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Quote by Bob Hawke

“It had things that it could do and which I thought were worthwhile: one would be South Africa, of course. And, as I said, I assumed a leadership role within the Commonwealth on that.”

Quote by Bob Hawke

Author

Bob Hawke, born on December 9, 1929, served as the Prime Minister of Australia from 1983 to 1991. He is one of the youngest prime ministers in Australian history. During his tenure, Hawke implemented economic reforms, enhanced Australia's international status, and advocated for social justice and environmental protection. more

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“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 countries of the Commonwealth and you could have an intelligent conversation with her about the economics, the politics. She really immersed herself in the Commonwealth.”

Important Country Leader Roles Conversation Economics Intelligent Meetings Enormous Queens Fifty Canada Commonwealth Coups Fiji Queen Elizabeth Elizabeth Ii Intelligent Conversation

Author:Bob Hawke

“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.”

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“Bill Heseltine had been at university with me, at the University of Western Australia. I knew him well.”

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Author:Bob Hawke

“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, because she has no significant role in the latter.”

Thinking Reason Easy Interesting Numbers Roles Position Personality England Significant Queens Latter Significance Commonwealth Queen Elizabeth Queen Of England Elizabeth Ii

Author:Bob Hawke

“She [ Elizabeth II] is, you know, "Do-what-you're-told, Lady". But in the Commonwealth, she is much more than just a figurehead.”

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Author:Bob Hawke

“[ 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.”

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Author:Bob Hawke

“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.”

Reason Order Interest Members Importance Genuine Recognise Commonwealth Reciprocal Elizabeth Ii

Author:Bob Hawke

“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 cooperation at the economic level, to some extent, with the more developed countries helping the less developed. How substantial that is now, I simply am not versed.”

Thinking Stills Country Helping Courses Levels Economic Degrees Achievement South Enormous Cooperation South Africa Commonwealth Developed Country Rhodesia

Author:Bob Hawke

“The personality of the Queen [ Elizabeth II]... For instance, once she goes - if she's ever going to die, it seems to be questionable - if Charles [of Wales] were there, whether there'd be the same sort of cement is very questionable, I think.”

Ifs Thinking Seems Dies Personality Instance Queens Wales Cement Questionable Queen Elizabeth Elizabeth Ii

Author:Bob Hawke

“Institutions do live on their history.”

Author:Bob Hawke