Bob Hawke saw unfinished business right up to the end, says Bill Kelty

Bob Hawke chats with former ACTU warrior Bill Kelty at Parliament House in 2011.He knew he was dying, but he was still thinking deeply about the world, Mr Kelty said."He was so heavily committed to it and we still haven’t got to it," Mr Kelty said.

"I saw him and I said I loved him, I did love him, we loved him and he knew Australians loved him," Mr Kelty said, choking back tears."He said he was dying and was dying with dignity, he wasn’t worried. But he was hoping to hold on to the election.""There’s not a person in this country who doesn’t owe him something."

Mr Kelty said he had known Mr Hawke since 1966 and that his relationship during the reform years was built on high levels of trust.Here was a bloke who recognised he was dying, and ... still thinking to the last minute of his life."It fundamentally refashioned the wages system and you take the pain on the basis of a promise.

Mr Kelty said the Australia of today was unrecognisable to that of before 1983 when Mr Hawke was elected prime minister.

My other favourite Bill.

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