Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

'Well may we say God save the Queen because nothing will save the Governor-General.' That is one of the most famous sentences ever uttered. As Edward Gough Whitlam spoke those words, hovering around on the steps of Old Parliament House was one Norman Gunston. That was an only-in-Australia political moment. Could you imagine any other country where such an historic event was taking place—the dismissal of the country's leader—and you've got a comedian there doing almost stand-up comedy, talking with Kip Enderby, discussing the moment with Bob Hawke and others. Billy Sneddon was there. Of course, that statement has gone down in the annals of Australian political history.

There are many things we could say about EG Whitlam but I want to praise the great man—the great man—for that decentralisation program that he undertook. Certainly the Taxation Office going to Albury and, indeed, the establishment or promotion of Albury-Wodonga as united, as one, are hallmarks of what he did and what he achieved. Perhaps not many people know this but when he was 81 and contemplating his own mortality, in characteristic fashion he said, 'I first saw an aircraft in December 1919 when my father took me to Middle Head to watch Ross and Keith Smith when they flew to Mascot at the end of the first flight by Australians from England to Australia. I first boarded an aircraft at RAAF Cootamundra.' So the Riverina has an important piece of aviation history connected with the great man. Certainly he became a pilot of renown. He was obviously somebody who loved his country. All prime ministers love their country as all MPs, I would like to think, love their nation.

As I said, it's a shame that the decentralisation program he pursued vigorously at the start really hasn't been taken advantage of as a legacy of Gough Whitlam and we haven't got the big cities in inland Australia that we see in other countries, such as, for example, the United States of America. Eighty per cent of Australians—I think it's probably even higher—live on the eastern seaboard, They live on that coastal strip. We have such amazing opportunities for Australians and for migrants to avail themselves of in inland Australia. Gough had that vision. He tried to develop Albury-Wodonga as another big Canberra perhaps. But, whilst Albury-Wodonga is doing very nicely, it probably hasn't realised the vision that Gough had when he went there, when he stood on top of the hill and when he looked at the marvellous vista that there is. Today, only a small number of Commonwealth government agencies have established rural or regional offices in support of decentralisation. That is such a shame, because Gough did have that vision for this nation.

One of his other great legacies I would like to talk about is his late marvellous wife, Margaret. He was married to Margaret from 1942 until her death in 2012. Of course, EG Whitlam outlived her by a couple of years, dying on 21 October 2014 at the age of 98. But what a partnership they were. What a pair they were when they were either doing domestic duties or, indeed, on the world stage. There are many, many university graduates who owe their degree to Gough's vision for Australia. He wanted to make this country a smarter, fairer place. Yes, like for all prime ministers, there were ups and downs along the way. Certainly the end wouldn't have been the way that he would have liked it. But we record that moment in time. I'm pleased that the now Governor-General Sam Mostyn is also acknowledging this time and its importance with some activities and events because, as Australians, we should mark this very important milestone.

Debate adjourned.

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