Hawke backs push to legalise euthanasia

Former prime minister Bob Hawke has thrown his support behind a push to legalise euthanasia, telling today's politicians to have some guts.

Mr Hawke, who revealed his position on Andrew Denton's 'Better Off Dead' podcast, has told his wife Blanche that if he "loses his marbles" he hopes she can find a solution with their family GP, but acknowledges there are legal problems.

"That's why I would hope that partly perhaps as a result of Andrew's campaign our politicians may gather some guts to do something about it," he told ABC radio on Thursday.