‘He spoke to all Australians as one’: Scott Morrison pays tribute to Bob Hawke

Scott Morrison says the late Bob Hawke was a “conviction politician who became a political legend”.

Bob Hawke speaks at an export summit organised by the SA Exporters' Association and the SA Chamber of Commerce at the Hotel Adelaide in 1986. Picture: File/John Burdett

Scott Morrison has paid tribute to Mr Hawke as a “conviction politician who became a political legend”.

“Bob Hawke was a great Australian who led and served our country with passion, courage, and an intellectual horsepower that made our country stronger,” the Prime Minister said.

“He was true to his beliefs in the Labor tradition and defined the politics of his generation and beyond.

“He was the most electorally-successful Federal Labor leader in history: the winner of four successive elections and the longest-serving Labor prime minister.”

Mr Morrison said Mr Hawke was a consensus leader as president of the ACTU, as well as prime minister.

“We remember him for his unique capacity to speak to all Australians as one — from everyday battlers to business leaders. His larrikinism was a big part of that,” Mr Morrison said.

“His popularity, coupled with his strong intellect and discipline, achieved many important reforms in the national interest, strongly supported by the Liberal and Nationals opposition at the time.

“On behalf of all Australians, I extend to Mr Hawke’s widow Blanche and to his family, our deepest condolences, and acknowledge the support and contribution of the late Hazel Hawke.”

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“It was Bob Hawke who changed our national anthem to say ‘Australians all let us rejoice’ and tonight …I think we can all say as Australians, that we rejoice in the life of Bob Hawke,” the Prime Minister said.

“We thank him for his service to our nation and we pray now that he rest in peace. Thank you, Bob.”

Mr Morrison said Mr Hawke was one of Australia’s great prime ministers, and argued he was Labor’s best prime minister.

“His achievements will be spoken of in the days ahead but the thing Australians will remember most about him was the bloke,” Mr Morrison said.

“He made Australia stronger through his contribution to public life. He had a great intellect. He had enormous passion and he had courage. That was able to sustain him in being the longest serving Labor prime minister of all time.

“But it was his ability to connect with everyday Australians: with a word, with that larrikin wit, with that connection and an understanding of everyday Australian life that we will most remember Bob Hawke.”