The Labor Party pledges itself to take every measure necessary to halt the present disastrous inflation. To do that, a programme is required to stabilise the Australian economy.
March 28th, 1951
communism economy health immigration Indigenous affairs industrial relations social securityTonight we open what is probably the most momentous campaign in the history of this country since Federation. For nearly 30 years Australia has been writing history as a nation, and no one will deny that one of the proudest pages in our book of nationhood is that which deals with the building up of our Federal system of arbitration.
September 30th, 1929
economy federation industrial relationsBen Chifley spoke to us about that light on the hill in a different age, in a different nation, in a different time. President Barack Obama inspired a nation by saying ‘yes we can’. Well friends, I’m too humble to compare myself to either Ben Chifley or Barack Obama, but I am asking you, I am asking you when you vote on Saturday, to say, as you cast that vote: yes we will.
August 16th, 2010
climate change communications and technology education health employment industrial relationsAustralia is about to enter upon the greatest era in her history, this country of ours has come through two world wars and weathered the miseries and hardships of a depression, all in the space of a little over 30 years. Today Australia has become the great bastion of the British-speaking race south of the Equator. Strategically arid economically, our country has assumed a position in the Pacific on behalf of the British Commonwealth of Nations of such importance that development and responsibility go hand in hand.
September 2nd, 1946
arts defence education health social securityBy 1990 no Australian child will be living in poverty.
And to this end, my Government will establish a new program of family help – a program designed to lift more than 1 million Australian children into security and to help the more than half a million Australian families in greatest need, the hardest pushed, the most disadvantaged.
June 23rd, 1987
economy family defence education employment health social securityIt was persistently suggested at the last elections that, while the Labor Government was in office, bankers and financiers would not release money for enterprise, and that, with the removal of the Labor Government, millions would flow into industry and employment and prosperity would appear. Thousands of poor people, sorely tried by poverty, voted against their lifetime convictions, but they have had a sad awakening. I am confident that, on this occasion, they will assert their rights as men and women, and, by their votes, will transfer their power to a Labor Government with majorities in both Houses of Parliament. That power, in Labor’s hands, will be used with firmness and with justice. Democracy shall rule Australia, not a financial oligarchy.
August 15th, 1934
agriculture economy employment industrial relations infrastructureThe issue for the 1990s is the renewal of Australia—of family life, of economic institutions, of the right of choice, of Australian society itself. We have the vision, the ability, and the strength to take Australia through the next decade and into the next century. Australia’s problems are too complex to be solved overnight. But with determination and courage they can be solved.
March 5th, 1990
communications and technology economy education environment family foreign affairs government administration health Indigenous affairs industrial relations social security crimeThe program I put down and talked about tonight does offer a different way of doing many things. It’s built on giving people incentive is built on less government and lower taxation. But above all, it is built upon my unshakeable belief that if you give Australians the right encouragement and the right incentive, they can lick anything.
June 25th, 1987
economy employment family government administration health industrial relationsToday a whole generation of Australians know that the world does not owe us a living. We are the first generation of Australians to really understand what it means.
I think I began to understand towards the end of the 70s – it was then I began to form what was for me at least a new idea about Australia.
The thought took hold of me that we could be a creative country, as well as a so-called lucky country.
February 24th, 1993
economy health arts education employment environment family social security water womenNever be in any doubt: I will never tolerate a situation in which my fellow Australians live in the economic shadowlands, drifting in and out of unemployment and low wage jobs without a helping hand. That is not the Australian way! Our thinkers, our creators, our inventors, our scientists and technologists—these are just some of the people crucial to Australia’s future.
October 31st, 2001
climate change communications and technology defence economy education employment environment health social security crime