The Things They Say - Australian Prime Ministers Quiz

Answer: Gough Whitlam

When the opposition blocked supply through the Senate the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, terminated Whitlam's position as Prime Minister. Whitlam, known for his memorable speeches, continued to say "The Proclamation which you have just heard read by the Governor-General's Official Secretary was countersigned Malcolm Fraser, who will undoubtedly go down in Australian history from Remembrance Day 1975 as Kerr's cur".

Answer: Paul Keating

Paul Keating, like a number of Prime Ministers, climbed to that rank through the position of Treasurer. His time as Treasurer initiated a great number of monetary and tax reforms such as floating the Australian dollar, capital gains tax and fringe benefits tax.

He even unsuccessfully attempted to initiate a 15% consumption tax (basically a goods and services tax) fifteen years before the Liberal Party introduced GST to the Australian tax system.

Answer: Robert Menzies

The longest serving Prime Minister and well known for his strong links with Britain, Menzies came under fire during the pre-World War 2 years for his intrigue and unwitting support of the soon-to-be Axis countries. As a result of an industrial battle with waterside workers who had refused to load ships with scrap iron for Japan, he was ridiculed with the name "Pig Iron Bob".

Answer: Bob Hawke

Always passionate with his public speaking, Bob Hawke opened Labor's election campaign in 1987 with this promise. Media and Opposition members alike were dizzy with excitement at the opportunity now given to them to attack a policy that was obviously not achievable from the beginning.

Answer: Billy Hughes

Probably one of the most colourful characters to have taken on the position, Billy Hughes was a wartime Prime Minister who made as many enemies as he did friends in the international political scene. As a new country, World War 1 was the first instance where Australia would show itself as a nation of significance in the world arena. Hughes was a strong minded, no-nonsense leader who stood his ground with the likes of Woodrow Wilson, the American president. During the war years he gave Australia a voice on the European front, thus giving the ANZACS purpose in their hard fought campaigns.

They lovingly dubbed him the "Little Digger", a tribute that sustained him for the rest of his life.

Answer: John Howard

After the most horrific mass murder massacre in Australian history, Howard pushed through reforms to take automatic and semi-automatic firearms from the general public. A buyback program, funded by a half percent levy placed on taxable income for one year, attempted to compensate gun owners who were now losing their firearms.

Answer: Malcolm Fraser

Although this is remembered as a quote alluding to a dismal economy, Fraser used it in reference to making the hard decisions as a government. Its relation to the economy was never intended; it just became a good byline for the media.

Answer: Bob Hawke

One of the enduring and endearing qualities about Bob Hawke was that he was "an Australian bloke"! For the Australian people in the 1980s he personified the working class and was a publicity marvel for the Labor Party. He drank beer, had a smoke, loved sports and could swear like a plumber! He was the kind of guy that you would have no difficulty believing would be offering you a shout down at the local on a Friday afternoon. Suited in his green and gold jacket with kangaroos all over it after the America's Cup win in 1983, he made this statement to emphasise that this was a day all Australians should celebrate, even if it disrupted everyday life a little bit.

The Aussies had done what no other country had done in 132 years, taken the cup from America!

Answer: Ben Chifley

Chifley's administration passed an incredible 299 Acts between 1946 to 1949. Some of the legacies that he left were the Snowy Mountains Scheme, foundation of airlines Qantas and TAA, creation of the Commonwealth Employment Service (CES), introduction of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), founding of Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australian National University.

Answer: Paul Keating

Love him or hate him, one thing you could guarantee with Keating was a stinging yet witty verbal assault at someone. No-one was spared from this. Yet the stinging retorts were reversed by the British press in 1992 when he placed his hand on Queen Elizabeth II's back during her Australian tour.