Bob Hawke was famous for drinking beer at record speed, which every Australian seems to know. But the reason he is a national hero is because his life was not defined by drinking beer at record speed.
What problems? The greatest was Australia's slow but unmistakeable decline into national poverty. The founder of modern Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, in the 1980s said that Australians were destined to become "the poor white trash of Asia". He was right. Since federation, Australian industry had hidden behind a protective wall of tariffs. These shielded it from international competition. The fixed exchange rate of the dollar was another way that uncompetitive businesses were cosseted.Part of the deal was that these protected businesses would then share some of their undeserved profits by paying uniform wage rises across the board according to a national wage arbitration, whether they were justified or not.
But they did, and in return the government crafted a new "social wage" to help ease the pain for ordinary people. The creation of universal health care, otherwise known as Medicare, was a part of it. The introduction of compulsory superannuation was another. But, together with Keating, he did. Keating played the hard man of the duo while Hawke was everyone's mate, winning elections while the hard work went on.
And they dealt squarely with the big environmental issues of their time. Blocking the building of the destructive Franklin River dam in Tasmania, preserving the Daintree rainforest in Queensland, working out compromises to preserve the Kakadu wetlands in the NT while allowing limited uranium mining, among others.
A Labor frontbencher privately remarked that Hawke's death on Thursday, two days before a federal election, was "Bob's last favour" to Labor. Perhaps. But Hawke would have been happier if the timing were taken as the opportunity for political and national reflection, all round.
Clearly not. They just rejected a policy package of reform. Auspol
Hawke wasn't the reformer, Keating was, Hawke, undoubtedly a great leader, was more opportunist than reformer.
FatherBob Instead LiberalAus The_Nationals LNPQLD AustralianLabor give auspol voters CardboardCutouts & the rest charlatans Election politics
More men, less soy boys and manly women.
We won’t get another Hawke reformist this election
Great cartoon love it like Bob
Exactly. And the current mob IN ALL PARTIES certainly don’t fit this.
... and Bill Shorton ain’t no Bob Hawke.
The irony of this is blatant. It’s the media themselves that will never allow a politician to be reformist or to break free from blandness. They crucify, ridicule and tear apart. They would never allow someone like Bob Hawke to breakthrough today.
Hawke is a once in a lifetime soul god bless him😢 Ya wouldn't feed the majority of these politicians let alone employ them😂😂
Aust needs more Whitlams & Haydens, not Hawkes. Privatizations, deregulations & higher education fees were negative & then LNP further severely harmed medicare, where it no longer functions normally. Since Hawke Aust has poor services for high costs (with private/public orgs).
Commentators like Hartcher just love a leftist government, so they can relentlessly go unchecked. You think their bias is rank now wait until Bill gets the keys & see the trash that will spew out of them.
It's one thing to call for more reformers as SMH has but when politicians stick their necks out, like Labor has with franking credits, press should support change, vision and growth, rather than simply be critical
You will never see his like again. He wouldn’t win this election because the PC brigade would drag him down. Social media would destroy him about his past indiscretions. Sad but true.
We have embraced too much reform. Even Marxist dialectic could be adapted to support a return to tradition and patriotism. Gender driven Marxist feminists will now implode.
and less unskilled migrants
WhatWouldBobDo
Another labor propaganda article 🤫
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Hawke ‘man who made modern Australia’ says BeazleyWestern Australia Governor Kim Beazley has eulogised Bob Hawke as a man who 'made modern Australia'. 9News Kim Beazley was the best PM we never had. Would have been a legend. You were legend as well, Kim Beazley. The golden years of politics in Australia’s history. Proud that I was there to watch it and learn. Surprised Kim hasn’t walked away from the gender driven, feminist obsessed, pill-testing Labor Party.
Source: 9NewsAUS - 🏆 10. / 72 Read more »
Australia loved Bob Hawke, his legacy will endure forever: Shorten | Sky News AustraliaLabor leader Bill Shorten has made a statement standing in front of the Sydney Opera House, giving his condolences on behalf of the Labor party to the family of former prime minister Bob Hawke, who died peacefully on Thursday at the age of 89.\n\nMr Shorten said that Hawke’s legacy will endure forever, changing Australia for the better and bringing people together.\n\nThe Opposition leader says the last time he saw Hawke was last week on his verandah, with his beloved Blanche, a crossword in front of him and drinking a cup of tea.\n\nImage: News Corp Australia\n\n\n billshortenmp 💔 billshortenmp This - always this. billshortenmp Hope the Queen of Australia is present at his funeral!!!
Source: SkyNewsAust - 🏆 7. / 78 Read more »
Australia loved Bob Hawke, his legacy will endure forever: Shorten | Sky News AustraliaLabor leader Bill Shorten has made a statement standing in front of the Sydney Opera House, giving his condolences on behalf of the Labor party to the family of former prime minister Bob Hawke, who died peacefully on Thursday at the age of 89.\n\nMr Shorten said that Hawke’s legacy will endure forever, changing Australia for the better and bringing people together.\n\nThe Opposition leader said the last time he saw Hawke was last week on his verandah, with his beloved Blanche, a crossword in front of him and drinking a cup of tea.\n\nImage: News Corp Australia\n\n\n I voted for Bob back in the 80s when I first started voting, now days I would never vote Labor they have moved so far to the hard left 4 terms. Bronwyns first speech was abolute black hearted venom.
Source: SkyNewsAust - 🏆 7. / 78 Read more »
Live: 'The labour movement salutes our greatest son': Australia reacts to Bob Hawke's deathFollow our live coverage as Australia reacts to this news, two days out from the federal election. A fuckin legend. (Apologies for the language but I don't think he would have been too offended). Bill Shorten will never be good enough to shine his shoes.. skolforHawkie ripBobHawke
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Nine ways Bob Hawke's government changed AustraliaAs prime minister for almost nine years, Bob Hawke brought in major economic and environmental reforms that endure to this day. No mention of HECS at all? Students carry a massive debt now thanks to that one. Extraordinary reforms Settle down ABC.
Source: abcnews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »
YouTubeWhat about the Rudd /Gilard legacy LOL ....beating the drum of the mad progressive labor party ..fair and balanced 'fake news'
Source: abcnews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »
Bob Hawke has died aged 89 | Sky News AustraliaFormer Labor prime minister Bob Hawke has died at the age of 89.\n\nIn a statement released by his wife Blanche D’Alpuget, she said Hawke passed away peacefully at home in his sleep.\n\nA memorial service will be held in Sydney in the coming weeks.\n\nImage: News Corp Australia\n\n RIP Hawkey A giant of Australian politics who’s legacy lives on to this day. Here we go...he'll Now be worshipped because he's dead.
Source: SkyNewsAust - 🏆 7. / 78 Read more »
Shorten’s union links an ‘asset’, not a ‘liability’: Bob Hawke | Sky News AustraliaBob Hawke has backed Bill Shorten in a letter that counters the Coalition’s attacks portraying his trade unionist background as a drawback. \n\nIn the former Labor prime minister’s letter, he writes that the Opposition leader's background is an ‘asset’, not a ‘liability’. \n\nHe says, ‘it gives him the experience to achieve consensus with business, unions and community-based organisations for the challenges that lie ahead.’ \n\nMr Shorten will be addressing a business breakfast in Perth on Wednesday morning, where he is expected to announce plans for an organisation that would stand alongside the Fair Work Commission to accelerate judgements on wage theft.\n\nImage: supplied\n\n\n\n\n No Bob, your union links were an asset to you. You're getting confused in your old age. Remember the old saying quit while your ahead......... Wow! Stop the press this is news, who would have thought?
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Australia grieves over death of Bob Hawke.billshortenmp has issued a statement following the passing of former PM BobHawke: “The Australian people loved Bob Hawke because they knew Bob loved them. This was true to the very end.” Have to agree and would go one step further!
Source: newscomauHQ - 🏆 9. / 77 Read more »
Bob Hawke has died aged 89 | Sky News AustraliaFormer Labor prime minister Bob Hawke has died at the age of 89.\n\nIn a statement released by his wife Blanche D’Alpuget, she said Hawke passed away peacefully at home in his sleep.\n\nA memorial service will be held in Sydney in the coming weeks.\n\nImage: News Corp Australia\n\n DavidCrisafulli Well I’m part of the nation and he didn’t capture my heart or mind...however. DavidCrisafulli Bob Hawke was a national icon who modernized many aspects of Australia. Even his political opponents respected him. Bill Shorten is not Bob Hawk Mark II, but a reckless left wing nation wrecker.
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Medicare, pathway to Asia and fighting apartheid: How Bob Hawke’s government changed AustraliaBob Hawke said his work to end apartheid in South Africa was one of his proudest achievements. SBS News takes a look back at Australia's longest serving Labor prime minister and his legacy. That worked out well
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