Gillard, Julia, MP

Ms GILLARD (Lalor—Prime Minister) (14:01): I move: That the House expresses its deep regret at the death on 15 February 2013, of the Honourable William Lawrence (Bill) Morrison AO, a former Minister and Member of this House for the Division of St George from 1969 to 1975 and 1980 to 1984, places on record its appreciation of his public service, and tenders its profound sympathy to his family in their bereavement. It is not so long ago that this House said farewell to Joe Riordan. Now we gather to pay tribute to another member of that remarkable band of brothers of the Whitlam cabinet. There were 32 who served during those three tumultuous years. Now, with Bill Morrison's passing, there are just 11 left. They were by any measure an extraordinary group: men of the greatest generation, many of whom served our nation in war, all of whom served our nation with distinction in peace; men whose brilliant careers were brought to an end by the Dismissal, except for Bill's. His career was not brought to an end. Bill Morrison returned to this House for two final terms between 1980 and 1984, enjoying the satisfaction of seeing Labor returned to the treasury benches—30 years ago this month. Not content with that return to federal politics, he followed that up with a stint in local government, in Rockdale Council, in the 1990s, a lovely way to conclude Bill's life in politics. And what an amazing life in politics it was. Bill Morrison was a butcher's son—a craft he also learnt himself. Born in working-class Lithgow, he was raised on Sydney's northern beaches before they were fashionable. Hard work at school led him to a university scholarship. So, instead of following in Chifley's footsteps into the railways, as his father wanted, Bill graduated from Sydney university and joined the diplomatic service. In that job, he enjoyed a bit part in our country's greatest ever foreign policy imbroglio, the Petrov affair, being one of the three Australian diplomats expelled from Moscow in retaliation for Prime Minister Menzies giving asylum to the Petrovs. Bill famously demonstrated his displeasure to the Soviets in a way that is thoroughly unparliamentary to mention but would have left a lasting impression on anyone looking out of the Kremlin windows that night! Bill Morrison's diplomatic career flourished through the 1950s and 1960s. He was an early advocate for our engagement with Asia. He was bitterly opposed to the Vietnam War. He believed in multilateralism and the power of international engagement to resolve differences. Above all, he believed in a distinctly independent Australian voice on the world stage and did so much to articulate that voice in his own life and his own work. Bill Morrison was serving as Australian Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia when asked by Gough to contest the seat of St George in 1969, as Whitlam sought to renew and rebuild the Labor Party. Bill won the seat by one of the slimmest margins since Federation, just 69 votes—a result confirmed by five excruciating recounts. In 1972, Bill Morrison was appointed Minister for External Territories, which meant he was the minister responsible for guiding Papua New Guinea to self-government, which he did with much success. Bill later held the portfolios of science, defence and consumer affairs, as well as being Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs. By every account, he was a good minister, intelligent, astute and thoughtful. After the hurt of the Dismissal, Bill did a stint in academia before returning to this House. He was at that time pipped at the post for a ministerial vacancy and he retired from federal politics prior to the election of 1984. Bill's service to the Commonwealth continued in the role of Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, a post he held from 1985 to 1989. It was a fitting conclusion for a man whose career as a diplomat, politician and academic was overwhelmingly dedicated to foreign policy and to finding a creative role for Australia in the modern world. As usual, Alan Ramsey summed up Bill Morrison's life better than any of us could. He wrote of Bill: He never lost his integrity, his idealism, his independence, his sense of humour, or his pants. Indeed, Bill Morrison was an adornment to this parliament and to our party. He enriched our nation and helped it grow up. He gave his best years to Australia, and now Australia says farewell to a good and faithful servant. To Bill's loving wife of 55 years, Marty; to their children, Tanya, Kim and Melanie; to their seven grandchildren; and to Bill's many colleagues and friends go the condolences of a grateful nation.