Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak in favour of the condolence motion, moved by the Leader of the Government in the Senate.

Much has already been said about the passing of Australia's 21st Prime Minister, Edward Gough Whitlam. As one of the youngest members of this parliament, in this place and the other, I missed the excitement, hope and drama that surrounded his short time as Prime Minister. I was but a twinkle in my father's eye. But ever since I was a young girl I have been very aware of the longevity of his leadership.

His legacy and vision have been a point of discussion and hope amongst my parents, aunties and uncles, and many of my family friends. I remember growing up, hearing many debates and discussions about the reforms of the Whitlam government.

We have already heard much today and in the past week of the achievements of Gough's government, the sweeping reforms and the vision of policies that have stood the test of time—grand visons built on practical improvements, not only sewerage and indoor plumbing but also immediate measures such as ending conscription.

Education reforms have seen a significant and lasting impact with many even in this place gaining a free education because of the reforms of the Whitlam government and, of course, something very close to my heart, his leadership for embracing multiculturalism and reforms for a fairer immigration and citizenship policy and program.

Leaders are, by definition, ahead of the pack. History is a better judge of the vision of a politician than the polls and this is no truer than in the case of Gough Whitlam. In the main 18 months when he made sweeping reforms that changed our nation forever, many criticised the speed at which he did so, changes that made the world a better and fairer place for a young girl like me growing up: equality, human rights and respect for the difference of others.

Few criticise Whitlam for the direction of these changes but many for the pace with which he pursued them. But sometimes sweeping change and acting quickly are necessary. When it comes to big problems like climate change, for example, the science tells us that it would be better to try too hard than to do too little, too late. I sincerely believe that, if Whitlam were in this place today, he would be bold on climate action and he would be telling everybody else to pull up their socks and to get on with it.

When speaking to friends and family this past week about Gough's passing, everybody spoke with gratitude and love in an obvious and often very personal manner. One family friend told me: 'I think of Gough as the Prime Minister for Australia rather than of Australia. He was a person who wanted better for people.' For my parents' generation, Gough Whitlam spoke to and inspired them. Mr Whitlam spoke to and inspired the best in people. He gave people something to believe in, which is no small thing.

I first met Gough Whitlam when I was 15 years old, and I distinctly remember the day. It was 9 February 1997—in fact, 9 February was the day he was first elected, so it was an anniversary. It was also the launch of the Whitlam Lecture Series at the Sydney Town Hall. Gough spoke, and he gave great hope and brought great gravitas, and, to the Labor side of politics, he gave some much-needed inspiration, when Labor had just lost government to John Howard at the 1996 election. My aunt Mary had organised the event, and some may think that, as a 15-year-old, I was dragged there—but that would be far from the truth. I remember being extremely excited, and hoping that I might just get to meet the former Prime Minister, who I had heard so much about. I did, and it was a formative moment for me and one I will never forget. The Sydney Town Hall was overflowing and banked up outside. Gough's message, all those years on, was about believing in and standing up for the things that matter, and never giving up on values, ideas and people. It was a very hot February day in Sydney, and the town hall air conditioning broke down. Someone was sent out to get bottles of water for the hundreds of people crammed inside. It was very hot, but, even at the age of 81, it did not bother Gough at all. He stood there and spoke, and you could have heard a pin drop. He spoke of the importance of values: 'Values are not a luxury. They are vital. They steer and give reason to why we always fight the good fight. If our nation is to achieve true equality, we must have hope and be prepared to work for it, no matter how tough it gets. Values are for when things are hard, not simply for when decisions are easy. We must be prepared and ready to stand still in the wind.' These are lessons that I have always remembered, and that, I would like to think, in my own small way I have carried into this place. At the age of 15 I did not believe I would be speaking to a condolence motion in the Senate for the 21st Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam.

It is often forgotten in this place, in the midst of debate, that values and vision are not always the most popular at the time. But it is the mark of leadership to know when to move and went to stand, when to listen and when to speak. As I said earlier, history is a better judge of leadership than the polls, and it is truer today than ever before. Gough was a leader in every sense of the word—a man whose strength of value and efforts stretched far beyond his own side. I join today with my colleagues in this place and with the nation as a whole in offering my condolences to the Whitlam family. What a great man Gough Whitlam was—what a true leader. We are all richer as a nation because of his service, and, in return, a little poorer because of his passing.