Decomposing Trees

To be completely honest, Bob Hawke was always overshadowed in my mind by Keating and Whitlam.

Despite him being the last Federal Labor leader to win from Opposition, there isn't as strong a legacy attached to him. Keating is associated with the Republic, reconcilliation and engagement with Asia while Whitlam with universal health care, free education and an end to the Vietnam War but it's harder to think of something that is...well for the lack of better words Hawkesque, the economic reforms of the 80s for example associated more broadly than just with Hawke. However, after hearing him speak last night at the 'Labor Leader on Labor Leader' Fabian Society event I have reassessed my thoughts on him.

It didn't feel like he was interviewed, it felt like Bob Hawke was just telling a great yarn and he threw in a few funny stories, in particular at the expense of former Liberal leader Billy Snedden. He spoke on a number of different periods of his life such as his upbringing, his loss of faith despite his origins on the Christian left, his time at Oxford, his time in government and his thoughts on his own legacy. While Keating and Whitlam are self-indulgent it was the first time I had heard from Hawke talk about himself.

Most interestingly, he stressed his view on the importance of uniting people, working together and always trying to reach consensus, highlighting the Accord as an example of this. It is in stark contrast to the coercive 'unity' that the current government preaches.

It being a election campaign and there being cameras, Hawke did his bit of campaigning by absolutely slamming John Howard. However, whereas Keating has just thrown insults at John Howard, Hawke in one swipe crushed his arguments about his economic credentials (while made a hilarious jibe about John Stone being so far to the right that you couldn't see him). He made one of the best arguments in defence of the trade union movement and their role in our current prosperity. Their actions during the Accord years was an act of self-sacrifice by the trade union movement, restraining wage growth and accepting economic restructuring that occurred for the greater good. In response to the scare campaign about union thugs, he lambasted organised capital that had ripped off people.

I left the event last night feeling rather inspired. Kevin, please take some notes from Bob Hawke.