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… — 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 went along with it, and wanted to appoint a significant figure in Malcolm Fraser. I didn't have high hopes that they'd be able… — 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 each of… — Bob Hawke Copy Share Image
The greatest stain upon this great Australian nation's character, without any question, is the great gaps that exist between our Aboriginal brothers and sisters… — 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 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)
![“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)
![“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)
![“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)
![“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)
![“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)
