Words & TermsPolitics and public life
light on the hill
The ideals or aspirations of the Australian Labor movement.
In a sentence
In this historical or contextual use, “light on the hill” means the ideals or aspirations of the Australian Labor movement.
Where it came from
The phrase is strongly associated with Ben Chifley's 1949 speech and became enduring Australian political shorthand.
- Initial era
- 1950–1999
- Where used
- Australian use; no narrower regional pattern established