, serving from 1991 to 1996. Keating was elected as the federal Labor
member for Blaxland
in 1969 and came to prominence as the reformist treasurer
of the Hawke
Labor government, which came to power at the 1983 election
. After becoming prime minister in 1991, he led Labor to its fifth consecutive victory at the 1993 election against the Liberal
-National
coalition
led by John Hewson
. Many had considered this election unwinnable for Labor, mainly due to the effects of the early 1990s recession on Australia, as well as the longevity of Labor as the federal government.
It really surprises me that some people in this party think we owe Westpac|Westpac something. Or the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group|ANZ Bank. Or the National Australia Bank|National.
From this day onwards, Howard will wear his leadership like a crown of thorns, and in the parliament I'll do everything to crucify him.
If this Government cannot get the adjustment, get manufacturing going again, and keep moderate wage outcomes and a sensible economic policy, then Australia is basically done for. We will end up being a third rate economy... a banana republic.
A dog returning to his vomit
The Placido Domingo|Placido Domingo of Australian politics.
It was we who did the dispossessing. We took the traditional lands and smashed the traditional way of life. We brought the diseases. The alcohol. We committed the murders. We took the children from their mothers. We practised discrimination and exclusion. It was our ignorance and our prejudice. And our failure to imagine these things being done to us.
I would forbid him going going to the Senate, to account to this unrepresentative swill over there...