Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

Kim Edward Beazley was elected to the federal seat of Fremantle in 1945 following the death of John Curtin. He was just 27 years old. He had recently graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in history. Just four years later, in 1949, Kim’s former university lecturer in history, Paul Hasluck, was elected to the adjoining federal seat of Curtin, which had been created in a redistribution after the war of the Federation seats of Perth and Fremantle.

Over a period of more than two decades, these two Western Australians from opposing political parties made the long haul across the continent to represent their adjoining constituencies. Sir Paul, aged 44 when he was elected, was somewhat dismissive, perhaps slightly envious, that the far younger Beazley had succeeded to the seat of Fremantle. He did not, according to Sir Paul, seem the sort of candidate that the Labor Party usually favoured. Writing in 1958, Sir Paul recollected Beazley, his former student, as ‘tall, fresh faced, prancing, intolerant of other students’ opinions and rather fond of his own’. I suspect Sir Paul had that view of all his former students. But writing in 1981, Sir Paul’s wife, Alexandra, had a rather different recollection, and in this instance, as in so many others, we should trust the woman. Alexandra remembered Kim Beazley in the parliament as a dashing young man who stood out among the tired and older looking men of Labor. She pointed out that they could boast few young members with a university education. The most noticeable was Kim Beazley, a good and thoughtful speaker who was so handsome he acquired the nickname ‘the Student Prince’.

Kim Beazley was a renowned public speaker. His parliamentary speeches have been described as ‘eloquent and elegant, often with a brilliant summing-up’. With a sharp intellect and a sensitive conscience, he made an invaluable contribution to the parliamentary debates of the day. As longstanding residents of the beautiful beach suburb of Cottesloe, once in the electorate of Fremantle and now in the electorate of Curtin, Kim Beazley Sr and his wife Betty were familiar faces around the western suburbs. Those who know the political make-up of my electorate may understand when I venture to suggest that, in their capacity as the foundation members of the Cottesloe branch of the Labor Party, there were perhaps some rather lonely evenings at their branch meetings. I have fond memories of more recent elections while visiting the polling booth at Cottesloe Primary School, when I observed Kim and Betty Beazley securing their spot to hand out how-to-vote cards for the Labor Party. In a polling booth that has generally returned a primary vote for the Liberal Party of 70 per cent or more over the past 50 years, the Beazleys remained cheerfully committed to the Labor cause, and Betty would bring a basket of biscuits to share amongst the volunteers, Liberal and Labor alike.

Kim Beazley Sr had three great commitments in his life: his family, the Labor Party and his faith. He had a great many more causes for which he argued passionately throughout his life. After 23 years in opposition, he was appointed Minister for Education in the Whitlam administration. Former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam later wrote that he believed that the transformation of the education system was his government’s most enduring single achievement and that Kim Beazley’s efficiency and integrity was one of his government’s great personal success stories. Canberra took over responsibility from the states for funding tertiary education. The Commonwealth Schools Commission was established, and assistance to non-government schools was increased. Kim Beazley was proud of the fact that he was able to establish a school chaplaincy program, an initiative revived many years later by the Howard government. His strong belief in the value of education was no doubt inspired by his own experience. He was a bright student, who won a place at Perth Modern School—also in the Curtin electorate—which has educated many of Western Australia’s and Australia’s leaders. He topped the state in English and history in the 1935 Leaving Certificate exams before completing his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Western Australia. He was a teacher before entering parliament.

By the time he retired in 1977, Kim Beazley Sr was the longest-serving member in the House. His passion for education continued long after his parliamentary career ended. He joined the Senate of Murdoch University and served for three terms, the last four years as Pro-Chancellor. In 1983, the Burke government appointed him to chair an inquiry into primary and secondary education in Western Australia, focusing particularly on the advent of technology. He advocated a technology revolution no less. The most prestigious academic award for secondary students in Western Australia is named the Beazley Medal in recognition of his achievements.

Kim Beazley Sr had a keen understanding of the properties of responsible government and the necessity of maintaining the highest ethical standards in public life. I extend my deep sympathies to his family, particularly Kim Beazley Jr, who has every reason to be immensely proud of his father’s legacy and the contribution that the Beazley name has made to Australian public life over 60 years.

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