Page 889 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 16 June 1992
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Brett joins a growing list of Australians whose lives have been tragically affected by the taking of drugs. Much of Brett's work may be seen in some of our largest galleries, and he has left a legacy for future Australians in the way that he saw Australia and portrayed our country. Brett saw the land in a manner different to the way in which the early Australian painters or our Aboriginal brothers and sisters saw it.
Brett's talent was so great that he can only be thought of as a true artist. He could work as a painter, sculptor or photographer with equal brilliance. His genius was recognised by the art world with the award of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes, and he was recognised on behalf of the Australian people with the award of the Order of Australia only last year.
Madam Speaker, although Brett has been taken away from us, his art will remain a part of our history forever. He will be sadly missed by the art lovers of the world. It is a pity that someone with so much talent and fame needed to use drugs to portray his understanding of our world. Madam Speaker, Brett Whiteley is gone. However, his art and his memory live on in the minds of his friends and family and the Australian art lovers.
Death of Mr Brett Whiteley : Purchase of Housing Trust Home
MR CORNWELL (10.45): As the Liberal Party's arts spokesman, I would like to join, on behalf of the Liberal Party, with Mrs Grassby in her comments about Brett Whiteley. I think it is quite an achievement, as she pointed out, for a person to win what I can best describe as Australia's art trifecta - the Archibald, the Wynne and the Sulman. I am sure that his art will live long in Australia. It is strange that some artists seem to benefit most, or their art is best displayed, as a result of a different lifestyle. But it has been certainly the case through the centuries, and I am sure, much as we may not approve of it, that it will not change in the future. If, as a result of some of that behaviour, we see some of this magnificent work coming forth, then I believe that all is not entirely lost.
Madam Speaker, I rise more in sorrow than in anger, I suppose, although I am becoming a little irritated at the Government - and I use the term loosely - never being wrong, to raise a matter that I previously raised with Mr Connolly, the Minister for Housing, concerning a Ms O'Brien of Watson who wanted to buy her government house, and indeed was one of the few people who apparently could do so. Madam Speaker, it is a rather sad saga. She originally wrote on 18 December 1991 to purchase this house. That was the day upon which she became entitled, after a 10-year wait, to purchase the property. The application was lodged on 2 January, though the Housing Trust claims that it was the 7th; but we will not argue over five days. She was then advised that the house was available under the sales program and was asked to pay a $150 fee on 21 January. The fee was received on 4 February.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .