Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the people of Kingsford Smith, I would like to pay tribute and offer my respects to the family of Australia's 22nd Prime Minister, John Malcolm Fraser. Malcolm Fraser entered federal parliament at the ripe age of 25 in 1955. He was the youngest member of parliament when he was elected to the House of Representatives, but also the tallest. Over time, he left an enduring legacy in more ways than one on Australian politics.

I certainly did not agree with most of the Fraser government's policies—in particular, the government's approach to economics. During the Fraser years, Australia suffered shockingly high unemployment. The periods of wages freezes left a lot of Australian workers in very difficult circumstances. In my view, the blocking of supply was an unconscionable and destructive manipulation of Australian political processes. However, there were redeeming features of the Fraser government, and certainly in the wake of Malcolm Fraser's parliamentary career he became a great leader of our nation; an advocate for multiculturalism and for respect; and a fierce campaigner against racism. For that, we pay tribute to him.

Malcom Fraser's commitment and leadership of Australia regarding multiculturalism was admirable and deserves praise and respect. His policy of welcoming boat people who were fleeing the Indochina conflict of the 1970s and 80s really established a new bar for immigration policy and multiculturalism within Australia. The foundations of that approach were certainly laid by the Whitlam government but they were built on and raised by the Fraser government and that provided a foundation for the Hawke and Keating governments to extend Australia's welcome to Asia and to firmly position Australia within the Asia-Pacific region, economically, strategically and socially. That is a shift in policy that has paid dividends for our nation. Indeed, his advocacy for multiculturalism, his acceptance of Vietnamese boat people, is something he described by saying: 'I believe we have a moral and ethical obligation'. Those were admirable words.

Malcolm Fraser also deserves respect and tribute for his support of Aboriginal land rights and continuation of the very good work of the Whitlam government, despite some opposition within conservative ranks of the Liberal and National parties. His opposition and advocacy against apartheid is one of his finest moments. The work that he pursued within the Commonwealth to advocate for the end of apartheid, particularly going against the wishes of that shockingly racist British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, is a very admirable quality. His advocacy for an independent Zimbabwe and the fact that he stood up to racism not only in Australia but also internationally deserves Australia's respect.

Another very admirable quality of former Prime Minister Fraser is, of course, his support of constitutional reform in Australia and his fierce advocacy for Australia becoming a republic. His vocal campaigning in 1999, as a part of that campaign, was something that earned him much respect in the Australian community. I think that this stems from his clear understanding and his belief in the value of multiculturalism to Australia not only socially but also, importantly, economically. His vision for Australia as a nation that is integrated as part of Asia, that finds its security within Asia, not apart from Asia, I believe led to and provided the foundations for his very solid advocacy for Australia becoming a republic. He was a person who saw that Australia's future would benefit from a change in our Constitution and sending a clear message to our neighbours in the Asia Pacific that Australia is no longer just a colony of the United Kingdom; we are an independent nation, with our own identity—one that is truly placed in multiculturalism, and with the ability to achieve great things domestically and internationally within our region.

The final point I would like to make about Malcolm Fraser is his quite touching, at times, relationship with his former adversary, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, in later years. Their work together on campaigning for an Australian republic, their advocacy for multiculturalism and, in particular, the touching moment of them sitting together in this parliament when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered the apology to Australia's stolen generation were great moments in Australian political history. I can understand, having seen that vision, having felt the presence of those two giants of Australian politics in this parliament, why many in our community long for that sort of leadership in our nation once again.

On behalf of the people of Kingsford Smith, I pay tribute to Malcolm Fraser. I offer my sincerest condolences, thoughts and prayers to Tamie and his family. May he rest in peace.

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