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When Frank Sinatra landed in Sydney, he faced a barrage of angry reporters at his hotel, all demanding an apology. The situation escalated until trade union leader Bob Hawke, who would later become Prime Minister, stepped in to mediate. Hawke successfully convinced Sinatra to convey his “regret” regarding his controversial comments.
Reflecting on his visit as he departed Australia, Sinatra quipped, “A funny thing happened in Australia. I made one mistake. I got off the plane.”