Ex-Prime Minister Bob Hawke was today presented with an honorary life membership of the AMWU at the union’s national conference, in recognition of his lifelong contribution to the Australian labour movement.

Mr Hawke has been a member of the AMWU for over 50 years, since joining the Sheet metal Workers’ Union as a research officer in Victoria in 1959. By 1969, he was elected as ACTU President, a position which he held for 10 years before pursuing a career in federal politics, becoming Australia’s longest-serving Labor Prime Minister.

AMWU National Secretary, Dave Oliver, and National President, Paul Bastian, presented Mr Hawke with the award, and acknowledged Hawke’s achievements in furthering social progression both within the union movement and as Prime Minister.

“Bob is an icon of the Australian, and indeed global, labour movement.

“Real benefits and real gains were achieved from the Hawke era that workers still enjoy today“, said Dave Oliver.

In receiving the AMWU award, Mr Hawke spoke of the importance of education and the myth of superior conservative economic management. He also paid tribute to fellow union activist, former AMWU Assistant National Secretary, Laurie Carmichael, who was also in attendance.

“Laurie was always absolutely committed to the advancement of the working conditions of those whom he represented.

“He is absolutely a man of total integrity and I admire him immensely”, he said.

On the upcoming federal election, he emphasised the false representation of the Coalition as being responsible economic managers, speaking from his experience of taking on the office of Prime Minister after a Fraser-led Liberal Government.

 “What did I and my colleagues inherit from these so-called economic wizards in 1983? A poisoned chalice from Malcolm Fraser.

“They had hidden throughout the campaign a massive deficit. I knew something had to be done about it… Tough decisions had to be made.

“And in the last couple of years, throughout the global financial crisis, we’ve been faced with the greatest economic crisis since the great depression. The Rudd-Gillard Government were committed to stimulating the economy,  and the fact is that we are the only country that didn’t go into recession.”

“Whereas if they (Abbott-led Coalition) had had their way, we’d be like all the other countries going into recession and piling up the unemployed”, he said.

Hawke concluded his address by leading the conference attendees in a rousing rendition of ‘Solidarity Forever’.