Blanche D’Alpuget tells of Bob Hawke’s ‘great regret’ over broken treaty promise to Yunupingu

In a pro-voice message marking 35 years since the historic 1988 Barunga Statement, Blanche D’Alpuget, the widow of the former PM, said ‘Bob would want Australians to’.

Yunupingu with Bob Hawke at Garma in 2014. Picture: Peter Eve

Bob Hawke’s widow, Blanche D’Alpuget, says his “greatest disappointment” as prime minister was that he failed to deliver the recognition and treaty he promised to the late land rights giant, Yunupingu, 35 years ago at Barunga.

On the lands of the Bagala people, outside Katherine in the Northern Territory, where Mr Hawke pledged a treaty in 1988, Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney read a message from Ms D’Alpuget.

Bob Hawke with a young Galarrwuy Yunupingu 35 years ago in Barunga for the signing of the treaty. Picture: Clive Hyde

The message to the Bagala people says: “There are many joys but also many tears in politics.

Bob once said to me, ‘Yunupingu is a soul in torment. He grieves for his people.’ Bob grieved too.

“His greatest disappointment as prime minister was that he could not deliver his promise to Yunupingu with the indigenous people of Australia – for recognition.”

Mr Hawke lost the prime ministership to Paul Keating in 1991.

“He loved Yunupingu and grieved that he’d let him down,” Ms D’Alpuget said in her message read aloud by Ms Burney on Friday.

The late Bob Hawke with Blanche D'Alpuget in 2016. Picture: Britta Campion

“Now, all these decades later, the voice gives a chance for joy and celebration for the spirits of these two great men.

“Bob would want Australians to”.

At the Barunga Festival on Friday, Ms Burney is due to receive an updated version of the historic 1988 Barunga Statement that called for recognition and treaty.

The new Barunga Declaration will be signed by about 200 delegates from four northern land councils.

It is an affirmation of their support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart which calls for an Indigenous voice to parliament, treaty and truth telling.