McCormack, Michael, MP

Mr McCORMACK (Riverina—Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and Leader of the Nationals) (14:10): I acknowledge the eloquent words of both the Prime Minister and the opposition leader. We mourn the passing of our nearest neighbour's longest-serving Prime Minister. The true leadership of Sir Michael Somare is reflected in what we have today: strong and productive relations between our two nations and the continuing growth and development of Papua New Guinea as a true and honourable Indo-Pacific partner. Papua New Guinea transitioned to self-government in the mid-1970s. As the Prime Minister says, this transition was with significant support from Prime Ministers Gorton and Whitlam. They were backed by intense efforts from our ministers, not least the Minister for the Interior, Ralph Hunt, in 1971 and 1972, as well as the Minister for External Territories, Andrew Peacock, in 1972. It is significant that Papua New Guinea's governance and parliament is based on a Westminster style democracy. Sir Michael was a driving force, believing this would best serve the fragmented and highly decentralised population. The system has stood the test of time. Sir Michael had a great knack of bringing people together, not pushing them apart, which was so important in blending PNG's diverse interests into functioning self-government. He was consistently a strong friend to Australia, always looking for the common good. He could be direct, but people always knew where he stood. Everyone could see that Sir Michael was fiercely loyal to his own people. Their interests above all others came first. As the Australian Strategic Policy Institute notes, no PNG prime minister worked with more Australian prime ministers and their governments than Michael Somare. On a more personal level, Sir Michael had a great personal interest in Australian horseracing. Indeed, there may have been the odd occasion when plans for an Australian visit saw an option of an official lunch give way to a meeting at Doomben or Eagle Farm. At age 84, Sir Michael has been Papua New Guinea's longest-serving Prime Minister—17 years, in a political career which spanned the period 1968 to 2017, some five decades. This is extraordinary service to the people. We acknowledge the wonderful legacy that he has left to the people of Papua New Guinea. It is quite incredible, as, indeed, is his legacy to our own country and to the Indo-Pacific and beyond. We give thanks for his rich and wonderful life. Vale, a great man.