Mr HOWARD (Prime Minister) (2:08 PM) —On indulgence, Mr Speaker, I think it is appropriate for the parliament to spend a brief moment to record its remarks regarding the death of Pierre Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada for a period of 16 years. It is probably fair to say that Pierre Trudeau was the most significant political figure to be produced by Canadian politics in the post-World War II period. He remained in office for two periods totalling 16 years, interrupted by a brief interregnum of six months of government by the then opposition Progressive Conservative Party. Trudeau was a man of very great flair and style who gave a particular brand to Canadian politics.

The advent of what became known as `Trudeau mania' defined much of Canadian politics during the 1970s and the early 1980s. Trudeau was a unique blend of both the French and English Canadian traditions of his country and that gave his occupancy of the office of Prime Minister a special potency. Throughout his political career he was an ardent supporter of fair treatment of both the French Canadian minority and the non-French Canadian majority of the Canadian population. He was responsible for the patriation of the Canadian constitution and he gave official equal treatment to the French language. But I think the most conspicuous of all his achievements were his efforts, as a French Canadian, to hold together the Canadian confederation in the face of the separatist tendencies that came from his home province of Quebec and the particular leadership he displayed after the appalling act of terrorism perpetrated against a minister in one of the provincial governments in the early 1970s, when that minister was kidnapped and later murdered by terrorists. I think that represented the high point of the leadership he gave to the Canadian nation. Canada of course is a significant Commonwealth partner and friend of Australia, and the progress of Canadian politics is always of interest to Australians.

Pierre Trudeau lost a fight with prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease at the age of 80. He had a long and distinguished academic career before entering Canadian politics. On behalf of the government and the people of Australia I convey to his family and to the people of Canada our condolences. We record with respect and appreciation the immense contribution he made to Canadian political life.