STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr HAWKE (Mitchell—Manager of Opposition Business) (13:30): I rise today to note the very sad passing of former US vice-president Dick Cheney from complications relating to pneumonia and cardiovascular disease at age 84. A staunch supporter of the Australia-US alliance, I do so as perhaps one of the few who will mark his passing in this place, but I had a high opinion of the George W Bush administration and his service to America and indeed to the world.

Former vice-president Cheney enjoyed a meteoric rise within the notoriously burdensome US political staffing system, from a congressional internship to White House chief of staff, and indeed became a long-time supporter of presidents Forde and Rumsfeld and the George W Bush administration as vice-president. In line with all of that, he was seen most clearly in effect in Kuwait where, as secretary of defence, former vice-president Cheney organised the US led coalition which, alongside Australia, liberated Kuwait from the evils of Saddam Hussein's regime.

Recognising his talent for foreign affairs and national defence, George W Bush would go on to ask Cheney to serve as vice-president in his administration, something that came to the fore at the most defining event of our time, the 9/11 attacks, which attacked America, attacked Australia and attacked the west. This was a great time to have serious figures in that administration who understood the score and knew what to do about it.

There was controversy and difficulty with the military campaigns that followed, of course, but it was good to have sound people in place at the head of America at such critical times, understanding what needed to be done and why freedom needed to be defended. On a personal note, I had the opportunity to work in the Bush administration. I support and send my best wishes to his family.

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