Hawke highlights reel: From champion skoller to floating the dollar
People on all sides of politics agree that Bob Hawke changed Australia, and he had many defining moments. The force of both his personality and policy work endeared him to the public and helped forge a national identity.
Hawke's highlights reel is a variety bag comprising big national achievements alongside quirky moments that helped to define a legendary leader.
Yard glass world record - 1954
How many world leaders could claim to be world record holders, let alone in the art of beer skolling? Bob Hawke claimed the title while studying at Oxford University. In 1954 the Rhodes scholar was recorded downing an entire yard glass of beer in just 11 seconds. His well-publicised beer skolling prowess endeared Hawke to the public.
Equal pay for equal work - 1969
The gender pay gap as we understand it today is a world away from how it was prior to 1969, when inequality was enshrined in the law. Acting for the Meat Industry Union, which employed a lot of women in sausage factories, the ACTU, with Bob Hawke as advocate, won "equal pay for equal work" as a right for women in the Arbitration Court. Later, as Prime Minister in 1984, Hawke would outlaw sex discrimination at work.
Anti-apartheid push - 1969-1990
In her statement on Hawke's passing, Blanche D'Alpuget noted his role in ending apartheid in South Africa was among his proudest achievements. Hawke's anti-apartheid push began in 1969 when he was ACTU President, and he denounced apartheid and supported a boycott of South African goods. As Prime Minister, Hawke continued the ban on South African sporting tours that his predecessors had instituted. In 1990, a freed Nelson Mandela came to Australia and personally thanked Hawke for his efforts.
Becoming Prime Minister in a landslide - 1983
After just three years in parliament and a month as Opposition Leader, Hawke won the election against the incumbent Fraser government in a 24-seat landslide, the largest defeat of a sitting government since 1949.
The Americas Cup win - and Bob's famous advice - 1983
The only thing more iconic in the wash-up of Australia's Americas Cup win in 1983 than Hawke's jacket was the brand new Prime Minister's endorsement of the nation taking a sickie. "I tell you what, any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up to work today is a bum!"
The Accord - 1983-91
Despite his history as a union leader, as Prime Minister Hawke worked to overhaul industrial relations to bring stability to the Australian economy, dramatically reducing industrial strikes and wage inflation. The Prices and Incomes Accord of 1983 was an agreement between unions and the government that limited wage demands in return for government action on inflation and guaranteed wage increases.
Floating the dollar - 1983
Hawke's economic reforms have earned the respect of economists in both Labor and Liberal camps. In December 1983, Hawke enacted his milestone reform of floating the dollar, ensuring that Australia's exchange rate would be set by international markets, rather than the Reserve Bank.
A new national anthem and national colours - 1984
It wasn't just with his beer-swilling, straight talking and love of sports that Bob Hawke shaped the Australian identity. He also replaced God Save The Queen with Advance Australia Fair after a decade of debate and a referendum. Love or hate the anthem, we can probably all agree it's better than just singing England's one.
As Hawke himself said: "You have the Brits getting up, they win a medal - they do win one occasionally - and up goes God Save The Queen, and then Australia gets up and it's the same anthem - now, that's crazy." As well as choosing the anthem, he also made our national colours green and gold.