Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

On indulgence, I rise to support the eloquent words of the Prime Minister. Margaret Olley's paintings brought out the character and the humanity of Australian domestic life. As the New York art critic Roger Kimball put it, 'She was the real thing in an age of posturing and ersatz'. She was a generous donor as well as a great painter. Thanks to Margaret Olley, the Art Gallery New South Wales now has an impressive collection of drawings by Degas, and paintings by John Russell and Lucian Freud. As Barry Humphries put it in his obituary for Margaret:

She did habitually what we all find difficult: doing good without being found out.

I should remind the House that amongst her many causes and concerns, Margaret was a founding member of a body dear to my heart, Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, which shows that she appreciated good governance as well as fine art. We mourn her passing and we celebrate her life.

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