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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 5 Hansard (9 May) . . Page.. 1386 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

He took a group of his students and created the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies at the ANU. This enabled him to start the "Indonesia Project" in 1965. The flagship of this project was what is known as the world's leading journal on Indonesian economics, the Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies, now in its 35th year. The research school is also recognised as the foremost centre for Indonesian studies outside Indonesia. Only in the last fortnight the Ambassador for Indonesia talked to me about the "highly respected Indonesia Project".

Heinz Arndt was President of the Australian Association for Cultural Freedom from 1977 to 1986 and wrote for the magazine Quadrant. He was a longstanding member of the Australian Labor Party, resigning after disagreeing with Gough Whitlam over his groundbreaking trip to China.

Not only was Professor Arndt a political activist in federal politics, he was also active in the early political life of the ACT. He was a member of the ACT Advisory Council from 1959 to 1963, contributing his expertise and social concern to the wellbeing of Canberra. He worked closely with his wife, Ruth, who also made a significant contribution to the Canberra community.

To assist migrants and refugees from Europe, Heinz and Ruth Arndt started a department of adult education at the ANU. They left a profound influence on the ANU community, not only from their direct participation in university affairs but also through their family life as parents of three alumni. I value this particularly because of my own strong links to the ANU.

He fostered relationships with the diplomatic community in Canberra, encouraging links between academia and government in the Department of Foreign Affairs and supporting foreign diplomats and their families new to Canberra. Heinz provided many hours of welcoming conversation gathered from his own experience of moving to the bush capital.

An example of this community spirit was his regular call around the corner to see his good friend and fellow economist Sir Leslie Melville. It was in driving to give the eulogy at Sir Leslie's funeral that Professor Arndt was tragically killed. In a sense, he was involved in the life of our community until his last moment of life.

Heinz Arndt is survived by his three children, Nick, Chris and Bettina, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. I know all members will join with me in expressing my sympathy to the Arndt family. It is with respect, admiration and gratitude that we, as Australians and Canberrans, remember Emeritus Professor Heinz Arndt.

MR HUMPHRIES (Leader of the Opposition): Mr Speaker, I rise on behalf of the opposition to support the motion that has been moved by the Chief Minister and to indicate the fact that, with the death of Heinz Arndt, Canberra has lost a great mind and passionate advocate for the Australian National University, a talented economist and certainly a committed member of this community.

As the Chief Minister has indicated, Professor Arndt's involvement with the Australian National University goes back a very long time. I had the privilege of serving on the University Council at the ANU with Professor Arndt for a period of about a year. His

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