Media Release
November 03 2009
Book celebrates the Hawke legacy
A
new book offering a timely look at the legacy of the Hawke era will be
launched at the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre’s 80 Hawke Years
celebration of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke’s forthcoming 80th
birthday, on Thursday 5th November.
The Hawke Legacy, edited by researchers from UniSA’s
Hawke Research
Institute,
Associate Professor Gerry Bloustien,
Professor Barbara Comber and
Emeritus Professor Alison Mackinnon, is a collection representing
the views of a range of leading Australian scholars and commentators,
considering the accomplishments of the Hawke ministry (1983 – 1991) and
what remains to be achieved.
Interviews with Bob Hawke, his former speechwriter Graham Freudenberg,
contributions from two former members of the Hawke government and
scholarly accounts from historical, political, economical, educational
and Indigenous perspectives are featured in the collection.
The
Hawke Legacy co-editor Prof Bloustien says that the book is being
launched at a key junction in Australian politics.
“As the Rudd Government considers its policies and direction, the Hawke
Legacy represents an opportunity to reflect on important lessons in
history that might help to inform the present,” she says.
Co-editor Prof Mackinnon contends that the challenges facing the Rudd
Government rival those facing the Hawke Government when it came to power
in 1983.
“Hawke came into office facing formidable economic obstacles – Rudd
faces even stronger economic challenges. Hawke confronted challenging
foreign policy issues, as does Rudd, not least of which is calibrating
international relationships.
“And while Hawke put in place major environmental policies, the Rudd
Government is dealing with the looming threat of climate change,” she
says.
Co- editor Prof Comber says that the collection will yield important
lessons for contemporary politics.
“This collection presents a challenge to the Rudd Labor government, and
to a Prime Minister with an approval rating rivalling that of Hawke, to
reconsider the Hawke era and to continue its legacy,” she says.
The Hawke Legacy will be officially launched by John Bannon AO,
former National President of the Australian Labor Party and former South
Australian Premier, as part of the ‘80 Hawke Years’ celebration at the
Hawke Centre.
Book details: Published by
Wakefield Press, RRP $29.95, ISBN 9781862548640.
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- Heather Leggett office (08) 8302 0096 mobile 0434 078 819 email heather.leggett@unisa.edu.au