Special Sub-Topic: Australian Political Quotes Click Here To Play: Australian Political Quotes

Probably one of the most famous political utterances was made in 1975, when the elected government of the Commonwealth of Australia was sacked by the Queen's representative, the Governor-General. After the proclamation was read on the steps of Parliament House the Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, said "Well may we say ‘God Save the Queen’, because nothing will save the Governor-General." Who was the Governor-General he was referring to?

Sir John Kerr. Malcolm Fraser was the Opposition Leader at the time, and when his party blocked the Government’s Supply Bill in the Senate, a stalemate was reached (it was "blocked" by the Senate refusing to vote, either aye or nay; aka refusing to consider the bill). The Governor-General chose to intervene. After much behind closed doors chicanery, Kerr dismissed Whitlam and his government, and appointed Fraser to the top job. Kerr was vilified for the remainder of his life for his actions, and he resigned his post in 1977. He died in 1991. By the way, the 'hoo-ha' referred to in the quiz introduction comes from Margaret Whitlam's opinion of monetary inflation.

"Life was not meant to be easy" is a famous quote from the then future Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. From which well-known author did he paraphrase the quotation?

George Bernard Shaw. In 1971, Fraser outlined the philosophy of the Liberal Party in what became known as the Deakin Speech. He became prime minster in November 1975. The full quotation, from Shaw’s work ’Back to Methuselah’ reads "Life is not meant to be easy, my child; but take courage: it can be delightful".

"I ask you to carefully consider the record of my government and vote Labor" was a rather unusual slip of the tongue for the LIBERAL leader, during election campaigning in 1972. Who was this man, who held the record for the longest career as a government minister (over 21 years)?

Billy McMahon. McMahon also said, during the same campaign, "I think you could say that we will murder the brutes". The ‘brutes’ were the Labor Party, who won the election easily! He was a federal minister from 1951 to 1972 (the last year and a half as prime minister). Snedden held several ministries over his political life, including Leader of the Liberal Party from 1972-75, but was never Prime Minister, Billy Hughes was PM from 1915-1923, and Billie Burke was an American actress.

Sir Henry Bolte was a state premier for many years, and seemed to enjoy making outrageously provocative statements. Some of his ‘classics’ include "We care about water pollution; it just isn’t as important as a $100 million factory", or, in regards to a teacher’s strike, "They can strike till they are black in the face. It won’t make any difference!" Which Australian state did he lead, from 1955 to 1972?

Victoria. When told that the teachers threatened to sit on his doorstep to protest, he said "I don’t havie a doorstep low enough for them." He also said "I feel we did take some risks in that by-election by leaving the results to the electors". Um, who else would be voting? During his 1968 electoral campaign, he told radio listeners "It’s no use switching to another station, because I’m on the lot. I’ve got you!" He is probably best remembered for his decision to not grant clemency to Ronald Ryan, the last man hanged in Australia, in 1967.

This very famous line was uttered during the 1987 election campaign. (Why do so many politicians say stupid things in election campaigns?). The line, "No child will live in poverty by the year 1990", would haunt this man for the rest of his career. Who said it?

Bob Hawke. I guess he was fortunate in that no-one was naive enough to actually believe him. Hawke, who at one stage held a record for beer-drinking, was also a very keen sportsman. After Australia II won the Americas Cup yacht race in 1983, he declared "Any boss who sacks a worker for not turning up today is a bum!". This was broadcast live, and repeated in every news bulletin that day!

"You have an admiring friend, a staunch friend that will be all the way with LBJ." These words were spoken by Prime Minister Harold Holt, but to what did they refer?

Sending Australian troops to Vietnam. Lyndon Johnson, US President in 1966, asked Holt for more troops to assist in Vietnam, and Holt obliged; supplying an additional 4500 servicemen. Several months later, in October 1966, Johnson became the first serving President to visit Australia. Harold Holt disappeared a year later in December 1967, when he went swimming at Cheviot Beach in Victoria. His body was never found.

This man created controversy in 1994 when he parodied his Liberal Party’s policy slogan, "The Things That Matter". He jokingly referred to their domestic violence policy as "the things that batter", the family policy became "the flings that matter" and the policy on marginal seats, "the swings that matter". Who is this man?

Alexander Downer. Downer was destined for a political life with his father and grandfather attaining high ranks in Parliament, but he will probably regret this statement, and also his appearance in fishnet stocking and heels for a newspaper promotion. He was Foreign Minister in the Howard Government (1993-2007), and only lost this position when the Liberals were trounced in the November 2007 Federal election (he became the longest serving Foreign Minister since Federation). His father was a Federal cabinet minister (Minister for Immigration 1958-1963), and his grandfather was Premier of South Australia in the 1880s and 1890s, and one of the initial six senators in the first federal parliament following Federation in 1901.

This man was named a "National Treasure" by the National Trust in the bicentennial year, 1998, and has a bay named after him in the Australian Antarctic Territory. He also has an extinct marsupial, Yalkaparidon, named after him. His comments on Joh Bjelke-Petersen’s run, in the mid-late 1980s, for the Prime Ministership were scathing - "He is the Ayatollah of the north. How can you have an open debate in the Kafka-like atmosphere of secrecy and cronyism of Joh- style politics?". Who is this man, this "National Treasure"?

Barry Jones. Barry Jones was also a quiz-show champion, confounding the quiz writers on "Bob Dyer’s Pick A Box" on several occasions in the early-mid 1960s. He was a teacher, a DJ, and in 2000 was appointed National President of the ALP (Australian Labor Party). Oh, and the ‘Joh For PM’ push died a natural death, with Joh declaring that he was not interested in going to Canberra, anyway! Or as John Howard so delicately put it- "Tropical Cyclone Joh has already petered out".

"A Goods and Services Tax is not on our agenda, never ever." This was a promise made by which politician, in 1995?

John Howard. Howard’s Liberal Government duly introduced a 10% GST in July 2000. In March 1993, then Liberal leader John Hewson was questioned by TV Journalist Mike Willesee regarding the impact of a GST on a birthday cake. Hewson had great difficulty in explaining how the tax would work, and the interview cost him a lot of credibility, and possibly the election 10 days later.

In 1963, Prime Minister Robert Menzies said "I did but see her passing by, but I will love her till I die." Who is "her"?

Queen Elizabeth II. The words were written in the 17th century by English poet Thomas Ford and spoken by Menzies during a Royal Visit by the Queen and Prince Phillip. History does not record how Pattie, his wife, reacted to this public proclamation of adoration. Menzies dominated Australian politics in the 1940s, 50s and up until his retirement in 1966, and he was Prime Minister for over 18 years.