The name of former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke has once again found itself in the public spotlight following the publication of court documents related to his estate.
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His youngest daughter, Rosslyn Dillon, filed a lawsuit in the New South Wales Supreme Court as part of a dispute over the distribution of assets. In her affidavit, she claims that in the 1980s she was sexually assaulted by former Victorian politician Bill Landeryou, who died earlier this year.
According to published reports, Dillon claims she told her father about the incident, but he allegedly asked her not to go to the police while he was fighting for the leadership of the Labor Party. These allegations are part of her $4 million lawsuit against an estate valued at approximately $18 million.
It is important to note that the events described refer to the 1980s and are cited from documents filed in court. Hawke himself passed away in 2019 and cannot comment on these allegations. He was previously considered one of the most successful prime ministers from the Labour Party, leading the country after the 1983 election.
Sister Dillon’s sister, Sue Pieters-Hawke, told the media that she supports her sister and confirms that the family was aware of her statements in the past. However, she noted that at that time, the matter was not referred to the legal authorities.
Some current politicians, including Tanya Plibersek, declined to comment on specific details due to the ongoing legal proceedings, but emphasized in general terms that any allegations of abuse should be investigated by the competent authorities.
The court proceedings concern not only the distribution of the inheritance, but also the assessment of the circumstances set out in the affidavit. Some publications also point to possible discrepancies in the dates given in the documents, which may be the subject of further examination in court.
The story has caused a public outcry because it involves a politician who has long been one of the key figures in modern Australian history. The final conclusions on the case are to be made by the court.
