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'I promised we would win': Bill Shorten reveals last words with Bob Hawke

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has revealed the last time he saw former Labor prime minister Bob Hawke before the 89-year-old’s death.

Mr Shorten paid tribute to a giant of his party at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday night two days before the federal election.

"We have lost a favourite son," the Labor leader said.

"Bob Hawke loved Australia and Australia loved Bob Hawke, but his legacy will endure forever."

Mr Shorten said he spent time with Mr Hawke and his wife, Blanche d'Alpuget, last week.

A smiling Bill Shorten is pictured here with the late Bob Hawke on May 6.
Bill Shorten has paid tribute to Labor legend Bob Hawke who died peacefully at his home, his wife confirmed on Thursday night. Source: AAP

“At our Labor launch I told Bob we loved him, I promised we would win for him. I said the same to him the next day at his home, when I visited.” Mr Shorten said in a statement.

“It was Monday 6 May, the Sydney sun was out, that famous silver mane, now snow-white. Cigar in hand, strawberry milkshake on the table, the hefty bulk of his dictionary holding down the day’s cryptic crossword.

“I gave the man who inspired me to go into politics a gentle hug, I tried to tell him what he meant to me, what he meant to all of us. I couldn’t quite find the right words, few of us can, when we’re face-to-face with our heroes.

“But Bob knew. He knew what he meant to Australia, he knew what he had achieved for the country. He knew he was loved, right to the end.

Pictured is the late Bob Hawke with a young Bill Shorten.
Bob Hawke (left) and a young Bill Shorten (right). Source: Twitter/@Shorten_Suite

"He didn't speak about himself to me.

"He did, as he always does, ask about the ALP and the election."

The man who could be the country’s next prime minister said Mr Hawke brought Australia together, modernised the economy and protected the environment.

"We all loved Bob Hawke. We'll miss him a great deal. May he rest in peace," Mr Shorten said.

‘I want to do it for Bob’

Mr Hawke's death has cast a dark shadow over the campaign as the leaders make a last-ditch appeal to voters ahead of Saturday's election.

"I already feel a responsibility to millions of people to win but sure, I want to do it for Bob as well tomorrow," the Labor leader told Nine's Today on Friday.

"I don't want to let his memory down. I think a lot of Labor people will feel the same way."

Mr Shorten has changed his campaign plans after initially being expected to electioneer in Queensland.

The 89-year-old’s death brought a Labor legend into focus twice in the one day.

Mr Shorten made his final major campaign speech at the site of Gough Whitlam's "It's Time" address on Thursday.

Two more photos of Bill Shorten's visit with Bob Hawke who died aged 89.
Bill Shorten visiting his "hero" Bob Hawke on May 6. Source: @billshortenmp/@Shorten_Suite

He is aiming to become Labor's 13th prime minister, with polls showing he is narrowly on track for victory.

Labor's final day campaign focus is centred on highlighting its crackdown on tax loopholes for multinational companies.

"We will crack down on tax havens and the tax tricks used by multinationals and the top end of town, delivering $5.3 billion over the decade," the Opposition Leader said in a statement.

After more than five weeks of campaigning, the battle lines are drawn for Australia to decide.

"This election is a choice between Labor’s plan for better hospitals and better schools versus bigger tax loopholes for the top end of town under the Liberals," Mr Shorten said.

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