My take on Bob Hawke.
Hawke's gift was that people liked him, not the concept of him, but him. He had an incredible popularity (think Kevin Rudd) except unlike Rudd was approachable beneath the facade.
As prime minister history will show that he was at his best when the abrasive Paul Keating was his treasurer. Keating was seen as pushing through the tough reforms the country needed, whilst Hawke made it seem palatable to enough to say in power. When he and Keating split, he became a nothing PM (& Keating likewise was nothing without him as well).
Hawke oversaw some tough reforms when Australia was struggling. He was pro reform and got his union mates to toe the line. One thing Hawke was strong on was he governed for all Australians, not just those who voted for him.
He had his flaws of course, but overall he made a decent fist of a tough job.