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Graham Freudenberg Tribute – Anthony Albanese

Sep 10, 2019

This is the tribute to Graham Freudenberg, delivered to the House of Representatives by the Leader of the Opposition, Anthony Albanese.

Freudenberg was an ALP speechwriter and party historian. He began working for the ALP in the 1960s, first for Arthur Calwell and then for Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke. He also wrote for NSW Premiers Neville Wran, Barrie Unsworth and Bob Carr.

Freudenberg died on July 26, 2019, aged 85.

Albanese’s speech opened the adjournment debate in the House on September 10.

Listen to Albanese’s speech (5m):

Watch Albanese (5m):

Hansard transcript of Anthony Albanese’s speech to the House of Representatives paying tribute to Graham Freudenberg.

Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Leader of the Opposition) (19:28): Graham Freudenberg climbed inside the soul of the Australian Labor Party in search of the words that lay there. He came back to us with an entire language. When Freudy said the Labor Party was built on speeches, the identity of the master builder was never a mystery to the rest of us. He spoke to us in so many voices, but in each of them he spoke with clarity and power. He moved us, he persuaded us, and in a world where words barely outlast the moment in which they are spoken, he made us remember. [Read more…]

Filed Under: A.L.P., Audio, Video, Whitlam Tagged With: , ,

Doug Everingham Condolences

Sep 05, 2017

Three members of the House of Representatives offered condolences for Doug Everingham in the Federation Chamber today.

Everingham, the former ALP member for Capricornia (Qld) from 1967 to 1975 and from 1977 to 1984, died on August 24, aged 94. He was the Minister for Health in the Whitlam governments (1972-75).

Mike Freelander (ALP-Macarthur) spoke of the influence Everingham had on his medical career, particularly during the implementation of Medibank. He paid tribute to Everingham’s commitment to community health centres, mental health and his anti-smoking campaign.

The current Health Minister, Greg Hunt (Liberal-Flinders), spoke of Everingham’s contribution to Medibank and Medicare, and his work on behalf of Westmead hospital.

The current member for Everingham’s seat, Michelle Landry (LNP-Capricornia), spoke of her predecessor’s preselection at a time when Gough Whitlam was reforming the ALP and of Everingham’s commitment to spelling reform.

  • Watch the condolence speeches (15m – transcript below)
  • Listen to Mike Freelander’s speech (5m)
  • Listen to Greg Hunt’s speech (4m)
  • Listen to Michelle Landry’s speech (6m)

Hansard transcript of proceedings in the Federation Chamber.

Everingham, Hon. Douglas Nixon ‘Doug’

Consideration resumed of the motion:

That the House record its deep regret at the death, on 24 August 2017, of the Honourable Douglas Nixon Everingham, a former Minister and Member of this House for the Division of Capricornia from 1967 to 1975 and 1977 to 1984, place on record its appreciation of his long and meritorious public service, and tender its profound sympathy to his family in their bereavement. [Read more…]

Filed Under: A.L.P., Audio, House of Reps, Members, Obituaries, Political History, Video, Whitlam Tagged With: , , , ,

Doug Everingham Condolences: House Remembers Whitlam Minister

Sep 04, 2017

The House of Representatives today offered condolences following the death of Doug Everingham, the former Labor member for Capricornia and Health minister in the Whitlam governments.

Everingham died on August 24, 2017, aged 94. He represented the Queensland electorate from 1967 to 1975 and from 1977 until 1984. He was one of the original Whitlam ministers and held the Health portfolio throughout the Whitlam period.

Everingham

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten paid tribute to the former doctor during a condolence motion prior to Question Time. Both acknowledged Everingham’s commitment to health issues, especially mental health, and his work in establishing Medibank, the original universal health insurance scheme.

They acknowledged Everingham’s interest in linguistics, including his devotion to Esperanto and spelling reform.

Everingham’s death leaves just three of the original Whitlam ministers still living and five overall.

Everingham was first elected at a by-election in 1967. There are now just 16 members of the 26th Parliament still living.

The death of Doug Everingham means there are now 28 House members from the Menzies era (1949-72) still living. The oldest of these is Henry Pearce, who is also a former member for Capricornia. Pearce, a Liberal, will turn 100 on September 17, 2017. He held Capricornia from 1949 until he was defeated by the ALP’s George Gray in 1961. Gray’s death in 1967 precipitated the by-election won by Everingham.

Watch the Turnbull and Shorten speeches (10m)

Listen to Turnbull and Shorten (10m)

Hansard transcript of condolence debate for Doug Everingham.

Mr TURNBULL (Wentworth—Prime Minister) (14:01): I move:

That the House record its deep regret at the death, on 24 August 2017, of the Honourable Douglas Nixon Everingham, a former Minister and Member of this House for the Division of Capricornia from 1967 to 1975 and 1977 to 1984, place on record its appreciation of his long and meritorious public service, and tender its profound sympathy to his family in their bereavement. [Read more…]

Filed Under: A.L.P., Audio, House of Reps, Obituaries, Political History, Video, Whitlam Tagged With: , , ,

Who’s Left – The Surviving Members Of Every House Of Representatives Since 1949

Apr 01, 2017

*** CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST UPDATED VERSION OF THIS PAGE ***

Detailed information on the surviving members of the House of Representatives since 1949 is now available on this site. They include the members’ seats, parties, terms, dates of birth, ages and deaths.

All members of parliament who served in the first 18 parliaments from 1901 until the end of 1949 are now deceased.

There are two surviving members of the 19th Parliament that was elected on December 10, 1949. Both “forty-niners” are in their late 90s. One, Henry Pearce, will turn 100 in September this year.

Just four members of the House during the 1950s are still living.

For the entire Menzies era (1949-1972), there are 29 surviving members. All but four of them served together in the 27th Parliament between 1969 and 1972.

The table below provides a summary of how many members have served in the 19th to 45th parliaments. It shows how many are still living and what parties they belong to. There are links to more detailed information on each parliament since 1972.

Note: The data is structured around the parliaments since 1949. The numbers cannot be aggregated. Most surviving members served in more than one parliament.

Disclaimer: I am confident that the data shown here is correct. However, I rely on media reports and announcements in parliament for information on deaths of former members. I sincerely hope I haven’t killed or resurrected anyone. I am happy to receive corrections from readers.

House of Representatives – Members Still Living Since 1949
(Listed by Parliament No. and Years)
No. Years Size Members
Still
Living		 % Oldest Surviving
Member		 ALP Lib CP/
Nat		 Oth
19th
1949-1951
121
2
1.65
 Henry Pearce (99)
–
2
–
–
20th
1951-1954
131
2
1.52
 Henry Pearce (99)
–
2
–
–
21st
1954-1955
122
1
0.81
 Henry Pearce (99)
–
1
–
–
22nd
1955-1958
127
3
2.36
 Henry Pearce (99)
–
2
1
–
23rd
1958-1961
128
3
2.34
 Henry Pearce (99)
–
2
1
–
24th
1961-1963
125
5
4.00
 Jim Forbes (93)
2
1
2
–
25th
1963-1966
129
9
6.97
 Wylie Gibbs (94)
2
4
3
–
26th
1966-1969
130
17
13.07
 Mervyn Lee (96)
5
9
3
–
27th
1969-1972
128
24
18.75
 Doug Everingham (93)
11
9
4
–
28th
1972-1974
126
33
26.19
 Doug Everingham (93)
17
10
6
–
29th
1974-1975
128
44
34.37
 Doug Everingham (93)
18
17
9
–
30th
1975-1977
128
57
44.53
 Clarrie Millar (91)
10
36
11
–
31st
1977-1980
126
66
52.38
 Doug Everingham (93)
18
38
11
–
32nd
1980-1983
131
81
61.83
 Doug Everingham (93)
33
35
13
–
33rd
1983-1984
131
90
68.70
 Doug Everingham (93)
57
21
12
–
34th
1984-1987
149
111
74.49
 Clarrie Millar (91)
64
31
16
–
35th
1987-1990
153
122
79.73
 Clarrie Millar (91)
74
33
15
–
36th
1990-1993
150
131
87.33
 Steele Hall (88)
72
44
13
–
37th
1993-1996
155
137
88.38
 Steele Hall (88)
75
44
16
–
38th
1996-1998
150
139
92.66
 Ian Sinclair (87)
49
69
18
–
39th
1998-2001
152
145
95.39
 Garry Nehl (83)
68
61
16
–
40th
2001-2004
151
146
96.68
 Frank Mossfield (81)
65
65
13
3
41st
2004-2007
151
147
97.35
 Wilson Tuckey (81)
61
72
12
2
42nd
2007-2010
155
153
98.70
 Wilson Tuckey (81)
83
56
11
3
43rd
2010-2013
150
148
98.66
 Bronywyn Bishop (74)
72
59
12
5
44th
2013-2016
153
152
99.34
 Bronwyn Bishop (74)
56
76
15
5
45th
2016-
150
150
100
 Warren Snowdon (67)
69
60
16
5

 

Filed Under: 1949 Federal Election, 1951 Federal Election, 1963 Federal Election, 1966 Federal Election, 1972 Federal Election, 1974 Federal Election, 1975 Federal Election, 1977 Federal Election, 1980 Federal Election, 1983 Federal Election, 1984 Federal Election, 1987 Federal Election, 1990 Federal Election, 1993 Federal Election, 1996 Federal Election, 1998 Federal Election, 2001 Federal Election, 2004 Federal Election, 2007 Federal Election, 2010 Federal Election, 2013 Federal Election, 2016 Federal Election, A.L.P., Abbott, Backbenchers, By-Elections, D.L.P., Fraser, Gillard, Greens, Hawke, House of Reps, Howard, Keating, Liberal National Party, Liberal Party, Members, NXT, One Nation, Palmer United Party, Rudd, The Nationals, Turnbull, Whitlam Tagged With:
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