Not everyone could afford a US President’s coiffeur or have the State pay for it
Bill Hayden I guess should be recorded here
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A proper labour pollie.
Vale.
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He’s had a run in the politics thread, but he was also a GG.
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I saw Bill Hayden speak in parliament many years ago when I was doing legal studies. He struck me as a man who was intent on achieving good outcomes. His dialogue and interaction with the opposition was measured and had a strong practical focus. I recall being very impressed that he refused to engage in the usual name calling and finger pointing so prevalent amongst our politicians these days. His frustration when the discussion lost direction was visible. I thought he was someone who thought he could make a difference. A very impressive and genuine man.
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That finger pointing and name calling is not restricted to these days, it has been going on for many years.
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And in fact, it was much worse back in the early 1900s when the Protectionists were battling the Free Traders. Menzies was witty in his putdowns, Keating was clever and cutting, today they are just schoolyard children.
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It feels like it’s been dumbed down so Rupert can fit it into his rags in nice dullard sized portions.
Jackie Lambie is the only one with the balls to say it like it is, and even though everything she says is not agreeable she’s nails it.
And she understands what people are going through.
The old man hated Hayden. Which was a good indicator he was an operator the libs feared.
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My Dad hated Bob Hawke. He told me the Hawke was all about Hawke and could not be trusted and would screw that worker. Then Hawke became PM and my Dad was correct.
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I wrote to PM Hawke when I was 8 encouraging him and his government to plant trees for the environment. The letter I received in response was so special. My mum went to the library to photocopy it and send it to the relatives in Malta.
When I joined the public service, I realised the PM hadn’t written the response, just signed it. Still, a great childhood memory.
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When I was about your age I got a call from a guy for Dad on the landline called Robert Hawke. I’d just been taught what you could shorten full names to and I’d never run so fast to get someone out of a veggie patch in my life.
Never did find out if it was the man himself, but judging from the fact dad took the call in the first place I’m figuring maybe it wasn’t.
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He recognised minorities much the same way Whitlam did.
Him and Keating were a formidable duo. Until Hawke was screwed by his worker.
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Hawke and Kelty screwed the Union movement something chronic with the Accords. Giving wage increases based on productivity improvements was all about making morr profit for the bosses.
Keating was the brains of the outfit, but he was also a right-winger (in a Labor sense)
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At least in the Canberra bubble the CPSU is doing fight back on EBAs at agency level.
Oh shyte yeah. You wouldn’t find that many trade unionists with an eye gif Versace.
Gareth Evans said Hayden was probably the only sane Minister in the Whitlam Government) . Having worked under Gareth as Foreign Minister, I’d add that Hayden had the edge over him in a balanced temper, never threw an ashtray across the room.
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So do we call you the right honourable bigallan from now on
I was just a camera of events.
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Not sure the events have remained in camera if they are getting an airing here!
Just focus on developing news, will you?