A tense phone call, a frosty thumbs-up and a glaring omission: The divisions in Bob Hawke's fractured family are laid bare as his children and wife Blanche prepare to fight over his multi-million dollar estate
- Bob Hawke's children are preparing for battle over his multi-million dollar estate
- Rosslyn Dillon, Susan Pieters-Hawke and Stephen Hawke received $750k payout
- The funds were paid by Blanche d'Alpuget under a separate agreement
- It is reported the children will not receive additional payout from the estate
- The estate - including $15m sale of Hawke's home - was left to Ms d'Alpuget
The battle brewing over Bob Hawke's estate has laid bare the acrimonious rift that has divided the former prime minister's children and his wife for years.
Australia's longest-serving Labor prime minister died aged 89 on May 16, leaving behind a multi-million dollar fortune - and perhaps an inevitable legal fight for it.
Mr Hawke has left the majority of his estate to second wife, Blanche d'Alpuget, which includes the proceeds of the sale of their $15million Northbridge home on Sydney's Lower North Shore.
Under a separate agreement, Mr Hawke's three children, Susan Pieters-Hawke, Stephen Hawke and Rosslyn Dillon, received a $750,000 payout after his death.
The six-figure sum was also paid out to Ms d'Alpuget's son, Louis Pratt.
Ms Dillon, 58, is now preparing for battle over her father's will, which was allegedly sparked following a tense phone call with her stepmother after her dad's death, The New Daily reported.
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The battle over former Prime Minister Bob Hawke's estate has laid bare the family's long-running feud stemming from his affair with his now second wife Blanche d'Alpuget
Blanche d'Alpuget and Bob's granddaughter Sophie Taylor-Price spoke during the State Memorial service for former prime minister from the steps of the Sydney Opera House
Mr Hawke's youngest daughter is understood to have learned neither she or her siblings will be entitled to additional provisions.
The issue will be taken to NSW Supreme Court if it cannot be resolved privately.
The war over his fortune seems to be the latest development in the family's ongoing feud, which has seen public altercations between Ms d'Alpuget and Mr Hawke's daughter.
Ms d'Alpuget has endured a rocky relationship with her stepchildren since their father left their mother, Hazel Masterson, for her in 1995.
The split also left Mr Hawke estranged from his children for quite some time.
Snippets of the family drama have been publicised over the years, most recently, Ms d'Alpuget's public snub of her stepchildren at her husband's memorial last month.
Ms d'Alpuget took the stage to thank the organisers of the event that drew thousands of mourners to the Sydney Opera House.
During her remarks, she thanked top government dignitaries before finally acknowledging Mr Hawke's eldest daughter, Ms Pieters-Hawke, and his granddaughter Sophie Taylor-Price.
Her glaring omission of Stephen Hawke and Ms Dillon did not go unnoticed.
More signs of tension were observed when Ms Pieters-Hawke acknowledged her stepmother while delivering her eulogy, and cameras caught Ms d'Alpuget's less than loving reaction.
In 2014, the former prime minister admitted his children were not happy about the fact that he married his mistress. Pictured: Bob Hawke, daughter Sue, and Ms d'Alpuget
Mr Hawke's youngest daughter, Rosslyn Dillon (pictured in 2013) is said to be preparing to launch legal action to claim a stake in her father's estate
Family: Bob Hawke pictured with his ex-wife Hazel (second from left) daughter Rosslyn (far left) daughter Sue (second from right) during the Labor Campaign in 1987 in Sydney, Australia
Sue Pieters-Hawke (left) and Rosslyn Dillon (right) have had a rocky relationship with their stepmother over the years
As she left the stage, Ms Pieters-Hawke was seen hugging and shaking hands with the dignitaries who had been seated in the front row.
But when she came to Ms d'Alpuget, she was greeted with a cool thumbs up.
Ms Pieters-Hawke then awkwardly squeezed the 75-year-old's knee before quickly moving on to the next person.
In 2011, Ms Pieters-Hawke and Ms d'Alpuget were seen arguing at Brisbane airport, another sign that all was not well within the family.
The incident was later addressed on ABC's 7.30 where Ms Pieters-Hawke revealed d'Alpuget slapped her 'three or four times' when she went to greet her.
Following the death of Ms Masterson, Mr Hawke confirmed rumours of a feud between Ms d'Alpuget and his three children, with ABC's Australian Story in 2014.
'The kids weren't happy about the fact that I divorced and married Blanche. And they weren't as nice to Blanche as they could and should have been,' he said.
Ms d'Alpuget also revealed the children had made it clear to her that they did not want to accept her into their family.
'They didn't want me as part of the family and they actually put that in writing,' she said.
But there seemed to be a moment of a peace after the death of their mother, when Ms Pieters-Hawke acknowledged that Ms d'Alpuget had been a 'fabulous' grand-stepmother and 'wonderful' stepmother.
Hawke married his second wife Blanche D'Alpuget in 1995 in Sydney, Australia. His second marriage left him estranged from his children for quite sometime
Mr Hawke's divorce from first wife of 38 years, Hazel Masterson (pictured in 1988) had left him estranged from his children for years. She died in 2013
Mr Hawke also told how Ms d'Alpuget tried to build a relationship with his children and was at one point closest with Rosslyn.
'She's been particularly helpful to my youngest child Rosslyn and I think from the original feelings of perhaps resentment that Rosslyn had, they've moved to one where Rosslyn really loves Blanche,' he said.
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Dillon also told the publication she had developed a close relationship with Ms d'Alpuget after her mother passed.
Ms Dillon told the show: 'Particularly since I lost Mum, we have become extremely close.
Sue Pieters-Hawke, the daughter of Bob Hawke, acknowledged her stepmother while delivering a eulogy at her father's funeral at the Sydney Opera House last Friday
'She's a very funny woman, very loving, very passionate, a very wicked sense of humour and her and dad are so in love.'
In her first interview after her husband's death, Ms d'Alpuget admitted the guilt she felt for Mr Hawke's first wife Hazel during their affair and since the divorce in 1995.
'I used to feel very sad for Hazel... my feelings about Hazel's sadness didn't change. I still always really up until the end felt that sorrow,' she said.
Mr Hawke also admitted his regrets about not being a better father or husband to his first wife and family, in an interview with The Australian before his death.
In the wake of his death, Ms Pieters-Hawke told ABC's News Breakfast that 'parenting was not his strong suit'.
'In the normal sense of parenting, he wouldn't rate highly, but in some of the less normal senses of parenting, I think he was a fabulous and inspiring dad,' she said.
