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

It is a privilege for me to speak on this condolence motion, as one who had the opportunity to serve in the other place, the old Parliament House, with Gough Whitlam and to know Gough and Margaret and their family. In a sense, he was responsible for my political career—and you may not thank him for that! But in 1973, when I was first elected, it was in a by-election to succeed Nigel Bowen, who had been a candidate for leadership of the Liberal Party and lost to Billy Snedden. Gough, I think, wanted to ensure that I was elected. He deigned to determine the issue of a site for Sydney's second airport, and he told the electors of Parramatta that the nearby suburb of Galston, which is presently in my electorate of Berowra, would be the site for Sydney's second airport. I must say it gave me a great deal to campaign on, and I have always been grateful for Gough's support.

He was, equally, generous. I have not heard that word uttered today, I think, except once. He used to see me and my wife at social events from time to time. I think he used the word more often for her than me, but he would refer to me as 'comrade'. I think that meant that I had at least developed a useful working relationship with him. I saw a man tremendously committed to this nation and its future, and all that has been said of him I witnessed.

You might ask: how did events unfold as they did? I just want to reflect on this for a moment. He had been in parliament since 1952. He served for some 26 years. He saw a government that had been in office for some 23 years. You can imagine, when you had worked on policy over a period of time and wanted to implement it, that you would be in a hurry, and I think Gough Whitlam and his colleagues, after 23 years in opposition, were in a hurry—and I can understand it. But the consequences were that many of those matters that they wanted to address cost money, and it did have its impact. In the Parramatta by-election, the impact was real—higher levels of unemployment, high levels of inflation, significant borrowings. I do not cast blame. I can understand how it arose. But you can see, in context, why question marks were raised. I think the explanation is that he and his colleagues wanted to produce those changes—so many of which I strongly support today. I see much of that continuing.

Some mention has been made—and I acknowledge the member for Watson and the member for Grayndler for their observations—about cultural diversity. Not all understand that some 25 per cent of our population is overseas born, that we are a remarkable society. The fact that we can bring together people from so many different backgrounds and demonstrate to the rest of the world that people can live together—and it is not always perfect—is a great tribute to us. I think Gough Whitlam as Prime Minister understood that. I can remember well seeing him at events when I was a minister and more latterly, when he was well enough, amongst many of our culturally diverse communities—particularly the Serbian community, as I look at the member for Werriwa. The way in which he ensured that we saw all of them equally as Australians of whom we can be proud, for me, was particularly important. I think as a Prime Minister he understood that better than most.

I want to comment about his family. I had the opportunity of seeing Nick Whitlam only a few weeks ago. There was a function run in Sydney with the Chinese community, by the Xinhua News Agency, with photographs of Gough when he was in China after the recognition that occurred—and I think we should look at that event positively, because our engagement with China today, which is so important to this nation, was possible because of those early decisions taken by Prime Minister Whitlam. There was an acknowledgement amongst the Chinese people that were there—and Nick was there to hear it—of the continuing benefit that Australia has seen as a result of his family's contribution.

I want to conclude my remarks by speaking further about Gough's family. We often comment about public life and its impact upon politicians, and particularly upon children. I do not reflect on anybody when I say this. But I want to talk about the Whitlam family because I think they were part of the journey with Gough and Margaret. I think it was great, as was mentioned by the member for Grayndler, that Tony Whitlam was able to be a member of this parliament as the member for Grayndler, that he had the desire and aspiration to play a part in public life, having seen it from as close as he did. This is a family that has made an enormous contribution to this nation and its future. It is appropriate to acknowledge it. I had the opportunity of being at the funeral of Margaret in 2012 and speaking to Gough on that occasion. It is a journey that we have walked together. I am very proud to have known him and pleased to have this opportunity to be able to pass my thanks to him and his family for the enormous contribution they have made to Australia.

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