On the passing of Bob Hawke, the best Labor PM, one must remember not only his social reforms but his economic reforms in lowering taxes and opening the economy. Bill Shorten is trying to do pretty much the opposite while still laying claim to his legacy.

Hawke was the only Labor PM in the past 50 years.

Trying to score a political point with the election only a day away Shadow. "Shorten is no Bob Hawke". The Silver Bodgie had the runs on the board, Shorten is yet to step into the top job and prove himself. According to you its a Coalition victory tomorrow, so he wont get the chance.

Lovem' or hatem' at least the Labor Party and their leaders will get in there and have a go. Unlike the Frasers, Howards, Abbotts, Turnbulls and Morrisons, members of the Do Nothing Party with do nothing leaders.

Bill Shorten has much in common with Bob Hawke.
Shorten's trade union background is an asset,
just as it was for Bob Hawke. It gives Bill
Shorten the experience to achieve consensus with
business, unions, and community-based organisations
for the challenges that lie ahead.

The former PM Bob Hawke even wrote a letter urging
voters to back Bill Shorten and his team on
Saturday.

Mr Hawke pointed out that Mr Shorten's front bench
was the best Labor team since the one he led in the
1980s and that they were the only party offering
stability (and genuine policies).

We've seen how over the past six years the Liberals
have had 3 leaders - Labor has had one, and 3
treasurers - while Labor has had one Shadow Treasurer.

As Hawke stated - "Ïf you can't govern yourselves. You
can't govern the country."

Bob Hawke also endorsed Labor's economic plan early on.

We've seen the mess, the in-fighting, the non-achievement,
party members leaving in droves, that is the Liberal
Party today. Trust has been broken for the voters.

It is time for a change - and giving a stable, united team
with an experienced negotiator as a leader a chance to
prove their worth a go. To continue to back the same
disunified party whose only talent appears to be that of
attack - would be insane. You expect different results
from a party doing the same thing over and over again.

I had a lot of time for Bob Hawke, even though he was a drunk and a faithless husband, and Labor. He was the sort of bloke it was hard not to like; and he was a good PM who believed in things (unlike the current pair of chimps). These chimps can't be compared with him. They are completely lacking in personality; they are not fair dinkum, like Bob was (politically). They are are there for themselves. They are just no damn good, and they never will be.

In my lifetime, there have been only two good Prime Minister's. Bob Menzies and Bob Hawke. Neither would last two minutes today, and that is a sad reflection on our dumbed-down, uncaring society.

I think Hawke was the only politician who had a fair idea what the original Labor doctrine was all about & I don't think he envisaged the ALP's hand-out mentality !