CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY PRIME MINISTER’S REMARKS AT THE DEDICATION OF THE BEN GURION GARDEN, NATIONAL JEWISH MEMORIAL CENTRE CANBERRA, 5 NOVEMBER 1986 MR PRESIDENT MRS HERZOG AMBASSADOR BEN-YAACOV ISRAELI GUESTS LEADERS OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FRI ENDS SINCE MY FIRST VISIT TO ISRAEL IN 1971, I HAVE NOT CEASED TO ADMIRE THOSE QUALITIES IN ISRAELI LIFE WHICH WE ALSO CHERISH IN AUSTRALIA. IN WELCOMING YOU AND MRS HERZOG AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE TODAY, MR PRESIDENT, I REFERRED TO THE BOND WHICH AUSTRALIA AND ISRAEL SHARE AS VIGOROUS DEMOCRACIES, WHICH RESPECT THE RULE OF LAW AND A FREE PRESS. YOUR CONTINUING ATTACHMENT TO THESE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES, DESPITE THE PRESSURES TO WHICH ISRAEL IS SUBJECT, IS A TRIBUTE TO THE WISDOM AND LEADERSHIP OF THE FOUNDING FATHER OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL, BEN GURION, THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF WHOSE BIRTH WE COMMEMORATE HERE TODAY. AS BEN GURION SAID, ” THE TEST OF DEMOCRACY IS FREEDOM OF CRITICISM”. THESE ARE WORDS WHICH ALL OF US FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO LIVE IN DEMOCRACIES WOULD DO WELL TO REMEMBER, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE POLITICAL GOING GETS TOUGH. OTHER FUNDAMENTAL BONDS BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND ISRAEL ARE OUR STRONG LABOUR MOVEMENTS AND LABOR PARTIES. DAVID BEN GURION WORKED ALL HIS LIFE FOR THE GOAL OF A JEWISH WORKING CLASS, AT HOME ON THE SOIL OF THE LAND OF ISRAEL IN A CREATIVE ECONOMY, TAKING PART IN A REVOLUTION AGAINST AN OPPRESSIVE TRADITION OF MANY CENTURIES. A GREAT SOCIALIST, A MAN OF GREAT VISION, BEN GURION HAS BECOME AN INSPIRATION.
HE SERVED FOR 15 YEARS AS ISRAEL’S FIRST PRIME MINISTER. EARLIER HE HAD BEEN ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE HISTRADUT, ISRAEL’S TRADE UNION MOVEMENT AND SERVED AS ITS GENERAL SECRETARY FROM 1921-35. THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, WHOSE PARLIAMENTARY LEADER I AM PROUD TO BE AND THE AUSTRALIAN TRADE UNION MOVEMENT, WITH WHICH I AM PROUD TO HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED FOR NEARLY YEARS, HAVE CLOSE LINKS WITH THEIR ISRAELI COUNTERPARTS. IT IS FOR THESE REASONS THAT I WAS HONOURED TO ACCEPT THE INVITATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN JEWISH COMMUNITY TO BE PATRON-IN-CHIEF OF THE AUSTRALIAN BEN GURION CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE. AND IT IS FOR THESE REASONS THAT I REGARD IT AS A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE AT THIS CEREMONY TODAY. THE BEN GURION GARDEN WILL SERVE AS A PERMANENT SYMBOL OF THE BEST QUALITIES OF OUR TWO COUNTRIES AND OUR TWO PEOPLES.
