Philip Ruddock (Berowra, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I want to take this opportunity to thank the chamber for allowing us today to be able to continue this condolence motion, because when it was being debated yesterday his state funeral was being held and I had the honour to represent the Prime Minister of Australia at that service. But, for me, I think it was particularly important that I do so, having served with him in the parliament—in my case, from 1973, when I was first elected, until 1983, when he left the parliament and later became the High Commissioner to New Zealand. So I speak of somebody I know.

I had the privilege of seeing him on another sad occasion: the death of Margaret Whitlam. I remember well the conversations I was having with Les in the New South Wales library, after the service, when we were able to reflect on some of our times together. I will not regale all of the activities I know him to have been involved in, save to say that he was an extraordinarily effective federal member for Hughes. When you heard about the way in which he linked with that electorate, I think he would be a very important role model for so many members of parliament today to examine and see what you need to do if you want a long career in this place.

I do know the Deputy Leader of the Opposition was right when she observed that yesterday there was a lot of reflection on the way in which Les Johnson undertook his activities in the seat of Hughes. It is not the part of Sydney I am from. I often talk of Sydney as being a city of tribes, and those from the shire are often seen to be very different! I represent the hill tribes of Sydney—I tell people that frequently! But I am familiar with those southern areas of Sydney. For him to be able to build the linkages he did I think demonstrates the extraordinary individual he was, because he covered the field. He was seen to represent the whole of the community in a very positive way. But I was particularly gratified that he had this continuing interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs. It is reflected in some other roles he undertook that I too have filled at one time or another. He was a member of the council of the then Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, he was the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and he had an engagement in relation to our First Australians that predated his election to parliament. That has been brought out in the eulogies that have been written.

For my own part, I very fondly remember that, when I came into parliament after a by-election, I was approached by a whip who said to me, 'You will have to get on a parliamentary committee.' I said, 'That is very interesting—what committee do you recommend?' He said, 'We will wait until we find a vacancy.' The first vacancy was on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs committee. I can remember, when we were doing an inquiry in relation to Yirrkala, walking around with the late Professor Stanner and becoming familiar with issues I knew very little about. I had had some engagement with Indigenous people at the University of Sydney, including with people like Charlie Perkins, but I really did not know a great deal. For me it was an education.

There was a change of government in 1975. Billy Wentworth came to me and said, 'I think you had better be the chairman of the Aboriginal Affairs committee—I am going to propose you.' I was appointed chairman of a committee that had three former ministers for Aboriginal affairs on it: Billy Wentworth, Gordon Bryant and Les Johnson. So my early induction around the Northern Territory and Western Australia was kept in line by three former ministers for Aboriginal affairs.

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