An expensive frivolity such as Bob Hawke & I'm in no way linking this to the office of PM, is really not worthy of being brought up on a fine forum like OLO.

Dear Ludwig,

It's all very subjective isn't it?

Still the facts do remain and historians have to look at things
in context. According to the link listed below Bob Hawke is
considered as, "One of the 20th Centuries most notable
Prime Ministers (1983-1991) and a great conciliator nationally
and abroad."

The Hawke Centre at the University of South Australia has as
the link tells us, "been named in honour of his contribution to the
nation and its focus on civil society issues which reflects
some of the themes of the Hawke eraa that remain relevant today
in Australian life."

They list Bob Hawke's determination to persuade Australians of the
need to see their society and economy in a global context.

Bob Hawke's achievements are listed as follows:

The Economy:
1) 1983 Wages Accord improved economic growth without inflation.
2) Modernised the National Economy, integrated it into the
global economy and diversified Australia's export base.
3) Comprehensive tax reform reducing the top marginal rate and
introducing capital gains tax.

Environment:
1) Stopped the Tasmanian Gordon-below-Franklin dam project.
2) The World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983 gave
the Commonwealth control over state Heritage sites.

Global Initiatives:
1) Developed closer ties with the US, Russia, China, Japan,
and SE Asia.
2) Supported international pressure on South Africa to
overturn its apartheid regime.
3) Established APEC - the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation
Forum.

Social Security:
1) Established Medicare.
2) Improved Social Security benefits to the children of
low-income families.

Equity:
1) Outlawed Sex Discrimination in the workforce.
2) Established the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Commission (ATSIC) as the peak national policy and
admin. agency for Indigenous Australians.

Education:
Reformed Australia's Education Training and University System.

And the list goes on.

http://w3.unisa.edu.au/hawkecentre/legacy/

Foxy,
That wish list never really made it past becoming an idealist policy. There was no long-term positive outcome.

Dear Individual,

Which particular policy are you referring to exactly?
Because the ones listed certainly did have very positive
outcomes - and even today many people are taking things
like Medicare for granted. So your sweeping statements
don't quite add up.

In Foxy's world, Hawke would be reviled as sexist and misogynist if he was on the other side as she sees it. The hate mail would be arriving by the truck loads.

Hawke's behaviour is an affront to men. Not because of any idiotic accusations of sexism that feminist dinosaurs like Foxy might level at men they don't like, but because he is an egocentric, borish, drunk and a gambler.

It is simply amazing how many ex-Labor PMs are multi-millionaires despite their humble origins and poor life and business decisions. It is miraculous. Maybe Belly and Foxy can explain how that works. It would help them to give up Centrelink.

Speaking broadly of ex-PMs, I do not see why the taxpayer should be stumping up for anything more than their very generous superannuation. Why should we be paying out for expensive offices in the cbd of a capital city, for instance?

Hawke will always remain a tax payer funded clown. He was the puppet while Keating worked the magic.