Mr DUTTON (Dickson—Leader of the Opposition) (14:03): I join with the Prime Minister in honouring the life of Robert James Ellicott. Bob was born in Moree in 1927, the son of a wool classer and a shearer. A determination to succeed saw the eight-year-old boy resolve to become a barrister. Graduating with first-class honours in law, he went to the bar in 1951, making a name for himself in commercial, constitutional and property law. In 1964, he was a QC. In that decade, spurred on by teenage memories of the speeches of Churchill and Curtin, the allure of politics grew ever larger for Bob. The catapult to Canberra came with the position of Solicitor-General in 1969, and the foray into politics followed soon after, with his Liberal Party membership. Political connections established, Bob resigned as Solicitor-General in 1973, purchasing a home in the electorate of Wentworth. There he sought and won preselection, soon finding himself in Billy Snedden's shadow ministry. Bob took great pride in representing the people of Wentworth, describing them as 'intensely individualist' and 'strongly Liberal'. For the boy brought up on a farm who witnessed the problems of life and people in the lower to middle class, as he put it, and a man inspired by his Methodist Christian faith, it was not surprising that Bob spoke passionately on the alarming extent of poverty in Australian cities, towns and the countryside, during his maiden speech in 1974. He described poverty as cancerous and insidious in preventing people from realising their potential in a free society, citing rampant inflation as a key cause. Bob did not hold back from criticising the Whitlam government's social welfare program failures, saying it was more interested in vote-catching phrases and doubletalk. He was a man of conviction and standards who, supporters claimed, would never tell a lie. The softly spoken and mild-mannered Bob followed the letter of the law. In 1975, he defended the action of Governor-General John Kerr in the Dismissal. Twenty-five days before Whitlam delivered those famed words on the parliament steps, Bob had produced what the National Times would describe as the most thorough, tightly argued and prophetic legal opinion. But, in 1977, Bob's same principles saw him resign from the position of Attorney-General to which he had been appointed under Malcolm Fraser. He believed that the Prime Minister and cabinet had undermined his discretion and independence as A-G in the Sankey criminal proceedings. Despite their disagreement, Fraser applauded Ellicott's achievements as A-G, including the restructuring of the Federal Court system and legal aid, revisions to administrative law, the appointment of the first Ombudsman, expanding the jurisdiction of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and working to establish a human rights commission. After the Liberal victory in 1977, Bob was given ministerial responsibilities for the Capital Territory and for Home Affairs. The legal craftsman would leave a legacy here too, but one he didn't expect. Bob's 1978 referendum for the ACT's self-government failed, but he'd set in motion a change which would come a decade later. He cleaned up constitutional arrangements for Australia's external territories, and he was the architect of the Australian Institute of Sport, which he said 'took off in full flight like a 747'. Since 1981, the AIS has nurtured some of our finest athletes and seen Australia emerge as a world leader in sports physiology, medicine, nutrition and psychology. In 1981, after seven years in politics, Bob returned to the field which was his first love, when appointed a judge to the Federal Court. Though he coveted the role of Chief Justice of the High Court, Bob's legal opinions in 1975 would see him fatefully dismissed from candidacy. His highest ambition had been thwarted by his past principles, such was the cruel melting pot of law and politics. Any personal disappointment Bob may have felt is tempered of course by the public recognition of his achievements across so many fields of endeavour. On behalf of the coalition, I offer my heartfelt condolences to Bob's colleagues and his friends and family, especially his children, Suzanne, Penelope, Michael and John. Bob is now at rest with his beloved Colleen. May he rest in peace. The SPEAKER: As a mark of respect to the memory of the Hon. Robert James Ellicott, I ask all present to rise in their places. Honourable members having stood in their places— The SPEAKER: I thank the House. Debate adjourned.