Paul Keating

Paul Keating (1944-Present)

Australian politician, Prime Minister from 1991-1996.

• "This is the recession we had to have".
  • 1987

• "I only had one shot in the locker and I fired it".
  • After a failed leadership challenge against Bob Hawke .

• "A house of unrepresentative swill".
  • On the Senate , in contrast to the House of Representatives.

HEWSON: Why won't you call an election? KEATING: Because I want to do you slowly.

• "This is the sweetest victory of all. This is a victory for the true believers, for those who kept the faith through difficult times".
  • 1993 victory speech.

• "Get a job. Do some work like the rest of us."
  • To a protestor, 1995.

• "We're going to bolt it home".
  • Assesment of his chances at the 1996 election.

• "The Placido Domingo of Australian politics".
  • Self description, based on the assesment that Domingo's performances are "sometimes great, and sometimes not great, but always good". Press Gallery Christmas dinner, 1991.

• "Like an Easter Island statue with an arse full of razor blades".
  • Description of Malcom Fraser .

• "An abacus gone feral".
  • Description of John Hewson , an economist.

• "Can a soufflé raise twice?"
  • On the second (1989) attempt by Andrew Peacock to gain the Liberal leadership