“Hawke was a deeply flawed man whose behaviour would not be tolerated today”

Troy Bramston’s new biography of Bob Hawke doesn’t shy away from Hawke’s personal flaws. See the story in today’s cover story.

While reading Troy Bramston’s new biography on Bob Hawke, it became impossible to avoid comparisons with politics today. Leadership, charisma, the ability to “sell” difficult reforms and make policy that was “invested with rigour and purpose”… it makes modern politics look shallow, hollow. But let’s not overly romanticise the era either.

As Troy writes, Hawke was a deeply flawed man whose behaviour would not be tolerated today. While giving much weight to Hawke’s substantial achievements – “his legacy stands unmatched by that of any post-war prime minister” – Troy has not shied away from his personal failings and says this aspect of his book may shock some readers. “But it is necessary to provide an accurate portrait of a complex life.”