Page 3770 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 8 November 1994
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Of course, medicine was not to be his career. After graduation, he went on to Oxford, graduating with first-class honours, and joined the then Department of External Affairs in 1967, serving in Saigon and Ottawa, as the Chief Minister has already outlined. During this time he also continued his studies, leading to his eventual five degrees. He returned to Australia in 1971, and it was not long before he was making major contributions to Gough Whitlam's Labor Government; in particular, setting about rebuilding Australia's public administration. In 1975 he found himself on the outer with the new Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, and he eventually became foundation professor of the Australian Graduate School of Management in 1977. In the period from 1976 to 1982, Peter Wilenski was given by Neville Wran the opportunity to undertake a radical reform of the New South Wales Public Service. The enthusiasm and vision he brought to this task changed for all time the way that New South Wales public servants treated the community, the New South Wales Government and each other.
The election of the Hawke Government in 1983 provided him with the opportunity to bring this reforming zeal to the national arena, a task he undertook with gusto. As head of the Public Service Board, he presided over major changes and restructuring within the Australian Public Service, including the elimination of the Public Service Board itself in 1987. During this time he was also filling various department head roles within that service. In 1989, Dr Wilenski was Australia's Ambassador to the United Nations. Again, he took his reforming zeal with him and tried to make changes in one of the world's most bureaucratic organisations. Indeed, there was even speculation that he might take on the demanding role of head of this bureaucracy when his term as ambassador expired. However, instead he took on the challenging role of Secretary to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1992 - a role from which he retired due to ill health in 1993.
Madam Speaker, any tribute to Peter Wilenski would be incomplete without mentioning his two personal crusades. These were his commitment to equal opportunity in employment and his avowed intent to eliminate smoking in other than open places. The substantial progress made by the Labor Government in equal opportunity programs in the Australian Public Service can be attributed largely to this architect of change, Peter Wilenski. The banning of smoking in Commonwealth Government buildings was also his doing, as was the banning of smoking on domestic flights while he was Secretary to the Department of Transport and Communications.
Peter Wilenski's was a stellar career; one, sadly, shorter than it might have been. It is certainly a career that speaks eloquently of a man of intelligence and vision, with a commitment to getting things done. Peter Wilenski contributed much to Australia, and I believe that we all owe him a debt of gratitude. I support the motion and extend my condolences and those of my colleague Mr Moore to his family and friends.
Question resolved in the affirmative, members standing in their places.
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