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.