History shows that state school kids can lead the nation

Of the 10 PMs since 1972, Whitlam, Fraser, Abbott and Turnbull came from affluent backgrounds while Rudd probably had the toughest times financially as a child.

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd speaks during a ceremony to officially open the Schwarzman Scholars program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. A new scholarship program intended to rival the prestigious Rhodes Scholarships and build understanding between China and the world opened its doors at Beijing's prestigious Tsinghua University on Saturday. Picture: Mark Schiefelbein

READERS may have watched a recent ABC show on the chances of an Aboriginal child becoming PM.

The show asserted that, based on recent PM backgrounds, a future PM would most likely have a private school background.

This claim was factually wrong.

Consider the 10 prime ministers since 1972 and their school background.

State schools: Whitlam (partly), Hawke, Keating, Howard, Rudd, Gillard, Morrison.

Private schools: Whitlam (partly), Fraser, Abbott, Turnbull.

The show also asserted that being a lawyer was necessary.

Again only four of the 10 had legal backgrounds and of these Whitlam, Howard and Gillard practised very little before entering politics.

Fraser, Hawke, Keating, Rudd, Abbott and Morrison had no backgound in legal work (although Hawke as ACTU head probably worked more in "law” than any of the 10 since 1972.)

Keating stands out as having left school at 15 and worked hard to rise.

Of the 10 PMs since 1972, Whitlam, Fraser, Abbott and Turnbull came from pretty affluent backgrounds while Rudd probably had the toughest times financially as a child.

Scott Morrison's background in advertising and Rudd's work in the diplomatic corps mark them as unusual among the 10.

It seems also being Catholic could be as likely to help as a law degree.

Four of the 10 had Catholic backgrounds despite Catholics making up 25 per cent of the population.

CLIVE NEWTON

Nambour

Originally published as History shows that state school kids can lead the nation