Tributes for Labor legend Lionel Bowen

April 1st, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

He was a legend of Australian politics and a man of character, conviction and humility.

Former Labor deputy prime minister Lionel Bowen, who died on Sunday aged 89, has also been remembered as a funny and affable bloke who offered advice and guidance to such ALP luminaries as Paul Keating and Bob Carr.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard led the tributes.

“Mr Bowen was a legend of Australian politics, who served with distinction in public life for 42 years across all three levels of government,” Ms Gillard said in a statement.

“Lionel Bowen was good Labor man who was passionate for the cause of social justice and who was renowned for his integrity, honesty and fairness.”

Mr Bowen was born in the inner Sydney suburb of Ultimo in December 1922. He left school at 14 but later matriculated at night school and completed a law degree.

He entered local government in 1948 and later served two terms as mayor of Randwick before entering the NSW parliament in 1962.

Seven years later he moved to Canberra as the member for Kingsford Smith, a seat he held for 21 years until his retirement in 1990.

During his time in federal politics he served as a senior minister in both the Whitlam and Hawke governments but his personal modesty ensured he never really became a household name.

He tried to seize the Labor leadership from Mr Whitlam twice – in 1975 and 1977 – but never had the numbers.

He was deputy prime minister under Bob Hawke from 1983 to 1990.

Paul Keating, who replaced Mr Bowen as deputy, described him as a humble man who always placed the country’s interests ahead of his own.

“Australia has been fortunate in having the conscientious service of someone so committed to the values of justice and equity and the public good in general,” Mr Keating said in a statement.

“Humility was written all over his calling card.”

Foreign Minister Bob Carr, who once worked as Mr Bowen’s campaign director, said he would remember him as a friend, mentor and gentleman.

“His personality was very humble, he was the ordinary person’s representative in parliament,” Senator Carr said.

Labor frontbencher Peter Garrett, who now represents Kingsford Smith, said the ALP had lost a great servant.

“His career is a poignant reminder of what a person of great character brings to political life,” Mr Garrett said.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen, who is unrelated, said he was very sad to hear of Lionel Bowen’s passing.

“He was always good for a chat; he always gave friendly advice, but was never over-the-top in telling you what to do,” Mr Bowen told AAP.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said Mr Bowen was a well-respected parliamentarian who served Australia with distinction.

“I can certainly respect a Labor man who is true to his values and I think Lionel Bowen was certainly that,” Mr Abbott said.

Former prime minister Bob Hawke has previously described Mr Bowen as “an affable, active, shrewd man, with a delightful, self-effacing humour and an uncanny capacity for accurately judging character”.