Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I rise on behalf of the Nationals to pass on our condolences to the family of Sir Ninian Stephen and to celebrate his contribution to the nation. Much has already been contributed in this place to his remarkable career. Sir Ninian was a man of humility, intellect, generosity and courtesy, and a man with a sense of a lifelong duty and warmth of character. He is most notably known for his role as Australia's 20th Governor-General serving between 1982 and 1989, but his life is full of achievements that deserve reflection in this place.

Born on a poultry farm in Nettlebed near Oxford in the United Kingdom on 15 June 1923, he was the only child of Frederick and Barbara Stephen. Sir Ninian's father passed away when he was only six months of age, so he was raised in the loving care of his mother, who worked for an expatriate daughter to a wealthy Queenslander, Miss Beatrice Mylne. Miss Beatrice Mylne was a strong-minded woman with some political views that I'm sure many people in this place would take some issue with, but she did make a significant contribution to the education and early years of Sir Ninian's life. Miss Beatrice Mylne and his mother insured Sir Ninian received a good education, and it was on this solid foundation started in the United Kingdom and continued here in Australia that set Sir Ninian on a life path of humble achievement. He spent time abroad in Europe, and because of this Sir Ninian became fluent in German as well as speaking French impeccably—a skill he would use in later life, including as Governor-General during a conference with French President Mitterrand.

At the age of 16, Sir Ninian moved to Australia with his mother, and he spent a year at Scotch College in Melbourne. In 1941, he commenced the study of law at the University of Melbourne whilst working as an article clerk with Allen Arthur Robinson solicitors in Melbourne. But Sir Ninian's time as a university student was short lived, as he stood like many men of the time in active service of our country in World War II. From 1941 to 1946—a significant time both in history and in a young man's life—Sir Ninian served with the Australian military forces in the Pacific, specifically in Borneo and New Guinea, and he made his way up to the rank of lieutenant before being discharged. Upon return to Melbourne, he resumed studies and completed a law degree and a legal career followed. Others have reflected upon this career that lead to his appointment as Justice of the High Court in 1972.

Prior to all this, however, Sir Ninian met and married his lovely wife, Valerie Mary, and together they had—what may have been seen certainly from him as his five proudest achievements, his daughters—Mary, Ann, Sarah, Jane and Elizabeth. Mrs Stephen was described by The Canberra Times in 1982 as the very model of a Governor-General's wife, but we know she was an esteemed lady in her own right involved in many of the community activities supporting other women and children, as well as successfully raising five career-orientated and successful daughters. Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser chose Sir Ninian Stephen as an admiral successor to Zelman Cowen, Australia's 19th Governor-General. Sir Ninian Stephen's posting was said to be years in the making, well deserved and widely welcomed. In fact, Gough Whitlam congratulated the then Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, for a Governor-General of Sir Ninian Stephen's calibre.

Governor-General was a role that Sir Ninian was humbled by, stating in his official statement to the posting: 'This is a very great honour that our country has done us.' He articulated his thoughts on the role as representing not simply the Queen in Australia but 'the Australian nation to the people of Australia'. He is remembered as a highly successful Governor-General, including for his contribution to Australia's foreign affairs. Sir Ninian Stephen's contribution in this area continued in his future career, including in his role in peace negotiations in Northern Ireland. He would acknowledge that his contribution might not have brought immediate peace to Northern Ireland; however, many have reflected that his patient efforts helped bring about the Good Friday agreement in 1998.

I think we could all learn something from his approach to these and other difficult discussions that he was involved in. His technique was to encourage those he was working with to state their positions and then allow a solution to be brokered through that discussion rather than imposing himself and his solutions onto others. It is a tribute to his humility that, when asked what he thought of the role of Governor-General and why he was chosen, he thought it best that his actions do the talking and responded with:

I don't know. That calls for an immodest answer. It's much better that others should think up the reasons.

The reasons are certainly renowned now. Since his passing on 29 October 2017, tributes have flooded in for Sir Ninian and the man that he was. High Court Judge Michael Kirby, at Sir Ninian's 80th birthday, said:

Serving Australia was not enough for Ninian Stephen. He went beyond and served a wider world.

He was a great statesman, a great mind and an even greater man. Vale Sir Ninian Stephen.

Question agreed to, honourable senators standing in their places.