Andrew Catsaras: Independent analysis and observations of Australian politics: No substitute for quality

Colleagues and scholars from coast to coast, across Bass Strait and all the ships at sea.

Dateline: Australia, Federal Politics, 2014.

There is no substitute for quality and "the first quality that is needed is audacity" (Winston Churchill).

Much is written and spoken about the great reforms undertaken by the Labor Government of the 1980's. It is widely acknowledged that these reforms help set Australia up for the 23 years of continual growth that we have enjoyed.

If you've ever wondered why this period was so productive, have a look at the quality of the first two Hawke ministries (1983-87) and you'll find your answer.

A period, sadly, never to be repeated.

(For those of us who are South Sydney Rugby League fans, we look back on the era from 1967 - 1971 with the same nostalgia, and for the same reason).

The First Hawke Ministry was the fifty-fifth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and held office from 11 March 1983 to 13 December 1984. Source: (Wikipedia)

Cabinet

Hon Bob Hawke, AC MP: Prime Minister
Hon Lionel Bowen, MP: Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Trade, Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Commonwealth-State Relations. Vice-President of the Executive Council (from 14 July 1983)
Senator Hon John Button: Minister for Industry and Commerce
Senator Hon Donald Grimes: Minister for Social Security
Hon Ralph Willis, MP: Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations. Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Public Service Matters (to 28 June 1983). Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Public Service Industrial Matters (from 28 June 1983).
Hon Paul Keating, MP: Treasurer
Hon Mick Young, MP: Special Minister of State (to 14 July 1983 and from 21 January 1984). Vice-President of the Executive Council (to 14 July 1983)
Hon Stewart West, MP: Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (resigned from Cabinet 4 November 1983, reappointed to Cabinet 3 April 1984)
Senator Hon Peter Walsh: Minister for Resources and Energy
Hon Bill Hayden, MP: Minister for Foreign Affairs
Senator Hon Susan Ryan: Minister for Education and Youth Affairs, Minister assisting the Prime Minister on the Status of Women
Senator Hon Gareth Evans, QC: Attorney-General
Hon Gordon Scholes, MP: Minister for Defence
Hon John Dawkins, MP: Minister for Finance. Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Public Service Matters (from 28 June 1983). (in Cabinet from 14 July 1983)
Hon John Kerin, MP: Minister for Primary Industry (in Cabinet from 4 November 1983)

Outer ministry

Hon Kim Beazley, MP: Minister for Aviation. Special Minister of State (14 July 1983 to 21 January 1984)
Hon Dr Neal Blewett, MP: Minister for Health
Hon John Brown, MP: Minister for Administrative Services, Minister for Sport, Recreation and Tourism
Hon Barry Cohen, MP: Minister for Home Affairs and Environment
Hon Michael Duffy, MP: Minister for Communications
Senator Hon Arthur Gietzelt: Minister for Veterans' Affairs
Hon Clyde Holding, MP: Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Hon Brian Howe, MP: Minister for Defence Support
Hon Chris Hurford, MP: Minister for Housing and Construction
Hon Barry Jones, MP: Minister for Science and Technology
Hon Peter Morris, MP: Minister for Transport
Hon Thomas Uren, MP: Minister for Territories and Local Government, Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Community Development and Regional Affairs

The Second Hawke Ministry was the fifty-sixth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and held office from 13 December 1984 to 24 July 1987.

Cabinet

Hon Bob Hawke, AC MP: Prime Minister
Hon Lionel Bowen, MP: Deputy Prime Minister, Attorney-General, Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Commonwealth-State Relations, Vice-President of the Executive Council
Senator Hon John Button: Minister for Industry, Technology and Commerce
Senator Hon Donald Grimes: Minister for Community Services (to 16 February 1987)
Hon Ralph Willis, MP: Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Public Service Industrial Matters
Hon Paul Keating, MP: Treasurer
Hon Mick Young, MP: Special Minister of State (to 16 February 1987). Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (from 16 February 1987)
Senator Hon Peter Walsh: Minister for Finance, Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Public Service Matters
Hon Bill Hayden, MP: Minister for Foreign Affairs
Senator Hon Susan Ryan: Minister for Education, Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women
Senator Hon Gareth Evans, QC: Minister for Resources and Energy, Minister assisting the Prime Minister, Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs
Hon John Dawkins, MP: Minister for Trade, Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Youth Affairs
Hon John Kerin, MP: Minister for Primary Industry
Hon Stewart West, MP: Minister for Housing and Construction
Hon Kim Beazley, MP: Minister for Defence
Hon Brian Howe, MP: Minister for Social Security
Hon Chris Hurford, MP: Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (to 16 February 1987). Minister assisting the Treasurer. Minister for Community Services (from 16 February 1987)

Outer ministry

Hon Gordon Scholes, MP: Minister for Territories
Hon Dr Neal Blewett, MP: Minister for Health
Hon John Brown, MP: Minister for Sport, Recreation and Tourism, Minister assisting the Minister for Defence
Hon Barry Cohen, MP: Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Environment, Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Bicentennial
Hon Michael Duffy, MP: Minister for Communications, Minister assisting the Minister for Defence
Senator Hon Arthur Gietzelt: Minister for Veterans' Affairs
Hon Clyde Holding, MP: Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Hon Barry Jones, MP: Minister for Science, Minister assisting the Minister for Industry, Technology and Commerce
Hon Peter Morris, MP: Minister for Transport, Minister for Aviation
Hon Thomas Uren, MP: Minister for Local Government and Administrative Services
Senator Hon Michael Tate: Special Minister of State (from 16 February 1987)
Ulysses No Name (just checking if you've read this far).