It is no doubt a little presumptuous for someone who was very much part of the action to claim that the Hawke government was as good as it ever gets in Australia. But there are plenty of objective reasons to support the claim that the Hawke government of 1983-91 – and indeed the Keating government that succeeded it until 1996 – was “gold standard”.
The Howard-led Coalition government, which followed from 1996 to 2007, has its supporters for that accolade, but more for its longevity than for any excitement generated by its leadership, or for the strength, depth and diversity of the talent in its ranks, or – some excellent measures like gun control notwithstanding – for the range or quality of its achievements.
