‘Why don’t people like you?’ Deb Knight’s VERY ruthless question to Bill Shorten as she says Bob Hawke was far more popular than the Labor leader
- Today Show host Deborah Knight took a swipe at Bill Shorten and his popularity
- She asked the Labor leader why he continued to be less popular than Bob Hawke
- The question comes after Mr Hawke passed away last night at the age of 89
- His wife Blanche d’Alpuget said in a statement he had passed away peacefully
Today Show host Deborah Knight has taken a swipe at Labor leader Bill Shorten and asked why he is less popular than former prime minister Bob Hawke.
The morning show host asked Mr Shorten why he continued to struggle to draw in the favour of voters on Friday morning.
‘Hawke was immensely popular – people loved him even if they didn’t like his policies. Why are you still struggling to get voters to like you?’ she asked.
Mr Shorten responded, ‘I think you found and over the election campaign that as people get to see our policies and as we get to meet people, we have been doing better and better. I felt that the momentum has been with us in the last two weeks.
Today Show host Deborah Knight has taken a swipe at Labor leader Bill Shorten and and described him as less popular than former prime minister Bob Hawke
The pointed question comes after Mr Hawke passed away on Thursday night at the age of 89 (pictured, Bob Hawke with partner Blanche d’Alpuget)
‘In terms of the people, they will look at the policies. There is a mood for change. I think people want to vote for change to take real action on climate. To take real action in terms of getting wages moving.
The pointed question comes after Mr Hawke passed away on Thursday night at the age of 89.
The legendary politician’s wife Blanche d’Alpuget said in a statement that her husband died peacefully at home.
‘Today we lost Bob Hawke, a great Australian – many would say the greatest Australian of the post-war era,’ she said.
The former union leader dedicated much of his political career to trade union issues, and he was widely regarded as a man of his people.
He had a down-to-earth attitude, a passion for sports and legendary status among beer lovers, for once drinking himself into the record books.
He won four terms as prime minister, serving from 1983 to 1991 before being ousted by his own party when the economy soured.
Mr Shorten appeared on the Channel Nine talk show on Friday morning to pay tribute to the political stalwart.
‘Bob Hawke was one of my heroes,’ he said.
‘He won the 1983 election when I was in year 11 in school, when my interest in politics was really taking off. He was the first senior adult political leader as I finished my teenage years.’
Mr Shorten described the political giant as one of his biggest influences, who paved the way for his career.
‘I loved his approach to politics, it was one of the reasons why I chose the Labor party.
‘He believed in bringing people together. At the time he got the unions and the employers to sit down, he was about protecting the environment.’
More to come

The morning show host asked Mr Shorten why he continued to struggle to draw in the favour of voters on Friday morning