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PRIME MINISTERFOR
MEDIA WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 1981
CONDOLENCE SPEECH FOR THE
LATE SENATOR JOHN KNIGHT
M4r. Speaker, I move that the House expresses its deep regret
at the death this day of Senator John William Knight, a
Senator for the Australian Capital Territory from 1975 and.
Government Whip in the Senate from 1980, places on record its
appreciation of his long and meritorious public service, and
tenders its profound sympathy to his widow and the members of
his family in their bereavement.
John Knight was'born in 1943 at Armidale in New South Wales.
He was an Honours graduate from the University of New England.
He was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 1968, and took a
Masters Degree at the East West Centre in HF waii. In 1975
he was a visiting Fellow at the A. N. U..
He joined the Department of Foreign A! f airs in 1965, and
served in India, Fiji and Saudi Arabia. He-was Senior Private
Secretary to the then Leader of tie opposition from 1973-74.
He was electe d to this Parliament in 1975 as Liberal Senator
for the and was subsequently re-elected in 1977 and
in 1980.
' John Knight was a Member of this Parliament only for a short
time. But he had already made his mark. He was active on a
wide variety of committees, he represented the Parliament and
the-Government on a number of overseas delegations, he had
been Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 1978 and was
elected Government Whip in the-Senate less than four months
ago. John Kni ght lived an active and vigorous life. He was a
dedicated representative of the He was concerned with
the design of Canberra, and with all aspects of its welfare. / 2
A/ 404, fAy
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He was patron of the A. C. T. Rugby Union! the A. C. T. Amateur
Swimming Association, and the A. C. T. Life Saving Association.
He had a particular concern and involvement with the
International Year of the Disabled Person. He had just
finished the final manuscript of a book on the role of the
backbench in foreign policy.
This simple factual account of John Knight's career, while
showing his significant work, inadequately depicts his contribution
to life in the Australian Capital Territory, and its rich
promise for t,-he future.
There is no doubt that John Knight would have had a significant
career. He not only represented the people of the A. C. T.
well but he had a broad interest in international affairs.
He was a contributor, a thinker he was concerned.
His colleagues on both sides of Parliament will miss him
for this.
We all admired and valued his personal quality.
Whatever the loss to the Senate,. the Parliament and the AustraLian
Capital Territory might be, at this time we are all thinking
much more of his wife, Karla, and the children.
We are all deeply conscious of their tragedy in losing a
husband arnd a father, so young and wiith so much promise.
The real tragedy and the deepest loss is theirs.
All that we can do is to hope that our recognition of the
quality a~ id promise of John Knight's life will provide some
comfort at this tragic time.
The tragedy of John Knight's death has been compounded by
the death of his father on Sunday.
To Karla, who gave him tremendous love a nd support, and to
his children and family, we extend our deepest sympathy.