The Honourable Bob Hawke AC, GCL |
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23rd Prime Minister of Australia Elections: 1983, 1984, 1987, 1990 |
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In office 11 March 1983 – 20 December 1991 |
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Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Governor-General |
Sir Ninian Stephen Bill Hayden |
Deputy |
Lionel Bowen Paul Keating Brian Howe |
Preceded by | Malcolm Fraser |
Succeeded by | Paul Keating |
Leader of the Labor Party | |
In office 3 February 1983 – 20 December 1991 |
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Deputy |
Lionel Bowen Paul Keating Brian Howe |
Preceded by | Bill Hayden |
Succeeded by | Paul Keating |
Leader of the Opposition | |
In office 3 February 1983 – 11 March 1983 |
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Prime Minister | Malcolm Fraser |
Deputy | Lionel Bowen |
Preceded by | Bill Hayden |
Succeeded by | Andrew Peacock |
Member of the Australian Parliament for Wills |
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In office 18 October 1980 – 20 February 1992 |
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Preceded by | Gordon Bryant |
Succeeded by | Phil Cleary |
Personal details | |
Born |
Robert James Lee Hawke 9 December 1929 Bordertown, South Australia, Australia |
Political party | Labor Party |
Spouse(s) |
Hazel Masterson (m. 1956; div. 1995; 4 children) Blanche d'Alpuget (m. 1995; present; 1 stepchild) |
Relations |
Albert Hawke (uncle) John Hawke (brother) See Hawke family |
Children | 5 |
Parents |
Arthur Hawke Edith Lee |
Education | |
Profession |
Trade Unionist Politician |
Website | Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Library |
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC, GCL (born 9 December 1929) is an Australian politician who was the Prime Minister of Australia and the Leader of the Labor Party from 1983 to 1991.
After graduating from the University of Oxford in 1956, Hawke was allowed to join the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) as a research officer. Having risen to become responsible for wage arbitration, he was elected President of the ACTU in 1969, where he achieved an unprecedented level of popularity. After a decade as ACTU President, Hawke announced his intention to enter politics, and was immediately elected to the House of Representatives as the Labor MP for Wills.
Three years later, he led Labor to a landslide election victory at the 1983 election and was sworn in as Prime Minister. He led Labor to victory at three more elections in 1984, 1987 and 1990, thus making him the most electorally successful Labor Leader in history. The Hawke Government created Medicare and Landcare, brokered the Prices and Incomes Accord, formed APEC, floated the Australian dollar, deregulated the financial sector, introduced the Family Assistance Scheme, announced "Advance Australia Fair" as the official national anthem and initiated superannuation pension schemes for all workers.