Memorandum of understanding speech by His Excellency Sir Eric Neal AC CVO
Governor of South Australia
Speech on the occasion of the signing of the Memorandum of
Understanding between the Hon R J L Hawke AC and the
University of South Australia to establish the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial
Centre, 9 December 1997
It is a pleasure for me in my role as Governor of South Australia, and
Visitor to the University of South Australia, to accept the office of
Patron-in-Chief of the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, and I am honoured
to be serving with our other distinguished patrons.
Robert J. L. Hawke has enjoyed a long and illustrious career, and many
people, particularly those who were with him along the way, are far more
qualified than I to comment upon that career, however, I was privileged to
observe and occasionally work with Bob Hawke during his Prime Ministership
and would like to mention today four important initiatives of his term of
office, not political highlights such as election victories, but other
highlights, which in my view will not be overlooked as the history of our
Nation is written.
His first is the initiative of the Economic Summit Conference held in
Parliament House Canberra soon after Bob Hawke became Prime Minister. I was
privileged to attend that Conference and it set the path for a new and
improved era in Industrial Relations in this Nation.
The second, soon afterwards, was a reception I attended at the Prime
Minister's Lodge, for Aboriginal leaders and some members of the business
community who Bob Hawke felt could influence the finding of greater job
opportunities for Aboriginals, typical of his spirit of a 'fair go' for
everyone.
Thirdly, without in any way diminishing Australia's standing as an
independent nation, his efforts to enhance Australia's relationship with the
United States of America during his term of office, and may I say beyond.
His very clear personal rapport developed with leaders such as Ronald
Reagan, George Schultz, perhaps, dare I say, somewhat more conservative
politicians, speaks highly of the warmth of his personality and his
persuasiveness. His sending of our own Chris Hurford to represent Australian
in New York indicated the importance he gave to the relationship. Finally,
one cannot underestimate the importance of Bob Hawke's role in the creation
of APEC, and its effect upon improving relationships with our Asian trading
partners.
I have had the pleasure of visiting the Lyndon Johnson Library in Austin
Texas, and the Jimmy Carter Library in Atlanta Georgia and I look forward
with even greater pleasure to visiting the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial
Centre here in Adelaide, and compliment both the University of South
Australia upon its initiative and Bob Hawke upon his response to that
initiative.