Paul Keating

Hon. Paul Keating was Prime Minister of Australia from 1991 to 1996 and Treasurer from 1983 to 1991 His political legacy includes fundamental social and economic reform that laid the basis for Australia’s future strong economic performance and included the deregulation of the financial markets and floating the Australian dollar and compulsory superannuation.

Paul Keating worked towards an inclusive social policy, for Australia to become a Republic, released Creative Nation, the seminal arts policy of the period and oversaw the implementation of the Native Title legisation. His reforms in education included establishing the Australian National Training Authority. In foreign policy, he established the APEC Leaders’ Meeting and worked to forge Australia’s place in the region.
His book, Engagement: Australia faces the Asia Pacific, was published in 2000 and has been translated into Chinese and Japanese. In October 2011, his book of post Prime-Ministerial speeches, After Words, was published.
Mr Keating is a sought after speaker in Australia and internationally and travels regularly to Asia and Europe where he maintains contacts with current and former national leaders. He contributes occasionally to the contemporary political debate.
Since leaving the Prime Ministership in 1996, Paul Keating has continued his interest in public affairs, including in the built environment and especially Sydney Harbour.

Speaker Topics Include:

Australia and the World
The Republic and National Identity
Indigenous Issues
Australian Society and Economy
War and Peace
Technology and Change
World Outlook