Vale Bill Hayden, a complex high achiever who helped shape Australia
Moody and often difficult, Bill Hayden nevertheless played a major role in ushering in post-war reform, including the opening up of the economy, Medicare and Australia’s engagement with Asia.
Bill Hayden, a former ALP leader, foreign minister, treasurer, governor-general and the original architect of Medicare, has died after a long illness. He was 90.
Rising from humble beginnings, Hayden stumbled at the last political hurdle and failed to climb to the top of electoral politics. But he had a remarkable influence over the shaping of modern Australia.
Andrew ClarkSenior writerAndrew Clark is a former editor of The Sun-Herald and Australian Business. He was a correspondent in Europe and North America, a political correspondent in Canberra and has been a journalist for more than 55 years. Email Andrew at aclark@afr.com.au
