F77/ 185
4j,,, AUSTR1A 1A&
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 23 AUGUST 1977
CONDOLENCE MOTION MR. R. CONNOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
I move
" That this Hous-e expresses its deep regret at the death, on
22 August 1977, of the Honourable Reginald Francis Xavier Connor,
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly 1950-1976,
Member of this House for the Division of Cunningham from 1962
and a Minister of the Crown from 1972 to 1975; places on record
its appreciation of his long and meritorious public service; and
tenders its profound sympathy to his family in their bereavement."
It is my sad task to speak today of,* the death of one of the best
known Members of this House, the Honourable Member for Cunningham,
Rex Connor. Rex Connor was the son of a waterside worker from the
city of Wollongong, a city which he was to serve faithfully
throughout his life.
He was Dux of Wollongong High School, and subsequently qualified
as a solicitor by working in a solicitor's office and studying
part-time for the Solicitors Admission Board Course. He had a
long and notable record of public service.* For six years he
was a member of the Wollongong City Council. In 1950 he was
elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of
Wollongong-Kenibla which he held continuously until 1963 when he
resigned to stand for Federal Parliament. He won the seat of
Cunningham at the 1963 General Election and retained it until
his death in Canberra yesterday.
From December 1972 to October 1975 Mr. Connor was Minister for
Minerals and Energy,. and on two occasions during that period
he served as acting Prime Minister of Australia. 1
Rex Connor had a great capacity for work. He enjoyed wide
support in his electorate and in his party. He was assiduous
in looking after the affairs of his electorate. Doubtless
they recognised him as a committed nationalist, a committed
socialist, a lifelong enthusiast for the Labor cause in which
he so fervently believed. / His
2
His primary interest, particularly in more recent years, was
Australia's energy resources. His policies on this issue were
quite distinctive and controversial. As a Minister, he was
unremitting in his determination to bring those policies to
reality. While many disputed the wisdom of his minerals and
energy programme, none doubted for a moment the strength or
sincerity in which he held and espoused his views. Indeed, he
has almost passed a word into Australian language " Connorism".
Whether or not one agrees with the sentiment which underlies
that term, it is a mark of the impact that Rex Connor had on
this House and in the wider international community. I found
on my recent overseas trip that there are many overseas who
still remember him.
Rex Connor exhibited at all times since he joined this House
complete loyalty to his party and to his leader. When he was
in difficulty he made no attempt to clear himself at the
expense of others. That of itself indicates an uncommon
degree of dedication and commitment.
Our late colleague was a significant Member of this House.
All Members were ever conscious of his presence. He will
be sadly missed. I am sure I speak for all of us when I say
to his sons and grandchildren that we offer them our deep
sympathy in their loss.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I think I should add that Mr. Connor
must himself have been deeply saddened in recent times, for
his own wife died only last April. 0