Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke dies, aged 89
Former Australian Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke has died at the age of 89.
Mr Hawke’s wife Blanche d’Alpuget has released a statement announcing his passing.
“He died peacefully at home at the age of 89 years.
“A memorial service will be held in Sydney in coming weeks.”
Full statement below:
“Today we lost Bob Hawke, a great Australian – many would say the greatest Australian of the post-war era.
“He died peacefully at home at the age of 89 years.
“I and Bob’s children, Sue, Stephen, Rosslyn and stepson, Louis, and his grandchildren, will hold a private funeral.
“A memorial service will be held in Sydney in coming weeks.
“Bob Hawke and Paul Keating and their governments modernised the Australian economy, paving the way for an unprecedented period of recession-free economic growth and job creation.”
When I visited Bob last week, I tried to tell him what he meant to all of us. I couldn’t quite find the right words.
But Bob knew. He knew what he meant to Australia, he knew what he had achieved for the country. He knew he was loved, right to the end. pic.twitter.com/DVB3JL0V5S
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) May 16, 2019
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.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) May 16, 2019
The labour movement salutes our greatest son.
Australians everywhere remember and honour a man who gave so much to the country and people he cared for so deeply.
May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/NzKwxW1e4X
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) May 16, 2019
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.
— Kevin Rudd (@MrKRudd) May 16, 2019
A Labor Legend has passed tonight – Bob Hawke showed us how to govern and transformed modern Labor #Respect
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 16, 2019
Lost for words. Feeling very lost. Good bye my friend pic.twitter.com/i6KHX0c4AC
— Jason Clare MP (@JasonClareMP) May 16, 2019
More to come…