The things which are most important don't always scream the loudest.

Although Keating was the main architect of the government's economic policies he took advantage of Hawke's declining popularity to plan a leadership challenge. By the time he entered politics he was a self-described agnostic. Hawke's leadership was further damaged as a consequence of the new Liberal Leader John Hewson releasing Fightback! a detailed proposal for sweeping economic change including a goods and services tax and deep cuts to government spending and personal income tax in November 1991.

He is to date Labor's longest-serving Prime Minister and Australia's third-longest-serving Prime Minister. In total he led Labor to victory at four federal elections in 1983 1984 1987 and 1990 thus making him the most successful Labor leader in history.