Australia’s lost a grand leader

THERE will never be another Bob Hawke nor a prime minister like him.

He was a larrikin. He was a gifted orator. He was a great leader. He was a people’s prime minister. He was Labor’s best prime minister.

He had personality and passion by the schooner-loads.

He led Labor to victory four times between 1983-1991, making him the most electorally successful Labor leader.

The Hawke government created Medicare and Landcare, brokered the Prices and Incomes Accord, established APEC, floated the Australian dollar, deregulated the financial sector, introduced the Family Assistance Scheme, announced Advance Australia Fair as the official national anthem, initiated superannuation pension schemes for all workers and oversaw passage of the Australia Act that removed all remaining jurisdiction by the United Kingdom from Australia.

Mr Hawke loved a beer and famously entered the world record books after sinking a yard glass of beer in under 12 seconds during his time at Oxford University.

But he was flawed. His drinking and infidelity wrecked his first marriage to Hazel Hawke and also created a strained relationship with his three children which was later reconciled.

Mr Hawke called a spade, a spade, never shied away from a fight and just loved Australia and the Australian people.

Of note, while he was prime minister, the seat of Leichhardt was held by Labor. First by John Gayler (10 years) and then Peter Dodd.

Perhaps one of his legacies is that his death two days before today’s federal poll may just help Labor get over the line. Nick Dalton Deputy editor