PRIME Minister Paul Keating, who was once reported to have described Australia’s wartime leader John Curtin as a “trier”, was more generous on the 50th anniversary of his death.
“Curtin’s position in Australia’s history is completely guaranteed as it ought to be,” Mr Keating told reporters.
When Mr Keating was asked after a meeting of cabinet whether Mr Curtin was Australia’s greatest Prime Minister, he replied: “Well it’s very hard to rank people.
“But certainly the only time Australia was threatened, he was there to answer the call.”
John Curtin is the only Australian Prime Minister to have represented a WA seat in the House of Representatives.