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Bill Hayden, a former governor-general and leader of the Labor Party, has died at the age of 90.

Hayden served as treasurer in the Whitlam government and as foreign minister under Bob Hawke, to whom he had ceded leadership of the ALP in 1983, before being appointed for a seven-year term as governor-general in 1989.

Bill Hayden.Credit: Quentin Jones

Brought up in a working-class household in Brisbane, Hayden joined the police force in 1953 and worked a second job driving a milk delivery truck.

His time in politics was characterised by support for progressive reforms, including a single mothers’ pension and Medibank, the precursor to Medicare.

He was baptised as Roman Catholic in 2018. He told Catholic media at the time that “there’s been a gnawing pain in my heart and soul about what is the meaning of life”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as Federal Labor Leader, said he mourned Hayden’s passing and honoured his life.

“My first thoughts are with Dallas, his beloved wife of 63 years, their children and all those who knew and loved him best,” Albanese said.

“If Bill Hayden left no other legacy than as a key architect of universal healthcare, he would still stand for all time as a legend of our labour movement and a great contributor to our nation.

“Bill gave so much more to the country he loved. Indeed in every role he held – governor-general, minister for social security, treasurer, foreign minister and Labor leader – Bill Hayden gave his utmost.

“In a time of forceful personalities, Bill Hayden was notable for his humility. Yet there was nothing modest about his ambition for Labor or Australia. This was the quiet strength of character he brought to the cause of progress.

“As a reforming minister for social security, Bill introduced Medibank, Australia’s first plan for universal healthcare. As a former police officer who understood that poverty too often trapped women in violent relationships, Bill introduced Australia’s first single mother’s pension.

“When Bill became leader after two devastating election defeats in 1975 and 1977, he gave the party a new direction and empowered a new generation of talent.

“As Paul Keating put it, Bill’s leadership made the turn to ‘Labor Mark II’, he laid the foundation for the social and economic reforms that created three decades of economic growth and delivered Australia a new era in education, foreign affairs, environmental policy and – of course – universal healthcare.

“When the story of that generation is told, history should record that without Bill Hayden championing and building Medibank, there could have been no Medicare.

“Without Bill Hayden’s commitment to budget discipline, Bob Hawke and Paul Keating would have found it harder to forge ahead with economic reform.

“Without Bill Hayden’s instinctive grasp of the relationship between facing our nation to the world and securing our prosperity for the future, the government in which he served might not have achieved the same degree of engagement in our region that still benefits Australia today.

“Fittingly for a man who left such a lasting policy legacy, Bill retained an enduring interest in the big ideas. Like so many of my colleagues, I benefited greatly from Bill’s advice, I valued his insight and I always appreciated the considered way in which he offered it.

“Bill Hayden knew the rewards of public life and he lived the challenges too. In the aftermath of 1975, he was the last Labor MP left standing in Queensland. He served as Leader through six hard years in Opposition and at the very last minute, was denied the chance to lead the party to a second election that many believed he would have won.

“Through it all, Bill Hayden never lost his sense of humour. Crucially, he never lost his faith in our party’s capacity to change the country for the better, he never doubted Australia’s ability to make a difference in the world and the work he did in the service of these causes will never be forgotten.

“My condolences to all who grieve for Bill Hayden today. May he rest in peace.”

Albanese said Hayden would be honoured with a state funeral.

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