Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That the Senate records its deep regret at the death, on 9 May 2015, of the Honourable Michael John Randal MacKellar, AM, former minister and Member for Warringah, places on record its appreciation of his long and highly distinguished service to the nation and tenders its profound sympathy to his family in their bereavement.

Michael John Randal MacKellar was born on 27 October 1938 in Sydney. He grew up on a small grazing property near Narrabri and attended Sydney Church of England Grammar School and Sydney University, where he graduated as a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture—a rarity in the parliament. He then went to Oxford and graduated as a Master of Arts. He joined the New South Wales Department of Agriculture in 1961 and worked as an agricultural extension officer and part-time lecturer in agricultural extension at Sydney and NSW universities until entering parliament.

He won preselection for the seat of Warringah against the sitting MP, Edward St John, who had fallen foul of the Liberal Party with his outspokenness against the then prime minister. Mr MacKellar was elected, at the 1969 election, to the House of Representatives. He quickly showed his capacity, being appointed to represent the House on the council of the ANU, becoming Deputy Chairman of Committees in 1974 and joining the shadow ministry that same year. After the 1975 election, he was appointed Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs. He held this portfolio until 1979, when he was appointed Minister for Health. He also held portfolios as Minister for Home Affairs and Environment, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister.

It was as immigration minister that Michael MacKellar's contribution to our nation is most remembered. As his successor in the seat of Warringah—our current Prime Minister, the Hon. Tony Abbott MP—said on the weekend, Mr MacKellar oversaw the placement of tens of thousands of Vietnamese who were fleeing communism. The wonderful contribution that many Vietnamese Australians have made to our country over the last 40 years can be traced to the positive decisions made by Mr MacKellar as minister at that critical time. It is worthy to reflect that at that time there was not unanimity about this approach. Indeed, the then Labor leader disparagingly referred to the Vietnamese refugees as 'Viet Balts'—a reference to another population, from the Baltic states, also fleeing the horrors and oppression of communism. Mr MacKellar argued for the positive influence of immigration. Indeed, in 1979 he argued that immigration was important given the ageing of the Australian population, making the prediction then that by 2011 the average age of an Australian would be 35. I checked this morning with the library and he was nearly right: in 2011 the average age of an Australian was 37.

Mr MacKellar was also, with the then communications minister, the Hon. Tony Staley, the instigator of the ethnic television services of the Special Broadcasting Service, SBS, in 1978. He held the seat of Warringah for 25 years, being elected on 11 successive occasions. Apart from serving as a minister, Michael MacKellar served as Opposition Whip, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business and on a range of committees. He was a parliamentarian in the true sense.

In early 1994, he retired from the House to enter the private sector. At that time, the Prime Minister, Mr Keating, noted that they were the last two of the 1969 intake, and he paid warm tribute to Michael MacKellar's contribution to the parliament and to his character.

Mr MacKellar was chief executive officer of the Plastics and Chemicals Institute of Australia until 1997, when he became chief operating officer of the Baker Medical Research Institute. He was also active on the board of the Sydney 2000 Paralympics Games, having a strong personal interest in sport for those with disabilities. In 1998 he was appointed chairman of the Australia New Zealand Food Authority.

He had a compelling commitment to aged care from his work in the health portfolio and served as a director of the Ageing Research Institute and the Centre for Eye Research Australia and as a council member for the Royal Blind Society. He was also chairman of Vasey RSL Care in Melbourne. Michael McKellar's contributions to the parliament and the community were recognised by his being awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001 and then being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2011.

To his children, Cameron, Duncan and Maggie, and his grandchildren, and to his partner, Pam, and her family, on behalf of the government I offer my sincere sympathies. His was a major contribution to our nation, and we salute his service.