Hawke Government: 1983

March / April / May / June / July / August / September / October / November / December

March 5, the Australian Labor Party returned to power with Bob Hawke as the 28th Prime Minister of Australia. With the campaign slogan of 'Bringing Australia Together', Labor's election victory was one of the best majorities ever. 'It will be a government for all Australians' said Bob Hawke

MARCH

'Landslide! Nation Sweeps Hawke into Power'

Sunday Times, 6 March 1983 p 1: As Labor swept to a landslide victory, Mr Fraser announced his resignation. Mr Hawke said his party had conducted a positive and clearly successful campaign and he would commit his government to the task of reconciliation

'Hawke Landslide' by Grattan, Michelle

The Age, 7 March 1983 P 1: Just a month after becoming Labor leader, Bob Hawke achieves his long ambition of becoming Prime Minister and receives the mandate to implement his plan for national reconciliation

'A Man to Bring Australia Together' by Lockwood, Kim

The Australian, 7 March 1983: An insight into the man who says his aim is to 'bring Australia together' with quotes from his biographer Blanche D'Alpuget

'Hawke Wins Cabinet' by Grattan, Michelle

The Age, 11 March 1983 p 1: The cabinet; its leaders and members including new faces and the first woman in a Federal Labor Ministry, Senator Susan Ryan

'The Rise and Rise of Robert Hawke' by Haupt, Robert

The Age, 26 March, 1983: Includes close-up photograph of Bob Hawke

APRIL

Zhao Ziyang visits (opens in new window)

The premier of the State Council of the People's republic of China Mr Zhao Ziyang is the first Chinese head of government to visit Australia. Premier Zhao and party were welcomed on their arrival by Prime Minister Bob Hawke and senior government ministers. A reception at Parliament House was attended by senior government and Opposition members and many Australians who had contributed to the Australia-China relationship

'Economic Summit' 11 - 14 April (opens in new window)

Held in Parliament House, Canberra saw a gathering of Australia's leaders in the field of politics, business and the unions. Hawke's idea was to attempt a national consensus on economic policy. 'The Wages Accord' with unions, a by-product of the Economic Summit, became a major part of government economic policy

The Summit that Bears the Weight of Hawke's Hopes for the Nation by Perkin, Ian (opens in new window)

The Australian, 30 March, 1983

'Onwards'to the Summit by Grattan, Michelle

The Age, 7 April 1983: Article contains a political cartoon and outlines the two central issues to which the summit will address - future wage policy and how much stimulus should be applied to the economy

'We are Laying the Foundations for this Great Country of Ours' by Hawke, Bob

The Australian, 12 April, 1983: An edited text of the Prime Minister's address to the economic summit conference.

MAY

'PM Faces Backbench Revolt Over Combe' by Hill, Brian

The Australian, 12 May, 1983 p 1: Mr Hawke outlines the actions the Government has taken with regard to the expulsion of KGB agent Mr Valeriy Ivanov, condemns members of the Opposition for trying to turn the issue into a party political matter, and discusses the role of public affairs consultant David Combe. He outlines measures designed to prevent informal access to government by foreign agencies in the future

Prime Minister's statement on the expulsion on the KGB officer (opens in new window)

JUNE

Official visits to Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Europe, United States

'Doors are Open for Hawke in the U.S.' by Costigan, Peter

1 June, 1983: Photographs of Bob Hawke and President Reagan

'Hawke in Power' by Grattan, Michelle

The Age, 13 June 1983: Michelle Grattan interviews the Prime Minister on his first 100 days in office

100 days of the Hawke Government (opens in new window)

Bob Hawke's address to the National Press Club, Canberra, 27 June

JULY

Construction blocked for the Gordon-below-Franklin dam, Tasmania

The High Court upheld the government's right to block construction of. the Gordon-below Franklin dam with the federal government using its powers under World Heritage legislation to prevent the Tasmanian government from building the dam.

High Court Judgement on Tasmanian Dam

Australian Foreign Affairs Record, Vol 54, No. 7, July 1983, p 353

National Crime Conference, Canberra (opens in new window)

In his opening speech on July 28 Prime Minister Bob Hawke promises to crack down on organised crime and states that the federal government would do 'everything possible' to eliminate organised crime in Australia

AUGUST

Launch of Victa Lawnmower (opens in new window)

Bob Hawke launches a new symbol of the suburban Australian dream � the new quiet Victa Vortex lawnmower. An Australian enterprise and innovation this project is an example of co-operation between private enterprise and a government agency.

'The things we do for love' by Kitney, Geoff

The National Times, 28 October, 1983, p4: 'Hawke has devoted immense energy and time to participating in events that have the potential to increase his popularity' Kitney analyses Hawke and his eight months in government.

SEPTEMBER

'11 Days that Stunned the Sporting World' by Barton, Russell (opens in new window)

The Age, 5 October, 1983: Australia 11 surged to victory in the America's Cup and Bob Hawke states it was an achievement which 'must rank as among the greatest in Australia's sporting history' and moved a motion in Parliament outlining the record win and to formally congratulate those associated with the America's Cup victory

OCTOBER

Foundation Stone Ceremony (opens in new window)

Bob Hawke lays the foundation stone for the new Parliament house in Canberra and describes the event as symbolising confidence in the future of parliamentary democracy in Australia.
Photo: Laying of the foundation stone at Parliament House

NOVEMBER

CHOGM, New Delhi (opens in new window)

Commonwealth Heads of Government met in New Delhi November 21-28 with 42 countries attending

Prime Minister visits Thailand (opens in new window)

Text of speech by Bob Hawke at State dinner hosted by Thai Prime Minister 21 November 1983 Australian Foreign Affairs Record, Vol. 54, No. 11, pp 685 - 688.

DECEMBER

Australian of the Year

'The Australian' selects Prime Minister Bob Hawke, as Australian of the Year. Voted by readers not only for his election victory and achievements during 1983 but also for the high expectations Australians hold for him in 1984. Described as 'a people's prime minister' he is noted for uniting the nation.

'We pick the Australian of the Year' by Hollings, Les

The Weekend Australian 31 December, 1983

Government floats dollar

The government announces the float of the Australian dollar on international money markets and allows the operation of foreign owned banks into Australia as first steps towards deregulating the national economy. Hawke and Keating recognise that the 1980's internationalisation of the world economy demands a new outlook