Australian Prime Ministers - A Lighthearted Look Quiz

Answer: Malcolm Fraser

John Malcolm Fraser was Australia's Prime Minister from 1975 to 1983. In 1985 he represented Australia in a Commonwealth group formed to negotiate the peaceful dismantling of South Africa's Apartheid policy. However, on October 14, 1986, he lost his trousers, and a lot more, at the Admiral Benbow Inn in Memphis in circumstances which were widely reported yet never explained.

It has been suggested he was slipped a Mickey Finn by the escort girl Rolex gang, whoever they were!

Answer: Harold Holt

Harold Edward Holt (1908 - 1967) introduced this saying into the Australian vernacular, in connection with Australia's commitment of troops to the Vietnam War.

Answer: Paul Keating

Paul John Keating was the Treasurer in the Hawke Labor Government from 1983 to 1991. He was then Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996. During his time as both Treasurer and Prime Minister, Keating made a name for himself in Parliament with such colourful statements as "slither out of the Cabinet room like a mangy maggot"; "the greatest job and investment destroyer since the Bubonic Plague"; "like a lizard on a rock - alive, but looking dead"; "an intellectual rust bucket"; "the Honourable Gentleman's hair, like his intellect, will recede into the darkness"; "painted, perfumed gigolos"; "a political carcass with a coat and tie on"; "intellectual hobos"; and "antediluvian troglodytes".

These are representative of some of Keating's milder comments only! The better ones are against this site's guidelines!

Answer: Malcolm Fraser

In a shameful display not befitting a country's leader, Malcolm's bottom lip quivered uncontrollably as he gave his speech of concession, following his defeat at the 1983 General Election. Apparently, he was the only one who hadn't realised that he was not going to win! Fraser was also well remembered for his infamous comment, "Life wasn't meant to be easy". Sometimes, brutal honesty is not what voters want to hear!

Answer: Harold Holt

Harold Holt, Australian Prime Minister (1966 - 1967), drowned while swimming in the surf in December 1967 - his body was never recovered. In case the reader is wondering how this qualifies as a question in a quiz that is light-hearted, just imagine your country's leader going for a swim, on his own, in the raging surf, near rocks! Additionally, many conspiracy theories abound to this day regarding his disappearance, including, being abducted and/or taken by a Chinese submarine.

Answer: Gough Whitlam

Edward Gough Whitlam became Australia's first Labour Prime Minister in 23 years when elected in 1972. On 11 November 1975, he was sensationally dismissed by the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, after the Senate had blocked supply (refused to vote). The legal arguments regarding this incident and the role played by the soon-to-become Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, continue to this day, and have become permanently etched in the Australian psyche.

Answer: Bob Hawke

Robert James Lee Hawke addressed this unfortunately timed message to an elderly voter in Whyalla, South Australia. On 16 November 1999, Bob Bell (the elderly man) had the temerity to challenge Hawke regarding wage inequities, stating "You get more a week than we get a year". Australians being what they are, the throw-away remark has become forever etched into the country's political memory!

Answer: Sir Robert Menzies

Sir Robert Gordon Menzies (1894 - 1978) was Prime Minister of Australia for 2 separate periods of office. The first period was 1939 to 1941 and his next period in office was 1949 to 1966. He made the above statement in reference to the young Queen Elizabeth II upon her first visit to Australia.

A staid man, not normally noted for his sense of humour, on a separate occasion, in reply to a woman heckler who cried out: "I would not vote for you if you were the Archangel Gabriel", Menzies replied: "Madam, if I were the Archangel Gabriel, you would not be in my constituency".

Answer: Gough Whitlam

In 1983 the Hawke government appointed Whitlam as Australian Ambassador to UNESCO in Paris. Gough Whitlam was noted for his rapier-like wit and was a darling of the press corps for this reason. On one memorable occasion, upon returning from Paris, he was asked how he found the French city.

He quipped "I would rather be in my office in Paris overlooking the Seine, than in Parliament overlooking the insane".

Answer: Paul Keating

Paul Keating left school at age 14 and studied for his Higher School Certificate at night. As a teenager, Keating managed a rock band named The Ramrods.