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Paul Keating

Keating, Paul John

1944 -

Labor Prime Minister from 1991 – 1996


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.

He joined the ALP and in 1968 became a research officer with the Federated Municipal Employees Union.  An admirer of Jack Lang and a member of the NSW right, Keating entered federal parliament as the member for Blaxland in 1969.

He was the Minister for the NT (1975) in the last weeks of the Whitlam Government.  In opposition Keating held the shadow portfolios of agriculture (1976), minerals and energy (1980 – 1983) and treasury (1983).  In government from March 1983, Keating as Treasurer and Hawke as Prime Minister floated the Australian dollar, deregulated financial markets and put into place the Prices and Incomes Accord.

Keating challenged Hawke for the Labor Party leadership in mid 1991 but was defeated and retired to the back bench.  He challenged again in December 1991 and won. 

As Prime Minister Paul Keating outlined plans for Australia in the Asia-Pacific region, for Aboriginal reconciliation and for the creation of an Australian republic.

He was Prime Minister until March 1996 when he was defeated by the Coalition led by John Howard.


 

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