The forgotten people
Encyclopedia
"The Forgotten People" is the name given to a 1942 speech delivered by Robert Menzies
, an Australian politician who went on to become the longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia
.
. Menzies had previously served as Prime Minister as leader of the United Australia Party
from 1939-1941. From 1942 onward, Menzies had maintained his public profile with his series of “Forgotten People” radio talks, similar to Franklin Roosevelt’s “fireside chats” of the 1930s, in which he spoke of the middle class as the "backbone of Australia" but as neverthless having been "taken for granted" by political parties and of being effectively powerless because of lack of wealth on the one hand, and lack of organization on the other.
Labor leader Kevin Rudd
made reference to the phrase and to Menzies in the lead-up to the 2007 federal election for a perceived current generation of "Forgotten People".
Liberal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott
echoed the Menzian rhetoric is his first budget-reply speech to the Gillard Government
in May 2011, addressing his remarks to the "forgotten families" of Australia.
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
, an Australian politician who went on to become the longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
.
Overview
The speech, delivered on 22 May 1942, defines and exalts Australia's middle class, which Menzies termed "the forgotten people". Menzies used the speech to outline the values and constituency that would form the basis of the Liberal Party of AustraliaLiberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
. Menzies had previously served as Prime Minister as leader of the United Australia Party
United Australia Party
The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...
from 1939-1941. From 1942 onward, Menzies had maintained his public profile with his series of “Forgotten People” radio talks, similar to Franklin Roosevelt’s “fireside chats” of the 1930s, in which he spoke of the middle class as the "backbone of Australia" but as neverthless having been "taken for granted" by political parties and of being effectively powerless because of lack of wealth on the one hand, and lack of organization on the other.
Cultural legacy
Contemporary Australian politicians continue to invoke Menzies' sentiments.Labor leader Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
made reference to the phrase and to Menzies in the lead-up to the 2007 federal election for a perceived current generation of "Forgotten People".
Liberal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott
Tony Abbott
Anthony John "Tony" Abbott is the Leader of the Opposition in the Australian House of Representatives and federal leader of the centre-right Liberal Party of Australia. Abbott has represented the seat of Warringah since the 1994 by-election...
echoed the Menzian rhetoric is his first budget-reply speech to the Gillard Government
Gillard Government
The Gillard Government refers to the federal Executive Government of Australia, which is led by the Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard. Julia Gillard became Prime Minister on the 24th of June 2010 after challenging her predecessor, Kevin Rudd for the position of leader of the parliamentary...
in May 2011, addressing his remarks to the "forgotten families" of Australia.
See also
- "The light on the hillThe light on the hill"The light on the hill" is a phrase used to describe the objective of the Australian Labor Party. The phrase was coined in a 1949 conference speech by then Prime Minister Ben Chifley....
" - Menzies Government