World Notes AUSTRALIA

It was a weird political moment, even by Australia's raucous standards. There was Prime Minister Bob Hawke on national television last week, wiping a tear from his eye and telling his countrymen that yes, he had been unfaithful to Hazel, his wife of 33 years. In a paroxysm of soul baring, he reviewed his boozy past (Hawke was once listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for beer drinking) and his decision nine years ago to go cold turkey. "It was getting to the stage where, at the end of the day, I was looking forward too much to a drink."

None of this was news to Australians -- or anyone who has read Blanche d'Alpuget's frank biography of the gregarious trade unionist whose back- slapping mateyness helped make him Australia's most popular politician. But why did Hawke choose this moment to make a prime-time confession? Supporters think Hawke was trying to make up for insulting media play of his wife's recent face-lift. Opponents had a more political explanation: to distract attention from the effect rising interest rates and a soaring deficit have had on his standing in the polls.