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Blanche d'Alpuget leads tributes to 'great Australian' Bob Hawke – rolling coverage Bob Hawke dies aged 89: Blanche d'Alpuget leads tributes to former Australian PM – rolling coverage
(30 minutes later)
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews:
More than any other, Bob Hawke was the people’s prime minister. Australians saw themselves in him, and he saw himself in us. The son of a school teacher and a minister, he grew up in the most ordinary of circumstance.
And yet that boy from Bordertown would leave us with the most extraordinary legacy. In the coming days, that legacy will be remembered in a multitude of different ways.
Rhodes Scholar. Yard Drinker. Staunch Unionist. Member for Wills. Labor’s longest serving Prime Minister.
But for so many in our movement, he was and will always be the father of Medicare. The man who made sure that most fundamental right - healthcare - was afforded to every Australian. The man who created the foundation of fairness on which our modern nation was built.”
The front pages tomorrow will all be tributes. The NT News starts us off with this:
TOMORROW’S FRONT PAGE pic.twitter.com/pPInAwi1z5
And these recollections from Barrie Cassidy:
Popular forever: the intellectual larrikin that was Bob Hawke | Barrie Cassidy
And these from Susan Ryan:
'Women of Australia, be grateful for what Bob Hawke did': Susan Ryan, Labor's first female minister
Scott Morrison will be speaking soon in Brisbane.
In the meantime, read this obituary of the former PM from political editor Katharine Murphy:
Bob Hawke, the typical Australian who enjoyed extraordinary popularity as a public figure
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek:
Today we lost an Australian legend.Bob Hawke changed everything – for our nation, and for @AustralianLabor.Bob - you were big, bold and brave.Medicare, the economy, the Accord, the environment, Australia’s place in the world. pic.twitter.com/X2PLJBouy5
And the UK’s Labour deputy, Tom Watson, is paying tribute from halfway around the world:
Farewell great Labor PM Bob Hawke, who showed that when the world was moving right in the 1980’s with Thatcher and Reagan, A left leaning party could win. https://t.co/Fmxa9AlaPw
Political to the last, the final letter Hawke wrote was about voting for Labor in Saturday’s election.
Two weeks earlier, he also co-wrote a letter with Keating on the same theme. The two publicly reunited for the first time since 1991, sat and had a cup of tea.
One of the other last pictures was taken by @DrCraigEmerson pic.twitter.com/8UPEcQlW6j
This is the last public photograph of Hawke, from Monday.
The last photo of Bob Hawke, taken on Monday with @billshortenmp pic.twitter.com/mex2hJ4DQQ
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, has released his statement:
He had a unique ability to speak to all Australians and will be greatly missed. My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Bob’s widow Blanche and his family. May he Rest In Peace.
More tributes:
From ACTU secretary Sally McManus and president Michele O’Neil:
“As a leader of our nation and of our movement, Bob was a hero to working people – an architect of the accords, the father of Medicare, and a founder of universal superannuation.
“The Australian union movement has enormous pride that a great and respected representative of working people and ACTU president went on to become a loved and legendary Australian prime minister.
“Millions of working people owe their health, their prosperity and their dignity in retirement to Bob’s work.
“The entire union family is grieving as are all Australians. We will never forget him.
“Solidarity and Vale Bob Hawke”.
From former PM Tony Abbott:
Statement on the death of The Hon Bob Hawke AC, GCL: pic.twitter.com/M8fzbFlVTE
Bill Shorten is speaking now in Sydney, sharing the story of his last meeting with Hawke.Bill Shorten is speaking now in Sydney, sharing the story of his last meeting with Hawke.
“Tonight the nation and Labor are in mourning. We have lost a favourite son. Bob Hawke loved Australia and Australia loved Bob Hawke. Tonight the nation and Labor are in mourning. We have lost a favourite son. Bob Hawke loved Australia and Australia loved Bob Hawke.
“His legacy will endure forever. Bob Hawke changed Australia for the better.” His legacy will endure forever. Bob Hawke changed Australia for the better.
“He brought people together, he brought Australia together, he modernised our economy, he transformed our society, he protected our environment. He brought people together, he brought Australia together, he modernised our economy, he transformed our society, he protected our environment.
“I last had the privilege of seeing Bob last week. On his back verandah, sitting out there with his beloved Blanche, supported by Craig [Emerson]. He had the sun on his face, a crossword in front of him, a cup of tea. He didn’t speak about himself to me. I last had the privilege of seeing Bob last week. On his back verandah, sitting out there with his beloved Blanche, supported by Craig [Emerson]. He had the sun on his face, a crossword in front of him, a cup of tea. He didn’t speak about himself to me.
“He did, as he always does, asked about the ALP and the election. We all loved Bob Hawke. We’ll miss him a great deal. May he rest in peace.” He did, as he always does, asked about the ALP and the election. We all loved Bob Hawke. We’ll miss him a great deal. May he rest in peace.”
In Sydney, Bill Shorten will be giving a speech in tribute to Hawke soon.In Sydney, Bill Shorten will be giving a speech in tribute to Hawke soon.
Right now, former Labor minister Craig Emerson is there reading from Blanche D’Alpuget’s statement.Right now, former Labor minister Craig Emerson is there reading from Blanche D’Alpuget’s statement.
Cassidy: “John Howard once said that no politician is popular forever. He described that as one of the great ironies of politics. I think Bob Hawke disproved that.Cassidy: “John Howard once said that no politician is popular forever. He described that as one of the great ironies of politics. I think Bob Hawke disproved that.
“People felt that, if they saw him at the football, in the races or in the street, they could say, ‘G’day Bob’ and feel they weren’t going to be shunned in any way.“People felt that, if they saw him at the football, in the races or in the street, they could say, ‘G’day Bob’ and feel they weren’t going to be shunned in any way.
“[His friend] Col Cunningham once said that they say that beer destroys the brain. Well, Bob Hawke disproved that.”“[His friend] Col Cunningham once said that they say that beer destroys the brain. Well, Bob Hawke disproved that.”
The ABC’s Barrie Cassidy, who worked as Hawke’s press secretary from 1986 to 1991, is speaking now on TV.The ABC’s Barrie Cassidy, who worked as Hawke’s press secretary from 1986 to 1991, is speaking now on TV.
“I tell you what most impressed me about him,” he said. “He wouldn’t cop racism. He just wouldn’t cop it at any level. At the very whiff of it, he’d be right on to it. I tell you what most impressed me about him. He wouldn’t cop racism. He just wouldn’t cop it at any level. At the very whiff of it, he’d be right on to it.
“When he worked with the ACTU, he led the campaign against the Springboks tour over apartheid. When he became prime minister he organised sanctions against South Africans. Years later, the foreign minister of South Africa said that was the dagger at th heart of apartheid. That’s what BobHawke did. He took it on. When he worked with the ACTU, he led the campaign against the Springboks tour over apartheid. When he became prime minister he organised sanctions against South Africans. Years later, the foreign minister of South Africa said that was the dagger at the heart of apartheid. That’s what BobHawke did. He took it on.
“There was the time when John Howard raised the issue of not just lowering immigration but reducing specifically Asian immigration. People got together in his office, he said, ‘I’m taking this on. I’m going to go into parliament and challenge this.’” There was the time when John Howard raised the issue of not just lowering immigration but reducing specifically Asian immigration. People got together in his office, he said, ‘I’m taking this on. I’m going to go into parliament and challenge this.’”
Paul Keating, Hawke’s treasurer, successor as prime minister, and political partner for much of their careers, has issued this statement:Paul Keating, Hawke’s treasurer, successor as prime minister, and political partner for much of their careers, has issued this statement:
With Bob Hawke’s passing today, the great partnership I enjoyed with him passes too. A partnership we forged with the Australian people. But what remains and what will endure from that partnership are the monumental foundations of modern Australia.With Bob Hawke’s passing today, the great partnership I enjoyed with him passes too. A partnership we forged with the Australian people. But what remains and what will endure from that partnership are the monumental foundations of modern Australia.
Bob, of course, was hoping for a Labor victory this weekend. His friends too, were hoping he would see this.Bob, of course, was hoping for a Labor victory this weekend. His friends too, were hoping he would see this.
Bob possessed a moral framework for his important public life, both representing the workers of Australia and more broadly, the country at large. He understood that imagination was central to policy-making and never lacked the courage to do what had to be done to turn that imagination into reality.Bob possessed a moral framework for his important public life, both representing the workers of Australia and more broadly, the country at large. He understood that imagination was central to policy-making and never lacked the courage to do what had to be done to turn that imagination into reality.
And that reality was the reformation of Australia’s economy and society and its place in the world.And that reality was the reformation of Australia’s economy and society and its place in the world.
No one will miss Bob more than his wife, Blanche, who very sweetly, attended his every need, particularly in these later years.No one will miss Bob more than his wife, Blanche, who very sweetly, attended his every need, particularly in these later years.
His children, Susan, Stephen and Rosslyn loved their father and were deeply committed to the precepts of his public life. Bob’s death will be an enormous loss to them and their children, of whom he was eternally proud.His children, Susan, Stephen and Rosslyn loved their father and were deeply committed to the precepts of his public life. Bob’s death will be an enormous loss to them and their children, of whom he was eternally proud.
The country is much the poorer for Bob Hawke’s passing.”The country is much the poorer for Bob Hawke’s passing.”
Susan Ryan, Labor’s first female minister and minister for women in the Hawke cabinet: “It was a great relief, as a young woman, a feminist with clear feminist objectives, to work with a man who was relaxed about women.”
The ABC are currently airing interviews with Hawke’s colleagues – recorded previously.
Former Labor leader and Hawke cabinet minister Kim Beazley: “He wanted to be prime minister, but he wanted to be prime minister for a purpose...Politicians these days are not big risk takers. He was.”
Greens founder Bob Brown spoke on Hawke’s involvement in the Franklin dam protests, commonly seen as the birthplace of the Greens.
“They were very heavy years for environmentalism,” Brown says. “And Bob Hawke was the captain of the ship.”
In 2018, the ABC broadcast a two-part series about Hawke, called The Larrikin and the Leader. Gay Alcorn wrote on it here:
'A Bob Hawke today would have never become PM. He'd have been buried'
From the current ACTU secretary Sally McManus:
The entire union movement grieves for the passing of Bob Hawke. Medicare. Superannuation. Modern Australia. Union movement hero.
On the ABC’s 7.30 just now, they are airing a tribute to Hawke – moments after running the final campaign interviews with Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten.
The opening song is, fittingly, Men At Work’s Down Under.
Last year, the program also spoke to Blanche D’Alpuget about her discussions with the former PM about his life and legacy.
“He has no fear of death and we’ve talked about it quite a lot.” An emotional Blanche d'Alpuget tells (an emotional) @leighsales how she'll cope with life after Bob Hawke. More tonight #abc730 pic.twitter.com/W8ktcaJ8Zp
And here is Bob Hawke’s life in pictures – from the hustings of his first campaign for his seat of Wills in 1980, to his marriage to Blanche D’Alpuget in 1995, to him enjoying a glass of Hawke’s Lager in 2017, all smiles.
Bob Hawke: from the campaign trail to the world stage – a life in pictures
Politicians and former colleagues across the country are paying tribute to Hawke tonight.
Former prime minister Kevin Rudd:
Bob Hawke is a giant of Australian politics. He and Paul Keating internationalised the Australian economy. He established APEC and radically deepened Australia’s engagement with Asia. He established Medicare. Together with Therese and the entire nation, I mourn his passing.
Labor MP Terri Butler:
My deepest sympathies to Bob Hawke’s family at this sad time. We are all with you, grieving the loss of a great leader of our great labour movement. Rest In Peace. After a life well-lived, you will be missed. pic.twitter.com/Q3vSEJPlxd
Greens senator for NSW Mehreen Faruqi:
Rest in Peace Mr Hawke. We owe you so much. https://t.co/FHakILbzs5
And surely many more to come.
Labor leader Bill Shorten has also paid tribute:
“The Australian people loved Bob Hawke because they knew Bob loved them, this was true to the very end,” he said in a statement.
“With his passing, the labour movement salutes our greatest son, the Labor Party gives thanks for the life of our longest-serving Prime Minister and Australians everywhere remember and honour a man who gave so much to the country and people he cared for so deeply.“We will remember and revisit the images we know so well: Bob with microphone or megaphone in one hand, the other moving in time with his words, rallying, inspiring and delighting a crowd.“Bob with head cocked, one hand grasping his earlobe, listening respectfully to an Aboriginal elder, a captain of industry, laughing with an American President or charming a local parent out doing their shopping...Or in that iconic jacket, mouth open with laughter, dodging the beer and champagne, giving his Prime Ministerial blessing to a national sickie.
“Every Australian carries a monument to Bob Hawke with them, their Medicare card. A green-and-gold promise that the health of any one of us, matters to all of us.
“He knew he was loved, right to the end. We honour him. We will remember him. In solidarity, forever. May he rest in peace.”
Hawke died peacefully in his Sydney home, and a public memorial service will be held in the coming weeks, his wife Blanche d’Alpuget said in a statement.
“Today we lost Bob Hawke, a great Australian – many would say the greatest Australian of the post-war era,” d’Alpuget said.
“I and Bob’s children, Sue, Stephen, Rosslyn and stepson, Louis, and his grandchildren, will hold a private funeral. A memorial service will be held in Sydney in coming weeks.
“Among his proudest achievements were large increases in the proportion of children finishing high school, his role in ending apartheid in South Africa, and his successful international campaign to protect Antarctica from mining.
“He abhorred racism and bigotry. His father, the Reverend Clem Hawke, told Bob that if you believed in the Fatherhood of God then you must also believe in the Brotherhood of Man. Bob would add today the Sisterhood of Women.
“Bob was dearly loved by his family, and so many friends and colleagues. We will miss him.
“The golden bowl is broken.”
Bob Hawke, Australia’s longest serving Labor prime minister and widely seen as a popular ‘larrikin’ figure even into his old age, has passed away.
Hawke led the Labor party to victory in four consecutive elections from 1983, leading a transformative period in Australia during which the government established Medicare, Landcare and superannuation schemes, deregulated the financial industry and floated the Australian dollar. He set up the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, and investigated but never managed a treaty with Indigenous Australia.
He served until he was ousted from the leadership by his then treasurer Paul Keating in 1991.
The former union official was elected to federal parliament in 1980 as the MP for Wills in Victoria. He successfully challenged for the Labor leadership on 3 February 1983, 20 minutes after prime minister Malcolm Fraser called a federal election.
He was considered a charismatic and forthright politician, with an upfront and unscripted manner, a renowned drinker, brutally honest if not always likeable.