PM Transcripts

4'), AUST ALIA.
FOR MEDIA 12 FEBRUARY, 1987
Senator Don Crimes, minister for Community Services, has
tendered his resignation from the Ministry. I, as will all
his colleagues, greatly regret his resignation. His
contribution to the Government has been very great indeed
and he has br: ought distinction to the various areas with
which he haG been associated.
Senator Gr~. rcs' resignation will take effect from the time
of the swear~ ing in of a successor following the Caucus
meeting on Eondcky afternoon.
Senator Grizacs was minister for Social sectirity in my first
ministry. Since the 1984 election he has been the H4inister
for Comm~ unityr Services. He also held the important
positions o2 Deputy Leader in the Senate and Manager of
Government Business for that Chamber.
Senator Gria-3s entered the Parliament in 1974 as Senator for
Tasmania. Byr 1976, he was a member of the Opposition Shadow
m4inistry whzore he was a principal architect of the ALP's
Gocial security policies.
in all the positions he hold, Senator Grimes has been a
valued colloeague. He brought to his Ministerial and Cabinet
dutiei not only technical expertise from his background as a
medical practitioner but also a breadth of knowledge and
perspective from the wide diversity of his interests. In
both his Senate and Ministerial positions, he combined both
robustness in debate with the ability to negotiate and
conciliate. These attributes had earned him the respect and
admiration of his colleagues and indeed all those with whom
he had contact.
Senator Grimes had a longstanding association with the
Socialist International, where he demonstrated his
commitment to Parliamentary democracy, and the principles of
equality, liberty and social co-operation, objectives for
which the Australian Labor Party stands.
Senator Grimes will remain in the Senate for a short period,
before taking up a senior Government position.
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