services Act 1992 gave legislative effect to the Government's 1987 election commitment to reform the Broadcasting Act 1942 and establish the Australian Broadcasting Authority for the purpose of regulating all aspects of broadcasting.

13. Insult 6 Legislation cont. The Native Title Act 1993 legislated on matters arising from the High Court of Australia decision in Mabo v Queensland (No 2) and provides a national system for the recognition and protection of native title and for its co-existence with the national land management system. The Land Fund and Indigenous Land Corporation (ATSIC Amendment) Bill 1995 amended the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989 to establish the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund and Indigenous Land Corporation.

14. The political climate The political and economic climate at the time of Paul Keating, it was a time of change within the Australian frame of mind. At this time the government started to recognise Asia as a major political and trading partner. Also at this time the government and Australian people started to formally accept that Aboriginal people do have rights to Culturally significant places in Australia. Self Determination is the freedom for Indigenous to live well and according to their own beliefs. This recognition of a freedom for Indigenous people was in full swing at the time of Keating’s government. Paul Keating’s government supported Self determination and more rights for Aboriginal people. Their was also a call for Industrial and Educational reform at the time of Keating’s government. This was because many of the old systems either weren’t coping or were outdated. • Multiculturalism • Self Determination • Realisation of Asia as major economic and political partner • Industrial Reform

15. Insult 7 Timeline 18 January 1944:Paul John Keating born in St Margaret's Hospital, Paddington. 17 January 1958: He joined the ALP one day before his birthday. September 1966:He was made president of the NSW Youth Council. 25 October 1969:elected to the House of Representatives in the seat of Blaxland,NSW, age 25. 17 January 1975:marries (Anna Johanna Maria Van Iersel), a Dutch-born flight attendant. 21 October 1975:becomes the youngest federal Labor minister in history when he becomes minister for NT after Rex Connors resignation. Three weeks later labour’s Whitlam government is sacked. 25 March 1976: promoted to shadow cabinet as Labor's spokesman on minerals and energy. 21 September 1979: He became the youngest ever president of the NSW labour party.

16. Timeline 14 January 1983: appointed shadow treasurer by Labor leader, Bill Hayden. 5 March 1983:Bob Hawkes government is voted in and MR Keating becomes treasurer. 25 November 1988: enters a secret pact With Hawke at Kirribilli House in the presence of Sir Peter Abeles and Bill Kelty for him to become leader after the 1990 elections. 4 April 1990: sworn in as deputy prime minister. 29 November 1990:announces that Australia is in the recession Australia "had to have". 23 May 1991:becomes longest serving federal treasurer in Labor Party history, surpassing the 2996-day record of Ben Chifley. 3 June 1991: resigns to the backbench after losing a caucus vote to Bob Hawke for leader of the Labour Party.

17. Insult 8 Timeline 20 December 1991:sworn in as prime minister the day after caucus votes, 56-51, to depose a sitting Labor prime minister. 26 February 1992: delivers the One Nation statement, committing the government to tax cuts as part of a strategy for recovery. 21 April 1992: First overseas trip as P.M. he visits Indonesia. 3 June 1992:the High Court hands down the landmark Mabo decision. 10 December 1992:delivers Redfern speech, acknowledging what the Aboriginal people have had to go through under white settlement. 7 February 1993: calls an election. 13 March 1993:leads Labor to victory over a coalition. 21 April 1993: promises far-reaching reform in industrial relations in a speech to the Institute of Company Directors in Melbourne.

18. Timeline 28 April 1993:sets out the priorities for the next three years in the Evatt Memorial lecture, saying that he wants to reduce unemployment. Work on implications of Mabo decision, and lay framework of a republic 11 June 1993: John Russell, appointed ambassador to the U.S. 18 June 1993: announces legislation to implement the High Court's Mabo judgement on Aboriginal land title. 22 July 1993:announces the bringing forward the first “one nation” tax cuts in order to rejuvenate the economy. 17 August 1993:the federal budget includes a $1.3 billion increase in indirect taxation. 22 0ctober 1993: The federal budget is passed after two months of negotiations. 21 December 1993:declares a "new deal" for Aborigines after Mabo legislation is passed in the Senate. 8 February 1994: announces a roster system for Question Time, under which ministers will appear on two days each week, instead of every Question time.

19. Insult 9 Timeline 28 February 1994: Environment and Sports Minister, Ros Kelly, resigns over the so-called "sports rorts" affair after months of criticism over her allocation of $30 million in sports grants. 24 March 1994:Dr Carmen Lawrence becomes Health Minister 12 days after her election to Federal Parliament. 4 May 1994: unveils Working Nation, a $6.5 billion commitment over four years to reduce unemployment, with the aim of achieving 5 per cent unemployment by the turn of the century. 10 May 1994:Ralph Willis delivers his first budget, projecting economic growth of 4.5 per cent and a budget deficit for 1995-96 of $11.7 billion. 26 September 1994: addresses Labour’s national conference, saying that his labour government is perfect in leading the country into the 21st century 18 0ctober 1994: launches Creative Nation, a cultural policy that links art support to a flourishing economy.

20. Timeline 25 0ctober 1994: 25 years service as a federal MP. 15 November 1994: APEC leaders sign the Bogor declaration for free trade tht says it must be achieved by 2020 30 November 1994: national accounts show non-farm growth at 6.4 per cent, making Australia the fastest growing economy in the industrialised world. 14 December 1994: official interest rates are increased for the third time in four months to moderate demand growth and rein in unsustainable growth. 30 January 1995: John Howard becomes Liberal leader after a bloodless handover by Alexander Downer and pledges a new deal for families and a "mainstream" stance on social policy. 25 March 1995: Labor is defeated in the Canberra by-election 9 May 1995: the second budget diverts money from tax cuts and announces a sale of the Commonwealth bank. 7 June 1995: outlines the government's model for an Australian Republic.

21. Insult 10 Timeline 16 October 1995: Dr Don Russell returns to Australia from his role as Ambassador. 19 November 1995: APEC leaders in Osaka design a plan to meet the deadline set out in the Bogor agreement 18 December 1995:Paul Keating signs a security treaty with Indonesia. 27 February 1996: calls a general election for 2 March. 2 March 1996: is defeated by a Coalition led by John Howard

22. Insults • To a Uni student protesting about fees: • "Go and get a job!" • "...the cowards of the National Party, the hillbillies of the National Party." • "Laurie Oakes (left) [is] a cane toad." • On former Liberal and Opposition Leader (now Prime Minister), John Howard (right): "What we have got is a dead carcass, swinging in the breeze, but nobody will cut it down to replace him." • "He's wound up like a thousand day clock..." • "...the brain-damaged Leader of the Opposition..." • On Wilson "Iron Bar" Tuckey (Liberal politician): "...You stupid foul-mouthed grub." • On Former Leader of the Opposition, John Hewson: (His performance) is like being flogged with a warm lettuce. • He always turns around when I drop one on him. He can't psychologically handle it. • On former Liberal Party Leader and Shadow Treasurer, Andrew Peacock: "...what we have here is an intellectual rust bucket." • On Former Labor Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam: "In terms of the Labor agenda this government has left every other Labor government bare arsed. No other government even gets within cooee of it. We have a cabinet which has a degree of economic sophistication which puts the Whitlam government into the cavemen class in economic terms." • On Liberal, Ken Aldred: "... the brain-damaged Honorable Member for Bruce made his first parliamentary contribution since being elected, by calling a quorum to silence me for three minutes."

23. Bibliography http://www.australianpolitics.com http://www.nma.gov.au http://www.keating.org.au/ http://www.webcity.com.au/keating/ http://www.pm.gov.au/your_pm/pms/keating.html http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/meetpm.asp?pmId=24