The logic of the policy changes initiated by the Hawke government in mid-1990 has underpinned asylum-seeker policy for much of the quarter-century since.
Articles on Cabinet papers 1990-91
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The 1990s obsession with the current account looks silly with hindsight, perhaps akin to our current one with fiscal deficits and surpluses.
There is little of Gareth Evans’ sweeping analysis in the cabinet papers of 1990-91 of a rapidly changing world order or of his vision of good international citizenship.
The National Archives of Australia today released selected federal cabinet records for 1990 and 1991. They reveal intense battles over Australia’s domestic climate targets and, above all, a palpable determination that Australia not damage its coal revenue.
While the press at the time focused on what Keating called “the Punch and Judy show”, cabinet papers reveal that the fourth Hawke government was working at an astonishing pace at reforms still felt today.
Top contributors
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Professor in History, Australian National University
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Former Visiting Fellow, SPRU, University of Sussex Business School, University of Sussex, University of Staffordshire
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Director, Vice-Chancellor's Centre of Public Ideas (CoPI) and Donald Horne Professor of History and Public Ideas, University of Canberra
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Honorary Fellow, School of Social and Political Sciences, The University of Melbourne
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Emeritus Professor of International Relations, La Trobe University