A Tribute to Johno

AJC Convention Centre, 28 February 2002

Members of Sydney's elite, sacred and profane:

It's been a challenging week for a former Anglican and RAAF officer when a Governor-General is hiding in the confessional and an Admiral has to walk the plank. In the presence of the President of Australia's oldest legislative body from 1978 to 1991, I am reminded of the most memorable words delivered at the Old Parliament House in Canberra:

Well may we say God Save the Queen, for nothing will save the Governor-General.

It is an honour to be asked to speak at Johno Johnson's tribute dinner. I like to claim that I was instrumental in his being elected to the Legislative Council. The last time I was present at St Mary's Cathedral as Prime Minister was in October 1975 at the State funeral for Jack Lang, who had suffered the same fate that I was about to suffer. I was seated in front of the Justices of the High Court. At that time only one of them had been educated at a Catholic school. Some of us understood the Latin but none of us knew when to stand, sit or kneel. I complained to the Party hierarchy. Johno was elected on 27 November 1975. I am happy to acknowledge that Tony Doherty and Frank Brennan have since proved excellent conductors at State funerals.

I valued Johno's work as a parliamentarian. Ten years ago I suggested he ask some questions on coal exports from NSW and the timetable for implementing my Government's proposals on national highways and rail electrification. They led Bruce Baird to admit that 1500DC voltage was useless for freight trains from the Hunter, Wallerawang and Illawarra coalfields. In 1990 Johno asked me to contribute to the Parliamentary Library's sesquicentenary book. Some say that the Library is used by me more than by the members.

Johno informed me that my martyrdom occurred on St Martin's Day and my birthday on St Benedict's Day. Although a teetotaller, Johno is an excellent host. I told him it was inappropriate for him to serve Chartreuse and Benedictine liqueurs since they were the products of former monasteries nationalised by urban guerillas during the First French Revolution. At the approaches to St Benedict's original monastery at Subiaco there is a souvenir shop named after his sister, St Scholastica. I bought a bottle of Amaro Benedettino for Johno.

In Canberra some men have been elected to the Speaker's or President's chair and have promptly hopped out of the matrimonial bed. To-night we can assure Christina - I prefer that to her other name Pauline -and her children that Johno is above approach.

Johno freely admits that if he had lived in Melbourne he would have joined the DLP. We have all been fortunate that Sydney had excellent cardinals - Gilroy, Freeman and Clancy - at a crucial period in the history of the ALP.

Johno knows that I was a separated brother and am now a lapsed one. He would have had mixed feelings when I exposed the absurdity of union officials pontificating on the fertility of women and when I sometimes express the view that the mainstream monotheistic religions, Jewish, Christian and Islamic, are losing support and respect because they will not accord equal status to women and sometimes act like medieval male chauvinists. Johno may not have liked what I said but he never tried to prevent me saying it. I go further: for many years I have sought his advice on issues and personalities; in every case I have found him honest and helpful. I could always trust him.

All to-night's speakers will pay tribute to Johno's consistent and sustained support for Labor candidates and Labor finances. Like most in this vast audience I would find it difficult to name all the Labor members of the Senate or the NSW Legislative Council. We would all recognise Johno; nobody has been more diligent and devoted. We are all indebted to him and his loving family.