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Keating government

The Keating government was the federal executive government of Australia led by Prime Minister Paul Keating of the Australian Labor Party from 1991 to 1996. The government followed on from the Hawke government after Paul Keating replaced Bob Hawke as Labor leader in an internal party leadership challenge in 1991. Together, these two governments are often collectively described as the Hawke-Keating government. The Keating government was defeated in the 1996 federal election and was succeeded by the John Howard's Coalition government.

Not to be confused with First Keating ministry or Second Keating ministry.

Keating government

Brian Howe (1991–1995)
Kim Beazley (1995–1996)

Background[edit]

Keating entered Parliament in 1969, aged just 25, when he won the seat of Blaxland for the Australian Labor Party. He went on to briefly serve as Minister for Northern Australia during the final days of the Whitlam government in 1975. Keating then served an extended period in the Shadow Ministry through the period of the Fraser government, culminating in his appointment as Shadow Treasurer in January 1983. Labor, led by Bob Hawke went on to defeat Fraser at the subsequent 1983 federal election and Keating began a long period of service as the nation's Treasurer.


Keating had no tertiary qualifications and just previously three weeks experience as a minister.[1] Despite this, Keating oversaw a number of important transitions in the Australian economy, including the floating of the Australian dollar and program of deregulation of the Australian economy: including privatisation of assets and reductions in tariffs. He formed a powerful partnership with Hawke to deliver numerous reforms; subsequently, Hawke initially agreed to stand down after the 1990 election in Keating's favour, but later reneged on this proposal, causing tension between the two. On 3 June 1991, Keating challenged Hawke for the leadership, lost the ballot and went to the backbench. Six months later he again challenged Hawke, this time winning the leadership of the Labor Party and becoming the 24th Prime Minister of Australia.[1]

First Hawke ministry

Second Hawke ministry

Third Hawke ministry

Fourth Hawke ministry

First Keating ministry

Second Keating ministry

Paul Kelly (1992). The End of Certainty: The story of the 1980s. Allen & Unwin.  1-86373-227-6.

ISBN

D'Alpuget, Blanche; Hawke: The Prime Minister; Melbourne University Press; 2010;  9780522856705

ISBN

Edwards, John; Keating, The Inside Story. Penguin; 1996;  0-140-26601-1.

ISBN

Evans, Gareth; Inside the Hawke Keating Government: a Cabinet diary; 2014;  9780522866421.

ISBN

Hawke, Bob; The Hawke Memoirs; 1994.

Keating, Paul; After Words: The Post-Prime Ministerial Speeches; Allen and Unwin; 2011;  9781742377599.

ISBN

Kelly, Paul; The March of Patriots : The Struggle for Modern Australia; 2009;  9780522856194.

ISBN

Watson, Don; ; Random House Australia; 2002; ISBN 978-0091835170

Recollections of a Bleeding Heart: A Portrait of Paul Keating PM