Is there some reason why the quality of people going into the parliament is not as high? I don't know the complete answer, but I think - in fact, I'm sure - that part of it is the increasing intrusiveness of the media - the general media and social media - into the private lives of politicians and their families.

Bob Hawke

The things which are most important don't always scream the loudest.

Bob Hawke

The greatest stain upon this great Australian nation's character, without any question, is the great gaps that exist between our Aboriginal brothers and sisters in terms of their health, their education, their living conditions, their incarceration rates and life expectancy. It's a great stain.

Bob Hawke

None of us can be sure of how long we will live. Because this is so, I think you should try not to think too much about dying but think about all the nice things that make life so precious to us all.

Bob Hawke

Unless and until something concrete is done about addressing the Israeli-Palestinian issue you won't get a real start on the war against terrorism.

Bob Hawke

If elected, Bill Shorten and his team would hit the ground running, implementing Labor's plans and setting the nation up for a stronger economic future.

Bob Hawke

They've been irrelevant to me, the print media, because my link does not depend upon the menial minds of the scribblers in Canberra or anywhere else.

Bob Hawke

Is there some reason why the quality of people going into the parliament is not as high? I don't know the complete answer, but I think - in fact, I'm sure - that part of it is the increasing intrusiveness of the media - the general media and social media - into the private lives of politicians and their families.

Bob Hawke

I felt completely ready to become prime minister. I came to office better equipped, in terms of knowledge of economics and of the Australian economy, than anyone before me, or since, I would say.

Bob Hawke

Australia can no longer afford to go down the path of confrontation and fragmentation which has embittered and disfigured so many aspects of the national life.

Bob Hawke

I had ministers who were just outstandingly good.

Bob Hawke

I could never afford to be in a position where I could do something stupid, so I gave up drinking.

Bob Hawke

Poor quality of representatives... is not a purely Australian phenomenon - it's a worldwide phenomenon.

Bob Hawke

If the Australian Government were to associate itself with the United States attack on Iraq, which was not sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council, then we'd put this country at risk.

Bob Hawke

One fundamental issue which Trump did take advantage of was the increasing disparities of income in the United States. So many people saw the rich getting richer and it not being spread around. It's affecting European politics, too, now.

Bob Hawke

We are building together a nation in which there are no second-class Australians.

Bob Hawke

The level of journalism in this country is just so pathetically poor, and I've, in a sense, gone over the top of them, which they don't like.

Bob Hawke

There is no doubt that this government and this country are benefiting from the reforms that we brought in the 1980s, and that couldn't have been done without the co-operation of the trade union movement.

Bob Hawke

I have a deep love for the Chinese people.

Bob Hawke

I think it is just stupid economics for a government to approach economic management from a strand of thinking regarding unions as enemies.

Bob Hawke

My point was that the war was intrinsically wrong, and as a result of our participation we haven't improved Australia's security but created a greater danger at home and abroad.

Bob Hawke