The light on the hill

This article is part of a series about Ben Chifley
Early life 1917 general strike Member for Macquarie (1928–1931) Member for Macquarie (1940–1951) Scullin Ministry First Curtin Ministry Second Curtin Ministry 1945 Labor Party leadership election Prime Minister of Australia Term of government (1945–1949) Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme 1946 14 Powers referendum QANTAS nationalisation 1946 Social Services referendum Commonwealth Employment Service Bank nationalisation 1948 rents and prices referendum Snowy Mountains Scheme 1949 Australian coal strike Ministries First Second Elections 1946 1949 The light on the hill
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"The light on the hill" is a phrase used to describe the objective of the Australian Labor Party. The phrase, which was used in a 1949 conference speech at the Sydney Trades Hall by then Prime Minister Ben Chifley, has biblical origins. 'City upon a Hill' is a metaphor from the Salt and Light section of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew.

The speech, delivered near the end of Chifley's term as prime minister, pays tribute to the people who make up Australia's labour movement.

"The light on the hill" is often referenced in Australian popular culture. Notable instances include:

• "The Light On The Hill" from the musical Keating! is a country-influenced ballad in which Keating laments the trends in the 1996 election, concludes that he is doomed electorally, and sings of his unachieved dreams and with some bitterness at what he sees as the backward-looking message of his opponent.
• "Neighborhood Watch" from My Friend the Chocolate Cake's self-titled first album refers to the light on the hill as a dream that is no longer even dreamt.
• "We Remember the light on the hill" from Midnight Oil's song "River Runs Red" on the album Blue Sky Mining is a reference to the statement made by Prime Minister Chifley.
• Greens MP Adam Bandt referenced the light on the hill in his post-election speech in 2010, stating "there is a new light on the hill and it's powered by renewable energy".
• A 2011 cartoon by Jon Kudelka depicted current Labor Prime Minister Julia Gillard turning off the light on the hill, because it was "attracting the boats", a reference to the highly politicised topic of boat arrivals from asylum seekers.

• "The Forgotten People"

• The light on the hill speech
• Workers Online: History - The light on the hill