Paul Keating Redfern Speech

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Throughout adolescence and adulthood, we are encouraged to be cautious with our words due to the power they can hold. Manly Hall quotes, “words are potent weapons for all causes, good or bad” (Arroyo, n.d., p. 3). Paul Keating embodied this sentiment in his 1993 Redfern Speech by focusing on truth telling and acknowledging the devastating effects Australia’s history has caused for Indigenous peoples. Whilst Keating’s Redfern Speech is a significant moment for Australian politics, was it just that – a moment? The question is: has Keating’s political discourse proven to create societal and political change?

Upon reflecting on Keating’s speech, there is no hesitation in recognising the emotions and meaning behind his words. Through understanding
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