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Prime Minister of Australia First term of government (1939–1941) Second term of government (1949–1966)
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"The Forgotten People" is a 1942 Australian political speech[1] and campaign slogan byRobert Menzies, an Australian politician who wasPrime Minister of Australia 1939–1941 and again 1949–1966. It sought to emphasise his links to ordinary citizens and distance himself fromelitism.[2]
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 theLiberal Party of Australia. Menzies had previously been Prime Minister, as leader of theUnited Australia Party from 1939–1941.[3] From 1942 onward, Menzies had maintained his public profile with his series of "Forgotten People" radio talks, similar toFranklin Roosevelt's "fireside chats" of the 1930s, in which he spoke of the middle class as the "backbone of Australia" but as nevertheless 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 organisation on the other.[4][1][3]
Contemporary Australian politicians continue to invoke Menzies' sentiments.
Labor leaderKevin Rudd made reference to the phrase and to Menzies in the lead-up to the2007 federal election for a perceived current generation of "Forgotten People".[5]
Liberal Opposition LeaderTony Abbott echoed the Menzian rhetoric in his first budget-reply speech to theGillard government in May 2011, addressing his remarks to the "forgotten families" of Australia.[6]
After the Coalition lost the 2022 federal election andPeter Dutton became the Leader of the Opposition, he referred to this speech.[7]
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