Robert Hawke (Hawke Robert)

(p. 1929)
Born December 9, 1929 in Bordertaune (South Australia). He graduated from the University of Western Australia, where he received degrees in economics and law, trained at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar (1953-1955). He worked at the Australian Council of Trade Unions (1958-1969), in 1969 was elected president of the Council, remained in office until 1978. Hawk also served as the Reserve Bank of Australia and the International Labor Organization. In 1971-1973 was the first vice-chairman in 1973 - Chairman of the Liberal Party. In 1980 he was elected to the House of Representatives, in 1983 became the leader of the Labor Party. Became prime minister after the party's victory in elections March 5, 1983.
Hawke was known as a supporter of consensus between the major social and economic groups in Australian society. Its government supported big business in key areas of economic policy (inflation, rising interest rates and reduced payments deficit). Hawke froze salary increases, cut spending on social programs and devalued the national currency. His premiership was closer links with Australia, U.S..

In the recession 1990-1991 popularity Hawk down. In June 1991 he faced an unprecedented challenge from the young politician P. Keating. In December 1991, resigned from his post as Prime Minister