I don't know who described Mahathir [bin Mohamad] as a pillar of the Commonwealth, but they don't know what they're talking about. — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
It had things that it could do and which I thought were worthwhile: one would be South Africa, of course. And, as… — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
She [ Elizabeth II] is, you know, "Do-what-you're-told, Lady". But in the Commonwealth, she is much more than just a figurehead. — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
There is a reciprocal respect for [ Elizabeth II], for her interest in the Commonwealth. The members of the Commonwealth recognise that… — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
It was Indira Gandhi who very much lined up with the Russians. And she was, you know, within the Commonwealth, basically one… — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
[ Elizabeth II] has immersed herself, in the sense [that] she can speak intelligently about any and all members of the Commonwealth… — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
Brian Mulroney, myself, [and] Rajiv Gandhi; I think that was the real core [of the Commonwealth ]. That was the engine room,… — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
One of the features of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings was [that] she [ Elizabeth II] would have a meeting with… — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
The concept there was that the small number of developed countries within the Commonwealth should provide assistance. This was not just financial… — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
I think there are a number of reasons, not least of which is the personality of the Queen [ Elizabeth II]. It's… — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
I assumed the leadership within the Commonwealth for the fight against apartheid. I was very much assisted by Brian Mulroney, the Prime… — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
It [also] lives on its history, now, to some extent: its achievements [ of the Commonwealth] in Rhodesia and South Africa, which… — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
One other thing: at the meeting in Canada, [there was] the coup in Fiji. This comes to an important part of the… — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
Brian Mulroney, myself, [and] Rajiv Gandhi; I think that was the real core [of the Commonwealth ]. That was the engine room, I reckon. — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
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… — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
We [ with Brian Mulroney and Rajiv Gandhi] went to the meeting in Canada [the 1987 Vancouver CHOGM] and I said to them there… — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
I told [ David Lange] he was crazy, because you can't have an alliance relationship if you refuse access to their ships. And the… — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
There is a reciprocal respect for [ Elizabeth II], for her interest in the Commonwealth. The members of the Commonwealth recognise that here is… — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
We are building together a nation in which there are no second-class Australians. — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
I had no time for Indira Gandhi. She was too much in the Russian camp for my liking. — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
I wrote a letter to our Australian newspaper about three weeks before the invasion and I said, "Osama bin Laden must be on his… — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
I can't speak with authority about Emeka Anyaoku. I just didn't know him that well. — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
George Bush Junior [George W Bush] was a religious fanatic, and Tony Blair wasn't far behind in a way. — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
I felt completely ready to become prime minister. I came to office better equipped, in terms of knowledge of economics and of the Australian… — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
![“I don't know who described Mahathir [bin Mohamad] as a pillar of the Commonwealth, but they don't know what they're talking about.” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c47/bob-hawke-7891_commonwealth_i-don-t-know-who-described-mahathir-bin_1109794.jpg)
![“She [ Elizabeth II] is, you know, "Do-what-you're-told, Lady". But in the Commonwealth, she is much more than just a figurehead.” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4ae/bob-hawke-7891_commonwealth_she-elizabeth-ii-is-you-know-do-what-you_1440175.jpg)
![“There is a reciprocal respect for [ Elizabeth II], for her interest in the Commonwealth. The members of the Commonwealth recognise that here is a genuine interest from the top. So, that's one reason. I'm not putting it necessarily in order of importance.” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/05a/bob-hawke-7891_commonwealth_there-is-a-reciprocal-respect-for-elizab_186758.jpg)
![“[ Elizabeth II] has immersed herself, in the sense [that] she can speak intelligently about any and all members of the Commonwealth and she has played a role.” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/79e/bob-hawke-7891_commonwealth_elizabeth-ii-has-immersed-herself-in-the_1889018.jpg)
![“Brian Mulroney, myself, [and] Rajiv Gandhi; I think that was the real core [of the Commonwealth ]. That was the engine room, I reckon.” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/96c/bob-hawke-7891_brian_brian-mulroney-myself-and-rajiv-gandhi-i_19423.jpg)
![“One of the features of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings was [that] she [ Elizabeth II] would have a meeting with each of them. You'd have an allotted time.” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1f7/bob-hawke-7891_commonwealth_one-of-the-features-of-the-commonwealth_491708.jpg)
![“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…” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/888/bob-hawke-7891_commonwealth_i-think-there-are-a-number-of-reasons-no_2103188.jpg)
![“I assumed the leadership within the Commonwealth for the fight against apartheid. I was very much assisted by Brian Mulroney, the Prime Minister of Canada, [and] Rajiv Gandhi, when he became the Prime Minister of India. And there were trade sanctions.” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d80/bob-hawke-7891_apartheid_i-assumed-the-leadership-within-the-comm_2668686.jpg)
![“It [also] lives on its history, now, to some extent: its achievements [ of the Commonwealth] in Rhodesia and South Africa, which were enormous. And they'll live on that for some time, I guess. And there is still - I'm out of touch with it now, of course - but I still think there is a degree of…” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/058/bob-hawke-7891_achievement_it-also-lives-on-its-history-now-to-some_943443.jpg)
![“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. You could talk to her about any of the fifty-one…” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/57c/bob-hawke-7891_canada_one-other-thing-at-the-meeting-in-canada_2794113.jpg)
![“We [ with Brian Mulroney and Rajiv Gandhi] went to the meeting in Canada [the 1987 Vancouver CHOGM] and I said to them there that sanctions weren't working; they were just being busted. And it did seem to me that one way that we could bring the apartheid regime down would be if we did mount an…” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/66c/bob-hawke-7891_apartheid_we-with-brian-mulroney-and-rajiv-gandhi_109260.jpg)
![“I told [ David Lange] he was crazy, because you can't have an alliance relationship if you refuse access to their ships. And the Americans wanted to punish him very severely and I intervened there and softened them somewhat. They wanted to really take some tough, reactive measures to New Zealand.” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9cd/bob-hawke-7891_access_i-told-david-lange-he-was-crazy-because_122774.jpg)
![“George Bush Junior [George W Bush] was a religious fanatic, and Tony Blair wasn't far behind in a way.” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/852/bob-hawke-7891_behinds_george-bush-junior-george-w-bush-was-a-r_342255.jpg)
