STATEMENTS ON INDULGENCE

Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (12:30): I rise to acknowledge the passing of Blanche d'Alpuget overnight. With this loss, Australia has lost a true one-off. As a writer, she was as at home in fiction as she was in nonfiction, working in each realm with a keen eye for every telling detail that opened up the humanity of her subject to her readers.

Blanche's novels were compelling works of verve and originality, and her biographies were comprehensive and definitive. Most famously, though, she wrote of Bob Hawke, who became her great love and ultimately her husband. And it was through the relationship with my dear friend and great Labor leader Bob Hawke that I got to know Blanche very well.

It is so fitting that Blanche's final message to us all is this, delivered through her family: Our highest calling and greatest achievement is love, the rule of life. Love one another. Blanche d'Alpuget lived a very full life.

She was so full of joy, and it was always a splendid privilege to be in her company. Our hearts right now are with her family and all who loved this much loved Australian. May Blanche d'Alpuget rest in peace.