DEATH OF THE HONOURABLE JACK GORDON BEALE, AO, A FORMER MINISTER OF THE CROWN
Page: 1836
Ms LINDA BURNEY (Canterbury—Parliamentary Secretary) [7.30 p.m.]: I move:
That this House extends to his family the deep sympathy of members of the Legislative Assembly in the loss sustained by the death on 7 June 2006 of the Hon. Jack Gordon Beale, a former Minister of the Crown.
Mr PETER DEBNAM (Vaucluse—Leader of the Opposition) [7.31 p.m.]: I am pleased to have the opportunity to talk about Jack Beale, especially as members of his family are in the gallery. In its obituary the Sydney Morning Herald described Jack Beale as a visionary, one of the first people to realise what would become a vital issue in Australia: how very critical water is to us. He was one of the people who put water on the agenda. Dr Beale made an outstanding contribution to Australian society and beyond, not only as a member of Parliament but also as a pioneer in the fields of resource development and environmental management. He was the honourable member for South Coast in the New South Wales Parliament from November 1942 until October 1973, and when elected he was one of the youngest members of the Legislative Assembly. When joining the Liberal Party in 1942 Dr Beale is reported to have said:
There must be complete unity amongst those fighting socialism and communism if we are to preserve our democratic way of life.
It is interesting that nothing has changed. We have to protect against socialists every single day of the week—and we have to do it here each day. During his career Dr Beale served as Minister for Conservation and Minister for the Environment as well as Minister Assisting the Premier and Treasurer. As Minister for the Environment, he made certain issues a priority, such as the water quality of Sydney Harbour, and sponsored early New South Wales laws relating to clean water, clean air, pollution control, and waste disposal, all of which I must add have unfortunately gone backwards in the past 12 years. He also introduced some of the first laws on pollution control, soil and forest conservation, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
As a Liberal Minister Jack Beale also commissioned river catchment studies collecting, for the first time, data on 32 major river catchments in New South Wales. There would not have been another Minister responsible for water anywhere in the world who had the engineering expertise to build and design dams, for which he was responsible. Projects such as the Brogo and Copeton dams are testament to his work and expertise. He was also a passionate advocate for the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme.
Dr Beale retired from Parliament in 1973. After his parliamentary career, he went on to serve as a part-time adviser to the United Nations Environment Program in Nairobi, undertaking missions to many countries, including Thailand, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Venezuela. Dr Beale's pioneering drought-proofing work on water conservation and agricultural engineering in India from 1952 to 1959 was credited by India's former Prime Minister Pandit Nehru as saving millions of Indians from famine.
Dr Beale was listed by the International Biographical Centre in England as one of the 2,000 outstanding people of the twentieth century. He received honorary doctorates from the University of New South Wales and the Australian National University, the latter establishing a Jack Beale Chair of Water Resources. He became an officer in the Order of Australia [AO] in 1999. Dr Beale is survived by his two sons, David—who is here tonight—and Christopher, and two grandchildren who live in New York. With that list of achievements and such a focus on delivering for the people of this State, we realise that Dr Beale was truly one of the best public servants this Parliament has ever seen.
Mr ANDREW CONSTANCE (Bega) [7.38 p.m.]: I join with the Leader of the Opposition in paying tribute to the late the Hon. Jack Beale, AO, otherwise known as The Water Man. In doing so, on behalf of the House, I offer my deepest sympathy and that of the Liberal Party to his family and friends, particularly his sister Peggy Miller, brother Bill, his wife Pamela, sons David and Christopher, daughter-in-law Francesca and grandsons Julian and Andrew, who live in New York.
I first met Jack on the evening of my inaugural speech. Beforehand, I was preparing nervously in my office upstairs and in bowled Jack. A firm handshake, a smile, and we were straight into discussion about the Brogo Dam, a life-line to many communities and irrigators on the far South Coast. Beryl Schaeffer who has been awarded the medal of the Order of Australia for her service to the community of the Bega Valley shire, particularly through the agricultural show movement and the Country Women's Association, gives Jack enormous credit for the Brogo River system. Thirty irrigators supply 40 per cent of the milk to Bega Cheese from the Brogo system, and I know that many of the locals, 33 years after Jack left Parliament, are enormously grateful to the vision that he had to build this infrastructure.
Jack's lifelong commitment to public service was part of our discussion on the evening that we first met, and I wish to honour that service this evening. Many come to this place with an aspiration that when it comes time to leave, their electorate and the world will be a better place than when they arrived. That certainly can be said of Jack Beale. He was a remarkable Australian. He made an outstanding contribution to Australian society and societies elsewhere around the globe, not only as a member of Parliament but as a pioneer in the fields of resource development and environmental management. In paying tribute to the man Jack Beale, we are remembering a legacy that will impact the lives of millions of people for decades if not centuries to come.
Born in Manly in 1917, he attended public schools at Scone, Newcastle and Sydney. He qualified for an honours diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Sydney Technical College and worked as a chartered engineer. At 25 years of age he became the youngest member of the Institute of Engineers Australia, later becoming an honorary fellow. In 1942 Jack entered Parliament at the age of 25 following the passing of his father, who held the seat of South Coast prior to Jack. He held the seat for 31 years, having won three elections as an Independent and eight elections as a member of the Liberal Party. He served as a Cabinet Minister for the last nine years of his parliamentary career.
Following the election of the Askin Government in 1965, Jack Beale was offered the Public Works portfolio, a portfolio he refused. His ambition was to make a difference in an area in which he was a specialist and as a result sought to become the Minister for Conservation, where he was responsible for the State's water, soil and forest resources. He embarked on a program to develop the State's water resources, undertaking comprehensive river valley surveys and an infrastructure program in the construction of new dams and weirs.
In 1971 he became Australia's first Environment Minister and was instrumental in creating the Environment Protection Authority and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. As Minister he sponsored legislation relating to clean water, clean air, pollution control and waste disposal. At the time he was also Minister Assisting the Treasurer and was actively involved in discussions with Canberra about revenue sharing. He was an outspoken advocate for the Snowy hydro scheme and instrumental in the establishment of the Australian Water Resources Council, the National Flood Mitigation Scheme, the National Soil Conservation Program, the National Conifer Planting Program, the National Water Resource Development Program and the Australian Environment Council. In 1955 he initiated the Water Research Foundation.
Jack Beale's tribute in the Sydney Morning Herald of 16 June 2006 was titled "Guardian of that precious resource". He was a true champion of the cause of water. If only today we had the vision of Jack Beale with the many difficulties facing metropolitan and regional Australia. He held a Master of Engineering and honorary doctorate from the University of New South Wales, with which he maintained a close association throughout his working life. The annual Jack Beale Lecture on the Global Environment is just one of the legacies of his commitment to the environmental. On 22 April 1999 Jack was recognised with an honorary degree at the Australian National University. Professor H. A. Nix, Director of the Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies at the Australian National University, gave a citation that I think was at the heart of Jack Beale. It stated:
Jack Beale's work on water conservation and agricultural engineering in India from 1952 to 1959 was credited by former Prime Minister Pandit Nehru as saving millions of people from famine through the concept of drought proofing.
A concept which he also applied in Australia, leading to the expansion of the irrigation industry and the establishment of the first privately owned network of hydropower generators, which is currently reducing Australian greenhouse emissions by 170,000 tonnes a year.
In fact Jack would be proud to know that the far South Coast community—his former constituency—is leading the way in community activism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the Clean Energy for Eternity Campaign, which has been established by local orthopaedic surgeon Matthew Knott. Only recently 3,000 people stood on Tathra Beach to protest climate change. Jack helped establish comprehensive environmental control systems for the whole of the Australian continent and contributed towards the development of the United Nations Environment Program. The International Biological Centre in Cambridge listed Jack among the 2000 Outstanding People of the 20th Century for his contributions to humankind living in harmony with the environment, as well as among the 2,000 Outstanding Scientists of the 20th Century, for his contributions to water resources.
Jack held the view that Australians took their precious resources for granted. He was probably right. The degradation of our environment, the diminution of biodiversity and the abuse of underpriced and precious resources are a disgrace. Too often public debate on the environment is forced inside the constraining paradigm of: development bad, protection good. These incredibly complex issues deserve more than simplistic, knee-jerk responses. Some people lack the attention span to care or understand, but it definitely can be said of Jack Beale that not only did he understand but he also had a vision to deal with the challenges. It is sad that so many of our leaders come to this debate interested in it only if there are votes attached. Jack did not allow politics to affect his judgment when it came to environmental and resource management. He was a man who had a vision and who acted on that despite criticism on a couple occasions.
I think everyone would agree that the broader policy questions about the environment mean surely it is time to dare government and citizens to consider every option—alternative energy, recycling of water, charging market price for the resources we use, and many other ideas. Too often we hear it said that we do not face a crisis today, but we are creating one for tomorrow. However, we must draw our inspiration from the legacy left behind by Jack Beale. These are his words:
Today's research is tomorrow's practice.
University of New South Wales Professor Garry Smith, Director of the Institute of Environmental Studies, said in Jack's honour:
Jack Beale achieved outstanding success in so many aspects of his life; as an engineer, a scientist, a businessman, a politician, a generous benefactor and a kind, respected, ethical person.
This House, indeed I think everybody, would agree that he was a kind, respected and ethical man.
Mrs SHELLEY HANCOCK (South Coast) [7.46 p.m.]: I am honoured this evening to contribute to the condolence motion for the late Hon. Dr Jack Beale, former member for South Coast, and to express the great honour I feel to have followed in his footsteps to this place as the current member for South Coast—although most would know that the electorate is now very different from what it was many years ago. I did not know Jack Beale very well, but I am certainly aware of his legacy to the area. It remains with us today.
People still talk about Jack Beale and the period over which he remained committed to the electorate of South Coast, his passion for the electorate and his commitment to the environment. His commitment to water and water efficiency in the area was well known not only in this State but throughout Australia. Any member for South Coast must have a commitment to the environment and to water conservation. The honourable member for Bega spoke about Jack Beale being known as The Water Man. Given the latest controversies about the Shoalhaven River, I hope to be called the water woman when I no longer represent this electorate, because it remains a controversial issue, as are the environment on the South Coast and its protection. I will say more later about Jack's strengths on the environment.
I was very proud on the evening of my inaugural speech to have Jack Beale sitting in the gallery with an extremely noisy group from the South Coast. He hung in there all night. He met me before I made my speech and wished me well. We had a very interesting discussion. I am sure he sat there, looking down on me, and wondering and pondering how I would perform in the electorate following in his footsteps. I hope that I will do him proud. I was immensely grateful for his kind words of support that evening and for joining the throng from the South Coast.
Jack Gordon Beale was born in 1917 in Manly and was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly on 14 November 1942, where he remained until 1973, holding the Conservation and Environment portfolios. He was one of the youngest members to be elected to the Legislative Assembly and was the longest-serving member of the South Coast electorate—31 years, a long time! John Hatton served for more than 20 years. Longevity in this position is not something experienced in the past 12 years in the electorate of the South Coast, perhaps due to the changing demographics of the area. But I imagine that a man or woman of Jack's ability, commitment, dedication and talent will aspire to that challenge, although it will be a challenge.
Jack Beale served with distinction as New South Wales Minister for Conservation from 1962 to 1971, and from 1971 to 1973. He was the first Minister for the Environment anywhere in Australia—there is something to be said for that. He was also Minister Assisting the Premier and the Treasurer. In 1999 Jack Beale was presented to the Chancellor of the Australian National University for an honorary degree—no surprises there. The following remarks are taken from the speech given at the time by Professor H. A. Nix, Director of the Centre of Resource and Environmental Studies at the time:
As Minister for Conservation he administered the largest ever resources construction program in New South Wales and his ministerial roles were characterised by innovations in environmental management.
Professor Nix goes on to say that Jack Beale commissioned the river catchment studies, which, for the first time, collected resource data on 32 major river catchments in New South Wales. He introduced systematic charging for irrigation water, and he was responsible for the first specific allocations of water to the environment in the Macquarie Marshes, 25 years before environmental flows became fashionable. It was an achievement to think about environmental flows in those days. He was one of the few Ministers for water resources anywhere in the world who was capable of designing, building and operating the dams and related works for which he was responsible. New South Wales legislation relating to clean air, clean water, waste disposal, pollution control, soil and forest conservation, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service were initiated by the Hon. Jack Beale, another incredible fact to ponder this evening. They were pioneering in Australia at that time, and he certainly was a pioneer.
In 1971 Jack Beale formulated the first guidelines for environmental impact statements in the world. Nationally he was an outspoken champion and foremost advocate of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. Jack Beale was instrumental in establishing the Australian Water Resources Council, the Australian Forestry Council, the National Flood Mitigation Scheme, the National Soil Conservation Program, the National Conifer Planting Program, the National Water Resources Development Program and the Australian Environmental Council. He served with distinction on the Commonwealth and State ministerial councils for water resources, forestry and agriculture and for the environment.
I sometimes wish he was still with us to assist me and advise me about the controversy on the South Coast and the Shoalhaven River. It would be interesting to hear his comments. Internationally, from 1974 to 1977 he was a senior part-time adviser to the United Nations Environment Program and its Environment Program. He undertook some of the first United Nations Environment Program advisory missions to help many countries, especially developing countries such as Thailand, Venezuela, the Philippines and Sri Lanka with national environmental institution building. He was a ranking Australian delegate to the Water for Peace Conference held in Washington in 1967 and to the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972.
Jack Beale's motto throughout his long professional career was "today's research is tomorrow's practice", and that certainly has been a hallmark of his career. His work in research and development has paid off for so many of us today. I and the people of New South Wales, particularly those in the electorate of the South Coast, are so grateful to him for that. As many of you would know, the South Coast is an area where you have to be committed to your environment because that is what we value on the South Coast. But at the same time we have to balance our need to grow and develop. It is worth noting that there are so many fields in which Jack Beale was a remarkable achiever. So many things have changed from the South Coast electorate that Jack Beale knew. It was a much larger electorate in his day.
There were no offices as we know them and very little secretarial assistance. The electorate went almost down to the border and up to Shellharbour, which is now probably covered by four electorates. To cover that area of the State and other areas underlines the remarkable person that he was. I am honoured to be one of the successors of the Hon. Jack Beale. I am also deeply privileged to make this contribution to the motion. I convey my deepest sympathy to his family, his son David, whom I met earlier this evening, his friends and former colleagues. I know that you will miss him. I look forward to reading more about him. As we continue our research we will learn more and more about the Hon. Jack Beale. In the last week or so I have discovered things I did not know. I was aware of his commitment to his electorate, but I have learned so much more about him and his work for the environment and conservation in Australia.
Mr IAN ARMSTRONG (Lachlan) [7.55 p.m.]: It is with great sadness that I speak about the loss of a great Australian, the Hon. Dr Jack Gordon Beale. I extend my sympathy to his sons, Mr David Beale and Mr Christopher Beale, his grandsons and his family. Of the 2,000 outstanding people of the twentieth century, none is more outstanding than the Hon. Dr Jack Gordon Beale. I first met Jack Beale in about the mid 1950s when I was about 22 or 23, at either the Boorowa show or the Young show. At the time my father was an executive of the New South Wales Country Liberal Party, and I think he brought Jack up to open the show. He was a fascinating man. As a young and probably fairly cheeky 22 or 23-year-old, I could relate to him. He was exciting and informative. His enthusiasm was absolutely infectious. The last time I saw Jack was about 12 months ago, but I have never forgotten his warm, outgoing, extraordinary, infectious personality. You wanted to talk to him, and he always had something to say. It is summed up somewhat in the extraordinary amount of information that is available on Jack Beale. I refer to the citation for his honorary degree from the Australian National University, in which the Chancellor said, in part:
Jack Beale's professional qualifications are in mechanical, electrical, civil, agricultural and biological systems engineering. He has worked as a consulting engineer in more than 60 countries over a period of 56 years. His work on water conservation and agricultural engineering in India from 1952 to 1959 was credited by India's former Prime Minister, Pandit Nehru, as saving millions of people from famine through the concept of 'drought proofing'. A concept which he also applied in Australia, leading to the expansion of the irrigation industry and the establishment of the first privately owned network of hydropower generators, which is currently reducing Australian greenhouse emissions by 170,000 tonnes a year.
The man was a human dynamo. Obviously, his capacity to relate to people led to his international fame. What did people think about Jack Beale? He has one of the longest biographies of honours bestowed on any member of this Parliament that I have seen in my 25 years in this place. I will read only part of it:
One of the 50 Greatest Living Legends Internat. Biographical Centre 2005, Nobel Laureate American Biographical Inst. 2004, One of the Greatest Minds of the Twenty-First Century American Biographical Inst. 2004, recipient da Vinci Diamond and admitted into the Hall of Fame Internat. Biographical Centre (Cambridge, UK) 2004, Centenary Medal 2003, American Medal of Hon, 2002, NSW Parliament Centenary Medallion 2001, awarded Medals by the American Biographical Inst. (Raleigh, USA) for: Great Minds of the 20th Century 2002, Internat. Peace Prize for creating Harmony of Humankind United Cultural Convention (USA) 2002 and its Noble Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Contributions to World Harmony 2001, Career Achievements and Soc. Contributions 2001, One of 2000 Leading Intellectuals in the World 2000, One of 1000 Great Scientists of the 20th Century 1999; awarded Medals by the Internat. Biographical Centre (Cambridge, England) for: Lifetime Achievement 2002, One of 1000 Great Scientists of the World 2000, Outstanding Contribution to the Environ. 1998; Outstanding People of the 20th Century 2000; pub. Harnessing Snowy Waters 1949, National Water Plan 9066, Drought Proofing 1970, Water Resources of New South Wales 1971 …
The citations in the list are probably four times greater than the number I have read into Hansard. We have lost a truly great Australian. I have many fond memories of Jack. Over the years that I have been a member of this House, I recall proceeding to the foyer after question time. Jack would immediately come over and have something positive to tell me. He would say to me:
Ian, we have to store more water. We must have more water, Ian, because we are going to have drought.
He used to say:
Australia is the lowest, flattest, hottest and driest continent on the earth and we have to manage it accordingly. If we are going to have development, two things must happen: the first is water; the second is a road to get to the water.
He also used to say:
Even when Phillip first came to the colony, the first thing he did was look for fresh water and then build a track to it.
Jack Beale had a simplistic way of explaining the most highly technical matters. He had an extraordinary grasp of ideas concerning the environment, the land, and the art of communicating. He did not play politics at all, yet he did very well because he knew his facts and that is what he told people. He also had such enthusiasm that people could not help listening to him, not so much out of admiration but out of the desire to soak up information like a sponge—information that was unique and came only from that man on this earth at that time. That is why it is my privilege tonight to speak to this motion of condolence.
I thank Jack Beale's family for allowing their father, their grandfather and their relative to be available to society and to this Parliament in particular. There can be no doubt that this Parliament is much richer for his contribution over the years when he was a member. The New South Wales Parliament is the oldest working Parliament in the Commonwealth of Australia. It was the first Parliament to be established in Australia. Jack Beale's influence must be counted among the influence of the top half dozen individuals who have served in this Parliament in the context of their effect on society in the longer term. I again extend my sympathy to Jack's family.
Mr ANDREW HUMPHERSON (Davidson) [8.02 p.m.]: It is also my privilege to endorse the remarks of speakers who have preceded me and acknowledge the contribution to this State, this country and the world made by Jack Beale. I extend my condolences to his family, especially his son, David, and friends of the family who are present in the gallery. In June I was saddened to hear of Jack's passing and, as Jack was approaching his tenth decade, very surprised and disappointed. Indeed, his death was hard to believe because he was always so energetic and enthusiastic. Whenever I saw him in Parliament House, he seemed ageless.
Jack has left an amazing legacy. He has made an enormous contribution to the affairs of this State, as other members have attested. I pay a tribute to him as a champion of major projects, particularly the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme, and as a great visionary with regard to water resources management. He was also at every level a very effective and very great politician. Jack was this State's first environment Minister. He was a Liberal Party member of Parliament for the South Coast electorate for 31 years and in that time contributed not only to his local electorate but also to the State's affairs. From 1942 to 1973, he served in this Parliament, and that is an amazing term. He was a passionate and champion advocate for the Snowy Mountains scheme.
The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme, enormous though the project was, would not have become a reality if it had not been for the Jack Beales of this State. It is the benchmark for major infrastructure projects in this country to this day. It required people of vision, determination, advocacy skills and an understanding of how it could be delivered. Frankly, we need more Jack Beales in the future. We need people who not only know what the problems are and how to deliver but also understand how to participate in the political process to ensure that the projects come to fruition. Jack Beale made an enormous contribution to the Snowy Mountains project and it is beyond doubt that we need projects of comparable scale to secure water resources in this country in the future.
As a Minister in the Askin government, Jack was Australia's first environment Minister and he held that position for eight years. Initially he was the Minister for Conservation and subsequently became the environment Minister. He initiated advanced laws to control air and noise pollution, waste disposal, water conservation and soil conservation. He was very proud of being Australia's first environment Minister. He was also very keen to point out to people throughout the length and breadth of politics that it was a Liberal Government that produced the first environment Minister. One of his legacies is the contribution he made to the environment. With his engineering background, he brought a very practical approach to matters pertaining to the environment.
Jack established the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the State Pollution Control Commission, which later became the Environment Protection Authority [EPA]. As a fellow engineer, I had many discussions with him about the lamentable state of infrastructure in this State, particularly concerning water resources. We also lamented the lack of vision, foresight and capacity of many decision-makers and their inability to look beyond the political cycle or the four-year term. One thing that should never be forgotten is that Jack looked beyond the political cycle to 10, 20 or 50 years ahead. We need more people like him to govern, especially for decision-making in regard to infrastructure and water resources.
Jack first knocked on my door when I was appointed the shadow Minister for the Environment in 2001. He introduced himself and was very encouraging and supportive. He offered me advice and thereafter he frequently knocked on my door when he was in Parliament House and we would have a chat. As the honourable member for Lachlan, Ian Armstrong, has already said, Jack was always positive and enthusiastic, supportive and encouraging. I have the privilege of hosting the Institute of Engineers fellows' luncheon a couple of times a year in Parliament House. Jack and David frequently attended and would knock on my door 15 minutes or so before the luncheon to ask about the story I was going to tell. I was always pleased he did that. If the circumstances had been reversed, I would have been a little reticent to knock on his door. Jack was a very amiable person and very approachable. He was a person who offered enormous support and was very positive.
It is important to note that Jack was also very well regarded in the engineering profession. Fellows of the Institute of Engineers Australia acknowledge that he was a very great engineer. He was across many fields of the profession and made a great contribution. I am sure I speak on behalf of the wider engineering profession when I say that Jack was regarded as a visionary and a trailblazer in engineering. He was a consulting engineer for approximately 63 years, which is an amazing span of professional service, and his contribution to the profession already has been mentioned in detail. When he was the Minister in charge of water resources, he was uniquely capable of not only managing the portfolio but at the same time designing, building and operating the dams and works for which he was responsible. He understood his portfolio from back to front. He was an initiator, a champion and an active supporter of water resources research in this country.
In 1955 he established the Water Research Foundation and was its Executive Chairman for 51 years, an amazing contribution. His contributions to Australian society were broad and included science and technology, resource development and engineering management. He had a vision for politics, another amazing contribution. Jack Beale should be remembered for being an energetic visionary. He achieved outstanding success as an engineer, businessman, scientist, and politician and as a generous benefactor. He made great contributions in a number of areas. His achievements and contributions have been acknowledged internationally.
I may be corrected, but I believe Jack Beale had some involvement in the design, and possibly the later construction, of extensions to this Parliament. If my memory serves me well Jack Beale had a fair bit of involvement in making sure that the facilities that we enjoy here, which were ultimately extended and renovated in the 1970s and which had been talked about for a long time, were eventually provided. He should be acknowledged for that also. Jack was always positive, approachable and encouraging. In effect, he was a mentor for the members who followed him. That does not happen too frequently around here. Many members who walk out of Parliament's door, voluntarily or involuntarily, do not look back. Jack was often here and became a mentor for many members of Parliament, particularly on my side of politics. I acknowledge that and thank him for it. He had a remarkable life, he was a remarkable man, a great Australian, and I am pleased to have the opportunity to pay tribute to Jack Beale.
Ms KATRINA HODGKINSON (Burrinjuck) [8.11 p.m.]: I also pass on my sympathy to the family of the Hon. Dr Jack Gordon Beale, AO, whose reputation was impeccable. I get the sense that he was larger than life, and there is no doubt that the respect he enjoyed from his colleagues in this place was second to none. As we have heard tonight, his environmental legacy will live on through legislation and the physical development of major infrastructure projects around the State. On reading the speeches given by Jack Beale in this place I noticed his maiden speech was given on 16 March 1943, in the middle of World War II. One of the first things he said in this place, on an interesting topic, was:
The man in the street is now placing a big question mark before such things as depressions, unemployment, poverty and malnutrition; all those social evils that disgrace our young democracy.
In the middle of a war that would have been a pressing issue. Today we do not really have to think about that in this place. We have a good standard of living, and this country is not at war. We have healthy and civil dialogue between the different political parties and between each other. However, on 16 March 1943 in the heat of battle during a war, things would have been different. We should look back and be grateful for what we have today; we should appreciate how our forefathers in this place fought for a better life for us. I am tremendously grateful for people such as Jack Beale, and for the wonderful life they have provided for my children and me. I know how hard they fought to make sure that we live in a better place, and that our democracy is a true and honourable place in which to live. During one of his contributions Dr Beale said:
I have always subscribed to the principle of a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.
I wish more people would subscribe to that extremely honourable philosophy, one we should all emulate. The documentary 2000 Outstanding People of the 20th Century states that the Hon. Dr Jack Gordon Beale made a big impression on various countries that perhaps were not of the same level of prosperity as Australia. In fact, the former Prime Minister of India, Pandit Nehru, credited him with a "drought-proofing idea" which saved a million people from perishing from famine in one area of that country. What a man Jack Beale was.
As honourable members have already said, Jack Beale was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for 31 years. He served as Minister for Conservation from 1965 to 1971, as Minister for the Environment, the first in Australia, from 1971 to 1973, and as Minister Assisting the Premier and Treasurer from 1965 to 1973. He served from 1965 until 1971 on the Ministerial Australian Water Resources Council and Ministerial Forestry Council, which he had initiated in 1961 and 1963 respectively. I sense that Jack Beale was a special and honourable man. As a member of Parliament whose electorate covers much of the Snowy Hydro scheme, I thank him for his vision, his ingenuity and his passion to deliver key infrastructure projects to the people of New South Wales. The State is all the better for having had Jack Beale in a position of power. There is no doubt that his legacy lives on.
Members and officers of the House stood in their places.
Motion agreed to.