Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on behalf of the opposition on the condolence motion moved by Senator Abetz. David Scott Thomson MC's career was defined by service to his country, first as a military officer and then as a member of parliament, and today we honour his life.

Mr Thomson's challenging childhood, growing up outside Sale in Victoria during the Depression, gave him an appreciation of the importance of education and of hard work. As has been described, David Thomson had an exemplary military career which began at Duntroon, and he then went on to enter the parliament in later years. He graduated from Duntroon in 1943 and went on to serve during the Second World War in the south-west Pacific. In relation to the landings in Balikpapan in Borneo, Senator Scullion said that those who observe military history would be aware of it; I was aware of it because my family at that time was in Sandakan on the other side of the border, in the Malaysian part of Borneo as opposed to the Indonesian part of Borneo. Balikpapan is one of those conflicts which is known not only to Australians but also to people who know their history of the war for the people of Borneo, both Malaysian and Indonesian.

As has been described, he went on to serve in the Korean War, where he earned the Military Cross for the successful raid on Hill 227 against the Chinese. I will not reprise the extraordinary story of the playing of the bagpipes during the third and successful attack on Hill 227 except to say that it is a reminder that the unexpected is often a good tactic—something I am sure that people in this place would recall. Mr Thomson went on to command a battalion during the Indonesian Confrontation in 1966, and he reluctantly retired after over 30 years in the military. He moved to Palm Cove in North Queensland and, as Senator Abetz has said, he stood in the 1975 election as the National Country Party candidate for Leichhardt. In his first speech he outlined his priorities when he said:

I will be a clear, firm voice in this House so that the far north and Leichhardt, although far out of sight, will not be out of mind. I urge all honourable members to go north and to see for themselves the problems imposed by the tyranny of distance and to see also the vast potential of the area.

In many respects, Mr Thomson was an unusual conservative, or an unusual member of the National Country Party. He was a minister for science—first Minister for Science and the Environment and then Minister for Science and Technology. When he was minister for the environment, as has been remarked upon, he stated that there would be no oil-drilling on the Great Barrier Reef—which again was unusual—and recognised the threat of the crown-of-thorns starfish. He was also in the sometimes challenging position of being a North Queenslander who supported regional development but nevertheless managed to hold a position and balance those concerns.

He was also a strong advocate within the Fraser government for the modernisation of Australia's industrial base through supporting high technology industries. But perhaps most notable was his continued advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, demonstrating the capacity of true representation of his community in being able to overcome what might otherwise be stereotypical images of people's political positions.

In 1983 his seat fell upon the election of the Hawke Labor government. The passing of David Scott Thomson has seen the loss of someone who has been described as a true gentleman, someone who spent his entire life dedicated to the service of our nation, whether in the military or in the parliament. On behalf of the opposition, I extend our sincere condolences to his family.