'His legacy will endure forever': Tributes flow for Bob Hawke who has died aged 89
His wife, Blanche d'Alpuget, has confirmed that the former Labor prime minister died on Thursday.
Leaders from across the political spectrum have paid tribute to former prime minister Bob Hawke, who has died aged 89.
Labor's longest-serving prime minister, who led Australia from 1983-1991, died at his Sydney home on Thursday.
In a statement, his wife Blanche d'Alpuget said, "Today we lost Bob Hawke, a great Australian - many would say the greatest Australian of the post-war era".
Former prime minister Bob Hawke died at his home in Sydney, aged 89.
AAP
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Mr Hawke was "one of Australia's great prime ministers and certainly Labor's greatest prime minister".
"His achievements will be spoken of in the days ahead but the thing Australians will remember most about him was the bloke," he told reporters.
Bob Hawke was a great Australian who led and served our country with passion, courage, and an intellectual horsepower that made our country stronger.
He was true to his beliefs in the Labor tradition and defined the politics of his generation and beyond.
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"He made Australia stronger through his contribution to public life. He had a great intellect. He had enormous passion and he had courage."
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said "the nation and Labor are in mourning".
"We have lost a favourite son," he told reporters.
"Bob Hawke loved Australia and Australia loved Bob Hawke. But his legacy will endure forever. Bob Hawke changed Australia for the better.
"He brought people together, he brought Australia together, he modernised our economy, he transformed our society, he protected our environment."
Former prime minister Bob Hawke.
AAP
Ms d'Alpuget will hold a private funeral with his children Sue, Stephen, Rosslyn and stepson, Louis, and his grandchildren.
A memorial service for Australia's 23rd prime minister will be held in Sydney in coming weeks.
Bob Hawke on election night in 1983.
AAP
Mr Hawke's death comes just days before the federal election, something he predicted in December he would not see because of ill health.
Mr Keating said Mr Hawke had been hoping for a Labor victory this weekend.
"In what was our last collaboration, Bob and I were delighted to support Bill Shorten last week in recounting the rationale we employed in opening Australia to the world," he said.
"The country is much the poorer for Bob Hawke's passing."
Former prime ministers Paul Keating and Bob Hawke
AAP
In their statements, both Mr Keating and Mr Shorten championed Mr Hawke's policy-making and its lasting impact on modern Australia.
It was a sentiment echoed by Ms d'Alpuget.
"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," she said.
"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."
Bob Hawke and US President Ronald Reagan.
AAP
Tributes have been flowing on social media.
Former Labor leaders Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard said he forever changed Australia for the better.
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.
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Bob Hawke was the greatest peacetime leader Australia has ever had.
As a teenager Bob inspired me, as a PM he guided me.
I will miss him. I wish so very much that Bob had been able to see one more election day.
My condolences to Blanche, his children and grandchildren.
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There was also praise from across the aisle.
But former prime minister Tony Abbott said "you might almost say he had a Labor heart, but a Liberal head".
Farewell Bob Hawke a great Australian, Labor leader and reforming Prime Minister. Australia is a better place because of him. Lucy and I send our love and condolences to Blanche and all of his family.
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Many Labor luminaries paid their respects in deeply personal terms.
My words are not enough to express who Bob Hawke was to our movement, and our country. A Labor giant, a beloved Australian. Labor governments change the country. None more so than his.
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A Labor Legend has passed tonight - Bob Hawke showed us how to govern and transformed modern Labor #Respect
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The Bob Hawke I admired was the man who saved the Franklin, the Daintree, Kakadu and protected Antarctica from mining. The Bob Hawke I befriended and laughed with every New Year’s Eve was a fellow music fan with Blanche every summer at Woodford Folk Festival. What a life!
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To think of Bob Hawke is to smile. He always lifted spirits. Bob inspired awe - he changed Australia, modernised our economy; created Medicare, superannuation; protected our environment. Bob always stood up for working people, always. He is a hero & legend.
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The Greens founder remembered Mr Hawke's decisive role in saving Tasmania's Franklin River from a proposed dam.
Vale Bob Hawke, the Prime Minister whose first act was to save Tasmania's wild Franklin River. Bob presided over World Heritage listing of the Daintree Wet Tropics, more of Kakadu, Shark Bay, doubling Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage as well as world-leading Landcare.
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And other famous names also mourned for "a great man".
Bob Hawke has died.
A great man who made this country confident.
A great man who never lost his humility.
Guinness book of records 1954 , 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds.
Rhodes Scholar.
Trade Union Leader.
Prime Minister.
Statesman.
Thanks for everything
Mr Hawke.
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