Mr SHORTEN (Maribyrnong—Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): With the passing of Gordon Darling our arts community has lost a generous benefactor, a creative visionary and one-half of one of our nation's most formidable philanthropic partnerships. For all his tremendous success in the world of business it is Gordon Darling the art lover and patron whom we remember today. Gordon and his beloved wife, Marilyn, devoted their energies to the promotion of Australian art. As chairman of the Australian National Gallery he financed the Australia Pacific Print Fund, allowing the national collection to acquire more than 7,000 prints. The first exhibition Gordon and Marilyn convened, in 1989, called Uncommon Australians, was the catalyst for what we all now know and celebrate as the National Portrait Gallery. Gordon worked tirelessly to attract the funding and support for his idea, and from the temporary accommodation in the National Library and then Old Parliament House, he secured the collection a permanent home in that marvellous building which attracts and enchants so many visitors. In a statement paying tribute to Gordon's memory the Chair of the National Portrait Gallery, Helen Nugent, and its Director, Angus Trumble, said: If the magnificent home of the National Portrait Gallery could be compared to St Paul's Cathedral then Gordon Darling was Christopher Wren, and those two men, separated by history and distance, could rightly share the same epitaph: 'If you seek his monument, look around you.' This is the great gift of philanthropy—the good that lives on for all to see long after you are gone. Gordon Darling will never truly be lost to our nation. The generosity he inspired and the priceless treasures he secured will ensure that his legacy lodges in the hearts of all Australians moved by the magic of art. Here in the city to which he made an everlasting contribution, we honour the work of Gordon Darling and give thanks for the life he led. We offer our deep sympathies to his wife, Marilyn, his family, friends and loved ones. May he rest in eternal peace.