The Forgotten People

Sir Robert Menzies, founder of the Liberal Party of Australia and Prime Minister of Australia 1939–41 (UAP) and 1949–66 (Liberal)

This article is part of a series about Robert Menzies
Early life State politics Member for Kooyong (1934-1966) 1938 Dalfram dispute United Australia Party spills 1939 1943 Prime Minister of Australia First Period (1939–1941) Entry into WW2 Advisory War Council Liberal Party foundation Second Period (1949–1966) ANZUS Communist Party ban 1951 Communist Party ban referendum Petrov Affair Royal Commission on Espionage Entry into Vietnam War Ministries First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Elections 1940 1946 1949 1951 1954 1955 1958 1961 1963 1964 (Half-Senate) The Forgotten People
v t

"The Forgotten People" is a famous 1942 speech^[1] and campaign slogan by Robert Menzies, an Australian politician who was repeatedly chosen as Prime Minister of Australia by emphasising his links to ordinary non-elite citizens.^[2]

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 Australia. Menzies had previously served as Prime Minister as leader of the United Australia Party from 1939-1941.^[3] 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 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]

Cultural legacy[]

Contemporary Australian politicians continue to invoke Menzies' sentiments.

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".^[5]

Liberal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott echoed the Menzian rhetoric in his first budget-reply speech to the Gillard Government in May 2011, addressing his remarks to the "forgotten families" of Australia.^[6]

See also[]

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Robert Menzies' Forgotten People

• "The light on the hill"
• Menzies Government

References[]

External links[]

• Text of the speech at Australianpolitics.com

This Australian government-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

• v
• t