Thousands honour former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke at state memorial

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Thousands honour former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke at state memorial

 

FILE PHOTO: Australia's former prime minister Bob Hawke gives a speech at the Labor Party's federal election campaign launch event in Brisbane August 16, 2010. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/File photo

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Thousands of people gathered at Australia's Sydney Opera House on Friday as a state memorial honoured former prime minister Bob Hawke, a transformative and charismatic left-wing lawmaker, who died last month aged 89.

 

Hawke, who served as Australian prime minister from 1983 to 1991, enjoyed extraordinary popularity throughout and after leaving office largely due to his loveable rogue character.

 

"Bob, your record is honoured, your legacy is secure and your country will be forever grateful," said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

 

Belying his trade union connections before being elected to parliament, Hawke ushered in a wave of economic deregulation that turned around an economy languishing in recession and with double-digit unemployment and inflation.

 

The reforms triggered strong economic growth, allowing Hawke to introduce universal healthcare, strengthen social security for poor families and enact stronger environmental legislation.

 

Unable to secure a ticket for the memorial, hundreds of people watched the proceedings on a big television screen outside the Sydney Opera House.

 

"I think we all owe Bob a huge debt and gratitude for our country," a man who gave his name as George from Wollongong, 86km (53 miles) south of Sydney, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

 

"I think we're the luckiest people in the world to have a prime minister like that."

 

(Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by Michael Perry)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-06-14

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[RJRS1301]

Oh the irony, they performed the Hallelujah Chorus at his memorial. Great for an avowed atheist , ????

Great music  though, and he was a music lover, just struck me as ironic. 

 

 

[user68677878]

RIP Larrikin-a bloke who truly loved his country and wasn't changed by the top job.

He also had the ability of sinking a yard glass of beer in under 12 seconds.

[RJRS1301]

2 minutes ago, porphyry said:

RIP Larrikin-a bloke who truly loved his country and wasn't changed by the top job.

He also had the ability of sinking a yard glass of beer in under 12 seconds.

Also highly intelligent, and believed in co-operacy and gaining consensus of his advisors and the electorate.

 

[Cats4ever]

Good bye Hawkie - you set an admirable path forward. You weren't perfect, but you did a bloody good job for many years.

[madmen]

Larrikin !

 

 

[RJRS1301]

2 minutes ago, Cats4ever said:

Good bye Hawkie - you set an admirable path forward. You weren't perfect, but you did a bloody good job for many years.

Pity that's from Keating onwards the path has taken a nasty turn to the far right, and the though of consensus is non existant

[Jonnapat]

A politician who changed his country for the better, unlike the idiots in power today in much of the world. 

Fully deserved his sendoff.

[Jonnapat]

1 hour ago, RJRS1301 said:

Pity that's from Keating onwards the path has taken a nasty turn to the far right, and the though of consensus is non existant

Exactly like the UK .

[ThaiFelix]

A bloody good bloke........one of the boys and he never forgot it.  RIP Bob.

[Lacessit]

It's interesting that as  Labor politicians, Hawke and Keating did more to reform the Australian economy than any succeeding Liberal politicians.

Hawke did have his flaws. He also was able to achieve consensus on many issues. His accolades now are well deserved.

[TPI]

17 hours ago, RJRS1301 said:

Pity that's from Keating onwards the path has taken a nasty turn to the far right, and the though of consensus is non existant

Keating is a swine, his policies destroyed 80% of Australia's manufacturing capacity, by the time he was finished there wasn't a "white goods" (washing machines, irons, heaters etc...) manufacturer left in the country!

[RJRS1301]

58 minutes ago, TPI said:

Keating is a swine, his policies destroyed 80% of Australia's manufacturing capacity, by the time he was finished there wasn't a "white goods" (washing machines, irons, heaters etc...) manufacturer left in the country!

We are not discussing Keating, my comment was since Keating, the thread is about RJL Hawke.

I have attached some reading for you though about tariffs and the lead up to the Button Plan

 

https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp9900/2000RP07