Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke has died in his Sydney home, aged 89.
The Labor legend led the country from 1983 to 1991, making him the party’s longest-serving Prime Minister.
“Today we lost Bob Hawke, a great Australian – many would say the greatest Australian of the post-war era,” his wife Blanche d’Alpuget said in a statement.
“Bob was dearly loved by his family, and so many friends and colleagues. We will miss him.
“The golden bowl is broken.”
The labour movement salutes our greatest son.
Australians everywhere remember and honour a man who gave so much to the country and people he cared for so deeply.
May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/NzKwxW1e4X
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) May 16, 2019
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.
— Kevin Rudd (@MrKRudd) May 16, 2019
Bob Hawke’s larrikin personality won hearts – and four federal elections – none more so than when he declared “any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum” after Australia won the America’s Cup.
Hawke had been battling illness in recent months. His family said he died peacefully at home and a private funeral and a public memorial service will held.
“Bob Hawke and Paul Keating and their governments modernised the Australian economy, paving the way for an unprecedented period of recession-free economic growth and job creation,” Blanche d’Alpuget’s statement said.
“Bob’s consensus-style approach of bringing together the trade union movement and the business community boosted job opportunities while increasing the social wage through Medicare and extra financial support for low-income families.
“Together with his highly talented cabinets, he foresaw the Asian Century and positioned Australia to take full advantage of it through a program of sweeping economic reforms.
“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.”