Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, on indulgence, I wish to acknowledge the passing of Paul Ramsay, the founder of the Ramsay Healthcare Group. Paul Ramsay founded a mighty business empire, but he never lost his soul. Fifty years ago, Paul Ramsay bought a small hospital in Mossman, in my electorate. Today the Ramsay Healthcare Group employs some 30,000 people in five countries and it treats almost 1½ million patients a year. Paul Ramsay was, in the words of our former Prime Minister John Howard at his funeral last week, was the very embodiment of ethical capitalism. He tried never to do a deal such that the person on the other side of the table would not want to come back for another one.

I was lucky enough to meet Paul Ramsay some 41 years ago. He was a friend of mine and a friend to many in this House on both sides of the chamber. Paul Ramsay was generous to many good causes, some very dear to my heart. But above all else he was generous to this nation of ours. His bequest of his shares in the Ramsay group to a charitable foundation is by far the biggest charitable gift in our country's history—almost $3½ billion given in perpetuity for good causes. This is philanthropy on an epic scale. I hope we see more of it in the years and the decades ahead.

To his brother, Peter, to his twin sister, Anne, to his brother-in-law, Brian, and to their families, on behalf of the government I offer deepest condolences. He will be missed, but the good that he did will live on, and I hope that his example will live on as an inspiration to many others.

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