Bob Hawke blames decline in quality of politicians on intrusiveness of media

Former prime minister says the 'poor quality of representatives' is a worldwide phenomenon partly caused by media focus on politicians' private lives

Bob Hawke has blamed "the increasing intrusiveness of the media into private lives of politicians" for what he sees as a decline in quality of MPs and leaders in Australia and abroad.

In a wide-ranging address at the Woodford Folk festival in Queensland, where the 87-year-old has spoken for eight years in a row, the former prime minister said "poor quality of representatives " is not a purely Australian phenomenon - it's a worldwide phenomenon".