While society cannot provide employment for its members, the production/work/income nexus has to be abandoned as a justification for our present parsimony to the unemployed.
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.
And that’s what brought the regime down. The last South African Finance Minister, Barend du Plessis, went on record as saying that it was the investment sanctions that put the final nail in the coffin of apartheid.
It had things that it could do and which I thought were worthwhile: one would be South Africa, of course. And, as I said, I assumed a leadership role within the Commonwealth on that.
I hated [Robert Mugabe]. He’s one of the worst human beings I’ve ever met. He treated black and white with equal contempt. He was a horrible human being.
I think there are a number of reasons, not least of which is the personality of the Queen [ Elizabeth II]. It’s very easy to underrate her significance.
I think she finds the Commonwealth and her position as Head of the Commonwealth infinitely more interesting than being the Queen of England, because she has no significant role in the latter.
One other thing: at the meeting in Canada, [there was] the coup in Fiji. This comes to an important part of the Commonwealth: the role of the Queen [Elizabeth II]. I had absolutely just enormous respect for her as leader of the Commonwealth.
I got to know him well as Vice President to Ronald Reagan. And George rang me up and said, “Oh, Bob,” he said, “I’m having trouble with Brian [Mulroney].” He said, “He’s got a big wheat trade with Iraq, and he doesn’t want to upset that.” I said, “You leave it with me.”
He said it was very uncomfortable and he often took it off, but of course, in the end, it wouldn’t have mattered if he’d been wearing three vests – he would have been gone.
![Bob Hawke Quote - I hated [Robert Mugabe]. He’s one of the worst human beings I’ve ever met. He treated black and white with equal contempt. He was a horrible human being.](https://minimalistquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/i-hated-robert-mugabe-hes-one-of-the-worst-human-b-683x1024.jpg)
![Bob Hawke Quote - Geoffrey [Howe] and I were mates, and he disagreed with [ Margaret Thatcher] position. So, we cooperated surreptitiously.](https://minimalistquotes.com/images/geoffrey-howe-and-i-were-mates-and-he-disagreed-wi.jpg)
![Bob Hawke Quote - I think there are a number of reasons, not least of which is the personality of the Queen [ Elizabeth II]. It’s very easy to underrate her significance.](https://minimalistquotes.com/images/i-think-there-are-a-number-of-reasons-not-least-of.jpg)
![Bob Hawke Quote - She [ Elizabeth II] is, you know, “Do-what-you’re-told, Lady”. But in the Commonwealth, she is much more than just a figurehead.](https://minimalistquotes.com/images/she-elizabeth-ii-is-you-know-do-what-youre-told-la.jpg)
![Bob Hawke Quote - One other thing: at the meeting in Canada, [there was] the coup in Fiji. This comes to an important part of the Commonwealth: the role of the Queen [Elizabeth II]. I had absolutely just enormous respect for her as leader of the Commonwealth.](https://minimalistquotes.com/images/one-other-thing-at-the-meeting-in-canada-there-was.jpg)
![Bob Hawke Quote - I believe [ Rajiv Gandhi] had a real sense that he would be assassinated.](https://minimalistquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/i-believe-rajiv-gandhi-had-a-real-sense-that-he-wo-683x1024.jpg)
![Bob Hawke Quote - I got to know him well as Vice President to Ronald Reagan. And George rang me up and said, “Oh, Bob,” he said, “I’m having trouble with Brian [Mulroney].” He said, “He’s got a big wheat trade with Iraq, and he doesn’t want to upset that.” I said, “You leave it with me.”](https://minimalistquotes.com/images/i-got-to-know-him-well-as-vice-president-to-ronald.jpg)
