biography
| name: |
Keating, Paul (John)
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1944– )
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| biography:
| Australian statesman and prime minister (1991–6), born in Sydney, New South Wales, SE Australia. He managed a rock-and-roll band before entering federal parliament as a member of the House of Representatives in 1969. He was minister for Northern Australia in the Whitlam Government in 1975, and president of the New South Wales Labor Party (1979–83). As Treasurer (1983–91), he was the main architect of the government's economic policies, particularly the deregulation of financial markets. After unsuccessfully challenging Bob Hawke as leader, he spent some time as a back-bencher before being elected leader by his party in 1991. In 1993, in the midst of a recession and record high levels of unemployment, he and his party managed to win a general election that was seen as unwinnable. An outspoken republican, known for his razor-sharp tongue, he retired from parliament following the election defeat of 1996. In 1997 he declined the award of Companion to the Order of Australia - the first living former prime minister not to accept the honour. He continues to speak on political issues. |
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