(VOVWORLD) - Former Australian Prime Minister and Labor Party leader Bob Hawke, who dominated Australian politics from 1983 to 1991, has died at the age of 89.
The charismatic politician is credited with modernising the economy, brought Australia to international integration, and created Australia's universal healthcare system and environment policy.
Winning four elections, he became the centre-left Labor Party's third longest-tenured leader after former PMs Robert Menzies and John Howard.
Hawke’s family will hold a private funeral, to be followed by a public memorial service in Sydney in the coming weeks.