Bob Hawke tells us what he really thinks of the state of politics… and the Queen

Former Prime Minister and past Labor leader Bob Hawke has offered his thoughts on a wide range of topics, including what he really thinks about Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull.

At an annual speech as part of the Woodford Folk Festival, Hawke described Tony Abbott as a “decent man”, but not a “great prime minister”.

Furthermore, when asked whether current Prime Minister and Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull was a threat to Labor, Hawke replied “of course he is”.

Indeed, many parallels have been drawn between Bob Hawke and Malcolm Turnbull, who have both managed a bipartisan appeal throughout their respective careers.

On other topics, Bob Hawke added that although he respects Queen Elizabeth, he still believes a referendum would be best for Australia after her reign. “The old darl’s looking bloody fit still”, Hawke said.

The former PM also discussed terrorism, artificial intelligence and Indigenous rights. He said the issue that will determine Australia’s future will be, “dealing with the gaps between our Indigenous people and the rest of us”.

What do you think of Bob Hawke’s remarks? Share your thoughts below