So apologies straight up, I’ve had the flu since last week so been way less active than my norm.
Today was election day here in the land downunder, I went late this afternoon and avoided a long wait but there was still a bit of a crowd. Only three of the factions had reps handing out their flyers when I got there, the Australian Labor Party/Country Labor Party rep (we had a quick word on my way out), Adam Blakester’s (I) rep, and two for the Barmy Army as they choose to (appropriately) call themselves for the Coalition’s darling Barnaby Joyce. The Barmy army avoided me, I think they’ve learned to steer clear since I’ve made it clear before I’d seen vote for roadkill than Joyce the only pro to him winning would be a leadership spill in the National party with him trying to get back in as deputy PM I’m seriously hoping Yvonne Langenberg (ALP) or Adam Blakester pick up the seat, heck I’d even settle for the Greens’ Tony Lonergan. We’ll see in a few days when the counting is done what happens though, but of the 8 running for the Division of New England, they're the best we've got (heck there's one of the others up on common assault charges in her township). I'll keep an eye on it myself but here's the tally room for anyone interested (this is federal and both houses with 35 parties I think I counted above the line earlier), as voting has only closed about an hour ago it'll be a while.
So I got sad news late Thursday early Friday, the PM of my childhood Bob Hawke the single most decent man I’ve seen in that office, has passed on. At 89 Bob Hawke was survived by his wife Blanche, 3 of his children from his first marriage, step-son Louis, and grandchildren. Now the man was for many years a heavy drinker (in part because Hazel and he had lost one child) and a womanizer (hence Blanche). But in office he was a champion, reinstituting Whitlam’s Medibank (that Fraser [LP]) had scuppered on gaining the lodge as Medicare, instituted superannuation, expanded the Community Youth Support Scheme (training and job search support for high school leavers), and expanded the welfare safety net increasing public housing access, faster assessment of unemployed etc. There was also an HIV health campaign and efforts towards better treatment of Aborigines prior to the Mabo court decision which would in establishing native land title render most of that discussion moot.
So what does big ears Tony Abbott (LP) go and do when he gets the news that Australia’s favourite former PM had died? Does he politely give condolences to the widow and the rest of the family… nah not our boy budgie smugglers.
There’s room to criticise some of the man’s legislation, but half-term tone-deaf Tone strikes again. He has managed to turn the death of former PMs and spouses repeatedly into backhanded compliments and political footballs. I’m annoyed this was one of those times, conversely Bill Shorten’s letter to the ALP faithful was far more poignant and reminiscent of his own tweet on the death of Hawke.
It is with a heavy heart that I write to you about the passing of Bob Hawke, Australia’s 23rd Prime Minister.
The Australian people loved Bob because they knew Bob loved them, this was true to the very end.
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.
In coming days and weeks our nation will give its tribute to a leader and statesman who inspired such profound affection and admiration, such loyalty and love among so many.
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.
Maybe in the stands, eyes fixed on the track, creased and folded form guide in hand, ticking off another winner.
Or in that iconic jacket, mouth open with laughter, dodging the beer and champagne, giving his Prime Ministerial blessing to a national sickie.
Those images will always be with us, the words to accompany them will pour in from across the country and around the world.
But the most powerful and enduring tributes to Bob Hawke are not words or pictures, they are found all around us.
World-class universities, where places are earned on merit not purchased by privilege.
Children from working-class families who finish school. Less than 3 in 10 kids did that when Bob came to office, 8 in 10 when he left.
A modern, outward-looking, competitive economy, built around the principle that working and middle class people must be fairly rewarded for their efforts.
A system dedicated to the idea that growth is stronger when it is shared, when wages and living standards rise and a generous safety net catches those who fall on hard times.
A country where tourists and locals alike share the wonders of the Daintree, or ride the rapids of the Franklin.
An Australia at home in Asia, a voice heard and respected in the councils of the world.
Acountry that steps up and plays its part, keeping peace in the Middle East, keeping Antarctica safe for science.
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.
As President of the ACTU, Bob was the champion of unpopular causes:
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The right of unions to organise and bargain.
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Opposing French nuclear testing in the Pacific.
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Opposing the war in Vietnam.
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Opposing Apartheid and defending Nelson Mandela, when conservatives were branding him a terrorist.
He was a leader of conviction – and a builder of consensus. But for Bob, consensus and co-operation never meant pursuing the lowest common denominator.
Bringing the country together never meant presenting people with the soft option, or taking the nation down the low road or the lazy path of least resistance.
Bob and the brilliant cabinet he chaired so assuredly didn’t demand consensus or capitulate to it, they built it: through leadership, through persuasion, through Bob’s special connection with the Australian people that he nurtured and treasured.
After he left politics, Bob’s innate appreciation for Australians’ aspirations made him a wonderful source of advice and inspiration for his successors.
Hewas always generous with his time, and well into his ninth decade, remained a star performer at every Labor gathering he attended. No night was complete without his rendition of “Solidarity Forever”.
In Australian history, in Australian politics, there will always be B.H. and A.H: Before Hawke and After Hawke.
After Hawke, we were a different country.
A kinder, better, bigger and bolder country.
His brilliant, incomparable partnership with Paul Keating transformed our economy.
His deep friendship and co-operation with Bill Kelty gave us the national Accord and the social wage.
In our region, conscientiously, sensitively and with deep humility, he engaged the leaders and people of Asia.
He knew that Australia’s future depended on making peace with our past, through true and lasting Reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
And he understood the duty we all have to preserve our natural heritage, to protect the environmental treasures we hold on trust for future generations.
Of course, to honour Bob is to pay tribute to Blanche, his chronicler, companion, confidante, and champion. Their love for each other shone through everything.
Blanche is in our hearts today, so too are Bob’s children, Sue, Stephen, Rosslyn, his stepson Louis and his grandchildren.
At our Labor launch I told Bob we loved him, I promised we would win for him. I said the same to him the next day at his home, when I visited.
It was Monday 6 May, the Sydney sun was out, that famous silver mane, now snow-white. Cigar in hand, strawberry milkshake on the table, the hefty bulk of his dictionary holding down the day’s cryptic crossword.
I gave the man who inspired me to go into politics a gentle hug, Itried to tell him what he meant to me, what he meant to all of us.
I couldn’t quite find the right words, few of us can, when we’re face-to-face with our heroes.
But Bob knew.
He knew what he meant to Australia, he knew what he had achieved for the country.
He knew he was loved, right to the end.
We honour him.
We will remember him.
In solidarity, forever.
Mayhe rest in peace.
-Bill
Vale Bob Hawke.
In unrelated news, I heard earlier that unfortunately Tardar Sauce aka Grumpy Cat has passed over the rainbow bridge due to a UTI, sorry to all the peeps out there.
Hawke was likeable, and Tardar was by all accounts a sweetheart, what a cruddy week.