Legendary Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating appeared in a jovial mood as he was spotted out and about in Sydney on the eve of the Liberal Party leadership challenge that deposed Malcolm Turnbull.
Keating was the nation’s 24th PM, serving from 1991 to 1996, and is regarded as a pillar of the Labor Party. The former Bankstown boy who quit school at 14 before being elected into the federal parliament at just 25 himself seized leadership of the Labor Party from Bob Hawke in 1991.
And on Thursday, as the Liberal Party tore itself apart, the 74-year-old seemed keen to celebrate the controversy in Canberra, sipping champagne in Sydney’s trendy Paddington.
Legendary former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating appeared in a jovial mood as he was spotted out and about in Sydney last week amidst the events of the Liberal Party leadership challenge
As our exclusive pictures show the 74-year-old seem keen to celebrate, sipping champagne in the trendy eastern Sydney suburb of Paddington
Keating, dressed in a black wool coat and cap, headed to an antique store where he indulged in a glass of French champagne with the owner
The pictures emerged as Scott Morrison took over from Malcolm Turnbull in the nation’s top job following a week of chaos in the Liberal Party.
The former Labor PM has previously commented that Malcolm Turnbull was ‘brilliant’ but ‘lacked judgement’ – a relevant description in light of his party’s revolt over his policy decisions.
Keating, dressed in a black wool coat and cap, headed to an antique store where he indulged in a glass of French champagne with the owner.
Mr Keating has been a Sydney local his entire life, even advocating in 2007 for the city to become the nation’s capital and for federal parliament to be moved there.
After his relaxing Thursday beverage, the former PM then hopped into his old-school Peugeot 205 GTi – a throwback to the 1980s.
The 205 model was extremely popular in Keating’s heyday, winning the Car of the Decade award in CAR Magazine in 1990.
The manufacturer produced a limited number of the GTi variants which have become collector’s items but are certainly not luxury automobiles, with the vehicles now available for $5000.
After his relaxing Thursday beverage, the former PM then hopped into his old school Peugeot 205 GTi – a throwback to the 1980s
The manufacturer produced a limited number of the GTi variants which have become collector’s items but are certainly not luxury automobiles, with the vehicles now available for $8000
The former Labor PM has previously commented that Malcolm Turnbull was ‘brilliant’ but ‘lacked judgement’ – a relevant description in light of his party’s revolt over his policy decisions
Keating joined the Labor Party as a teenager after dropping out of school and remained with the organisation until his retirement in 1996.
He was appointed Treasurer of Australia in 1983 before replacing Bob Hawke as Australia’s 24th Prime Minister in late 1991.
Keating has long been regarded as one of Australia’s most influential leaders.
He was Treasurer through much of the eighties before leading the country and is regarded as being highly influential in reinventing the modern Australian economy.
He has remained active as a commentator since leaving politics.
Keating was Treasurer through much of the eighties before becoming prime minister and is regarded as being highly influential in reinventing the modern Australian economy