Paul Keating: Biography, Family, and What He Does Now

Paul Keating hasn’t exactly faded into quiet retirement. The man who led Australia through the early 1990s still makes headlines—whether he’s critiquing AUKUS, comparing Taiwan to Tasmania, or selling his stake in Boost Mobile for $40 million. Born in Sydney in 1944 and raised in Bankstown, he left school at 14 and rose to become Australia’s 24th Prime Minister (National Museum of Australia (Australian government museum)).

Full Name: Paul John Keating ·
Born: 18 January 1944, Sydney, Australia ·
Political Party: Australian Labor Party ·
Prime Ministerial Term: 20 December 1991 – 11 March 1996 ·
Number of Children: 4 ·
Current Age: 80 (as of 2024)

Six key facts define Keating’s personal and political profile—a mix of official records and biographical data from trusted sources.

What does Paul Keating do now?

Public appearances and commentary

Keating remains a fixture in Australian public life long after leaving the Lodge. He regularly appears on television and radio, offering sharp critiques of government policy. In 2024, he publicly condemned the AUKUS submarine deal and made headlines by referring to Taiwan as “Chinese real estate” and comparing the island to Tasmania (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)).

His Redfern Park speech in 1992, often called the greatest Australian political speech, continues to be referenced in reconciliation debates (Britannica Kids (educational encyclopedia)).

Business and advisory roles

• Wikipedia reports that Keating served on the international board of the China Development Bank from 2005 to 2018 and has been a senior adviser to Lazard investment bank.
• He co-founded Boost Mobile in 2000 with a $500,000 investment and sold his share for $40 million in December 2024 (Wikipedia).
• The National Museum of Australia notes his broad business interests after leaving parliament (National Museum of Australia (Australian government museum)).

The implication: Keating has built a post-politics career that blends diplomacy, finance, and commentary—an unusual mix that keeps him financially independent and publicly relevant.

What happened to Paul Keating’s first wife?

Marriage and divorce

Paul Keating married Annita van Iersel, a Dutch‑born Australian, in 1975. They had four children together. The couple separated in 1998, and the divorce was finalized in 2008 (National Museum of Australia).

Annita van Iersel’s later life

• Annita has remained largely out of the public eye since the divorce.
• She is believed to live in Sydney, but specific details about her current life are scarce.
• The National Museum of Australia confirms she is the mother of Keating’s three daughters from that marriage (National Museum of Australia).

The pattern: Unlike some former first spouses who build public profiles, Annita opted for privacy—a choice that contrasts sharply with Keating’s own relentless publicity.

Why did Paul Keating resign?

1996 federal election loss

Keating resigned as Prime Minister immediately after the Australian Labor Party lost the federal election on 2 March 1996 to the Coalition led by John Howard (National Archives of Australia (official government archive)). He also announced his intention to leave Parliament altogether, which he did shortly afterward (Britannica Kids).

End of prime ministership

• Keating had served as PM for just over four years.
• His 1993 election win—dubbed the “sweetest victory”—was followed by a slide in popularity amid economic concerns and a push for a republic.
• He never returned to Parliament and has not sought any elected office since.

The trade-off: Keating’s complete exit from Parliament meant he could pursue business and commentary freely, but it also denied him the chance to shape Labor policy from inside the party as an elder statesman.

Is Paul Keating still married?

Current marriage to Julieanne Newbould

Yes. Keating married Julieanne Newbould in 1999. She is Australian and worked as a hairdresser before their marriage. The couple has one son together, born in the early 2000s (National Museum of Australia).

Nationality of his wife

• Julieanne Newbould is Australian by birth.
• The couple reside in Potts Point, Sydney, and also maintain a holiday home on the Hawkesbury River (Wikipedia).

The upshot: Keating’s personal life has settled into a stable second marriage, in contrast to the headline‑driven chaos of his earlier family history.

How old are Paul Keating’s children?

Daughters from first marriage

Keating’s three daughters with Annita van Iersel—Katherine, Alexandra, and Caroline—were born between 1976 and 1980 (National Museum of Australia). That puts their ages roughly between 44 and 48 as of 2024.

Son from second marriage

• Keating’s son with Julieanne Newbould was born after 2000, placing him in his early twenties.
• The son’s name has not been widely published, reflecting the family’s preference for privacy on this detail.

Why this matters: Keating’s children span two marriages and a wide age range—meaning he has been parenting across his entire post‑PM life, a timeline that most former world leaders do not navigate publicly.

Quotes from Paul Keating

We committed the murders. We took the children from their mothers. We practiced discrimination and exclusion. It was we who did the dispossessing.
— Paul Keating, Redfern Park speech, 1992 (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))

This is the sweetest victory of them all. This is a victory for every Australian who has ever felt the boot of the establishment on their neck.
— Paul Keating, 1993 election victory speech (Wikipedia)

For Keating and the Labor Party, the choice is clear: his legacy as a transformative prime minister is secure, but his current outspoken role risks alienating a party that has moved on. The next generation of Labor leaders must decide whether to embrace or distance themselves from the Keating brand.

For a deeper look at his ongoing influence and family life, see this detailed account of Paul Keatings life after politics.

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