Sir Michael remembers Hawke as ‘down to earth’: I admired him

THE Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare has expressed sympathy on the passing of former Australian Prime Minister Robert James Hawke.
Sir Michael, in a letter to Hawke’s family, defined Hawke as one of a unique “knock about” Australian and a great political leader in iconic dimensions and proportions.
Hawke was an Australian labour prime minister who led four election victories, between 1983-91.
Hawke passed away last Thursday.
“On behalf of my wife (Veronica) and the Somare family, I offer our sympathies and heartfelt condolences on this tragic loss to the children and grandchildren of the late Robert Hawke,” he said.
Sir Michael said Hawke had strong convictions on workers’ rights, environmental protection, leberalising global trade, recognising rights of indigenous Australians to land, and had a genuine aversion to racism and bigotry.
In 2009, late Hawke was awarded the Papua New Guinean government’s highest award for non-citizens, the Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu.
“He was also a down to earth person,” Sir Michael said.
“I personally admired Hawke’s consensus approach to decision making and his deference for reconciliation which I tried to emulate in my political life.
“As head of the union movement in the Australian Council of trade unions, he was always the vanguard of any action that sought to improve the lot of the ordinary workers.
Sir Michael recalled Hawke’s willingness to travel with his legal team, at short notice, to PNG to assist with legal advice and representation on industrial relations matters.