This series consists of bound volumes and papers of various royal commissions held during Prime Minister Hawke's term in office. Items include:

• papers from the Royal Commission on Australia's Security and Intelligence Agencies (1983) with a transcript of court proceedings;
• the (Costigan) Royal Commission on the Activities of the Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union (Volumes 1 to 11) with a briefing, transcript materials and VHS tape;
• the Inquiry into Alleged Telephone Interceptions (Volume 1 and the final report, Volume 2); and,
• extract, transcript and papers concerning the Hope (Combe-Ivanov) Royal Commission (1983), Volumes 1 to 4.