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Former Prime Minister of Australia 1991 - 1996

Paul Keating became Prime Minister and led the ALP to an historic fifth term of Government in March 1993. Following the defeat of the ALP in 1996, Mr Keating resigned from Parliament.  He continues to take a close interest in the national and international issues with which he was associated in public life.

Mr Keating is a most articulate speaker with a wealth of international financial, political and diplomatic experience and an acute contemporary insight into global affairs. He is regularly sought-after for international business and economic conferences.  An engaging orator, Mr Keating is as adept at delivering a formal paper as he is at speaking extemporaneously. His talent is pulling together disparate ideas, trends and facts, in an historical context, to produce a 'big picture'-type analysis of the topic. He has an abiding interest in architecture, urban design and music.

As a political commentator Mr Keating contributes articles to newspapers and international journals that discuss international, economic and social issues.  In 2000 he published Engagement: Australia Faces the Asia-Pacific, examining Australia's foreign policy objectives and achievements during his term as Prime Minister.

About the Hon. Paul Keating:

Mr Keating was elected to the House of Representatives in 1969 representing the electorate of Blaxland and the Australian Labor Party. In 1975 he became the youngest ever federal Minister and held the portfolio of Minister for Northern Australia.

Between 1976 and 1983 Mr Keating served in the Opposition Shadow Ministry and was spokesperson for a number of portfolios including agriculture, minerals and energy.

Mr Keating became Treasurer (Finance Minister) in 1983, a position he held until 1991.  This role saw Mr Keating implement economic reforms that assisted the expansion of the Australian economy which included the progressive deregulation of the financial sector, the float of the Australian Dollar, extensive tax reform and the dismantling of many protectionist barriers.

In December 1991 Mr Keating became Prime Minister and led the ALP to an historic fifth term of Government in March 1993. As Prime Minister he continued his progressive reform program which included the establishment of the National Training Authority, a national superannuation scheme to redress low national savings and labour market, and training reforms that addressed Australia's long-term unemployment problems.  The Keating Government also implemented the historic Mabo legislation recognising the land rights of Australia's Indigenous people and the introduction of legislation ensuring protection of endangered species.  Mr Keating raised proposals for constitutional reform to make Australia a Republic.

Foreign policy under the Keating Government was focussed towards the Asian region.  Mr Keating took an active role in the establishment of APEC, the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation forum and initiated its annual leaders' meeting with its commitment to a regional free trade agenda.

Following the defeat of the ALP in 1996, Mr Keating resigned from Parliament.  He continues to take a close interest in the national and international issues with which he was associated in public life.

Mr Keating  has been awarded Honorary Doctorates in Laws from  Keio University in Tokyo, the National University of Singapore and the University of NSW. In July 2009, Mr Keating became the Patron of the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library.