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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-07-29 Daily Xml
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Condolence

Stretton, Prof. H.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (11:02): On indulgence, Mr Speaker, I rise today to speak on the passing of a remarkable South Australian, Professor Hugh Stretton AC. Hugh died on 18 July 2015, three days after he celebrated his 91st birthday. He was a polymath, social theorist, historian, public intellectual and, especially through his work at the Housing Trust, a man concerned about translating ideas into action. He had a long-lasting and constructive influence on policy in this country, both initiating and furthering debate about how our cities and suburbs should above all serve human needs.

He also had a profound and positive influence on people of all walks of life, including his students and parliamentarians like me. It is poignant that he passed away virtually on the eve of the opening of the Stretton Centre in Adelaide's northern suburbs that in many ways will reflect his style, honour his legacy and build on his fine work.

Hugh Stretton was born in Melbourne on 15 July 1924. After enrolling at Melbourne University, he served in the Navy during World War II. In 1946 he was awarded a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford University, where after his studies he became a lecturer in history. He returned to Australia in 1954, taking up an Adelaide University chair in history at the age of just 30. He remained in our city for the rest of his rich life and from here contributed consistently to debate, research, policy-making and practice relating to urban planning.

For someone with such stellar academic and professional credentials, it is strange that probably Hugh Stretton's most quoted and most influential piece of writing had rather modest beginnings. His seminal work from 1970, Ideas for Australian Cities, was turned down by six publishers, so he decided to publish it himself. It quickly made an impact, however, attracting the attention of social scientists and policymakers, and taking debate out of the exclusive hands of architects and town planners.

The book made the point that cities are fundamentally social constructions and that urban planning should be guided not merely by the need for efficiency but by the desirability of social equity and neighbourhood amenity. These are ideas that are now commonplace and accepted, but they were a fundamental paradigm shift at the time he first mentioned them.

Ideas for Australian Cities was released during a period of rapid social change and often convulsive public debate. The then federal ALP leader, Gough Whitlam, was formulating an ambitious social reform program for government that included action on urban planning. Reflecting the debate that Hugh Stretton helped spark, Whitlam said in 1972:

A national government which has nothing to say about cities has nothing relevant or enduring to say about the nation or the nation's future.

One of Stretton's key legacies, I believe, is the proper inclusion of economic considerations in debate and decision-making about planning, and the now widespread acceptance that sound planning can significantly contribute to economic growth.

For me, one of the most admirable aspects of Hugh Stretton's life was his desire to serve the state, especially through his position as deputy chair of the Housing Trust of South Australia between 1973 and 1989. Such work is admirable, because it shows a willingness not merely to formulate and discuss ideas but to have them widely scrutinised and to test them through implementation.

Under the Dunstan government, in particular, the Housing Trust was at the forefront of various new proposals and measures. Among these was the plan for the new city of Monarto, the development of the Noarlunga Centre and the building of houses on redeveloped inner city land, akin to what we are doing in places now like Bowden.

One of Stretton's longstanding colleagues, Lionel Orchard, described Hughes work with the Housing Trust as: '…an illustration of the intersection between theory and praxis, which many other academics only talk about.' This word 'praxis' is an interesting word: it essentially means the act of engaging, applying, exercising, realising or practising ideas, and this was this academic's life. He was not merely a man who generated ideas but he sought to put them into place.

I think there is a worthy argument to suggest, as some theorists have suggested—famous theorists such as Hannah Arendt—that this is actually the good life. The pursuit of knowledge and the putting of knowledge into practice—this is the highest purpose. It gives your life a sense of purpose. It is also an incredibly exciting and rich way to pursue a life's work.

Hugh was not merely interested in the generating of ideas; he was interested in making them real: in talking to decision-makers and in getting involved in the life of the state. I have never seen a man more alive. I can remember once in his home, when I first met him, there was a group of young women there and he revelled in their enthusiasm for life, and he drew on their excitement and their vivacity. It excited him, and that is the way he saw the world as well.

He wanted to live life in its fullest, and that meant delving deeply into understanding every element of life, including just the conversations of these young women who were an entirely different generation to him, but he revelled in understanding what was exciting them, because that excited him. I found him to be one of the most profoundly interesting and inspiring men to be around.

Hugh Stretton made a profound impact on so many people in South Australia: on university students, many of whom went on to great success in public life. One of my predecessors, John Bannon, has written that Professor Stretton's lectures were:

…inspiring and impressive, particularly as they were given without notes. They were totally logical, with ideas and facts building on each other inexorably to a totally reasonable conclusion.

One of the great strengths of Hugh's writing was just the practicality of the things that he spoke about and the nimbleness of his mind. It is reflected in his extraordinary book, Economics: A New Introduction, which is just a fantastic primer on the intersection between politics and the economy, but written from a very scholarly perspective. John Bannon also wrote that the Stretton worldview came from 'a broad humanistic tradition which holds that the state exists to serve the people and not just to manage'.

Another of Hugh's Adelaide University students was the former Liberal senator and federal minister Amanda Vanstone, who wrote the following:

There are only a few lecturers that stand out in my mind. Hugh Stretton, without a doubt, stands above them all…For so many lecturers, doing their job seemed something of a nuisance, an aggravation. Others seemed sure the students were lucky to be receiving the benefit of their time. There was none of that with Hugh Stretton. He would walk quietly in the room, stand at the front for just a moment, not long enough for one to imagine he was seeking attention, and commence speaking. The tone was considered and gentle…With Stretton there was a complete absence of any sense of superiority. Not a condescending air to be found.

I had many dealings with Hugh Stretton over the years, especially when I held the ministerial portfolios of urban development and planning and housing. His advice to me on housing and social policy has had a formative influence on my thinking in these areas.

Although Hugh notionally retired in 1989, he actually did nothing of the sort. The passion still burned, and the books kept coming—I mentioned the 1999 Economics: A New Introduction. Arguing that orthodox economic theory was the wrong kind of theory for its purposes, the book was viewed as a rejection of unchecked and unquestioned economic rationalism. Rather than an ideological statement or simply an angry rebuff, it was a practitioner's methodical analysis of how the economy works in the real world. It was consistent with his long-standing view that the pursuit of economic growth needed to go hand in hand with other collective goals, such as a more sustainable environment and a fairer distribution of wealth. It is no surprise that, in 2005, Hugh was elected by a group of 200 Australian academics as one of the nation's top 10 public intellectuals.

As I said at the start, I am very sad that Professor Stretton has passed away just as we are preparing to launch, possibly next month, the Stretton Centre at Munno Para. The centre is a collaboration by the City of Playford, University of Adelaide and the state and federal governments. In simple terms, the centre will carry out research designed to foster the kind of sustainable industries, workforces and urban development that will create jobs and opportunities for northern Adelaide. Consistent with Professor Stretton's style of intellectual endeavour, the centre will concern itself with many and interesting topics. Also like Hugh, its unwavering focus will not be merely on theory but the practice of improving the lives of people.

Hugh Stretton was a towering figure, a leading social reformist working in a state well-known across the world for its social reform. His thoughtful and gracious demeanour made him a much loved and much admired South Australian. His passion for ideas—ideas that could bring about practical change and advance the common good—was undimmed through his long life. For me, he was a great man, because he combined intellectual rigour, pragmatism and moral purpose, the result being a life dedicated, as he said, to leaving 'Australia fairer than we found it'.

On behalf of the government of South Australia and members on this side of the house, I extend my sincere condolences to Hugh Stretton's wife Pat, his children Simon, Fabian, Tim and Sally, his four grandchildren and the extended Stretton family.

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (11:13): On indulgence, Mr Speaker, I would also like to rise and acknowledge the recent passing of Professor Hugh Stretton AC and express sincere condolences to the family on behalf of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. As the Premier said, Professor Hugh Stretton was in fact not originally from South Australia. He was born on 15 July 1924 in Melbourne. He attended the Melbourne University and he went on to serve Australia during the Second World War in the Royal Australian Navy. On concluding his service, he was awarded a Rhodes scholarship and studied in Oxford, but when he returned from the United Kingdom, he came to South Australia in 1954 and began his work at the University of Adelaide.

Given that the professor was formally educated across three continents—Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States—it is not surprising that he was to earn such a recognition as being voted as one of Australia's 10 most influential public intellectuals. Professor Stretton was regarded as a leading social theorist, historian and public intellectual, holding the positions of Emeritus Professor of History and as a Visiting Research Fellow in the School of Economics at the University of Adelaide right up until his death at the age of 91.

In his lifetime, he was awarded five honorary doctorates in recognition of his expertise in the field of social science and urban development. As the Premier outlined, not only was Professor Stretton a prolific social commentator but he was also a prolific author, with many publications throughout his life—one as recently as 2013 at the age of 89. He had an incredible following, and every word he wrote was meaningful and followed by an adoring public.

Professor Stretton's legacy now lives on in the north of our city, where the newly-established Stretton Centre opened its doors in May of this year hosting the Stretton collection, which is a showcase of his life's work. The centre itself aspires to become a self-sufficient institution, measuring its own successes by its impacts on jobs, innovation and, of course, much-needed industry in the north of South Australia. It is entirely appropriate that the Stretton Centre is situated in the City of Playford, given the working relationship between Professor Stretton and Sir Thomas Playford, a former premier of South Australia.

I would like to read a short extract from Stewart Cockburn's biography, Playford: Benevolent Despot, that references both Stretton and Playford and it really deals with something that we know was very much an issue for these two men. We know that Stretton served as the Deputy Chair of the South Australian Housing Trust for 17 years, and we know that he had a longstanding interest in public housing and improving the lives of people who were living in all sorts of accommodation. I think it was 1980 when he interviewed the premier regarding the legislation that Playford had moved to deal with the issue of slum landlords, and I quote directly from the biography:

'I sit, once a fortnight, administering that Act to this very day', said Stretton. 'Very effective, very wholesome. Can I ask you a question about that? The whole world is full of Professors of Economics who tell you why you must not have rent controls because they'll muck up landlord's incentives and so on. Were you conscious at the time that you were producing the only form of rent control in the world that is not open to any of those arguments about incentives? The only form of rent control that actually gives investors an incentive to produce an improved property?'

Playford hesitated.

'Well, I'm not sure', he said. 'But I had evidence about people who made a habit of buying up slum houses as a form of investment. And the second provision in the Bill was that the Trust, if it desired, could compulsorily acquire a big area to redevelop it.'

I emphasise that the trust has not used that provision to buy up a big area, but in some ways it just shows the pragmatic nature of the former premier of South Australia, Sir Thomas Playford, and it really is an interesting exchange between Stretton and Playford regarding how to deal practically with the issues of public housing and the provision of cost-effective housing in South Australia. As I said, Professor Stretton served the people of South Australia as the Deputy Chair of the Housing Trust for 17 years.

Professor Stretton's academic achievements have left a footprint that has seen the creation of a centre in South Australia that will continue his great work by supporting researchers, businesses and young entrepreneurs under one roof to pursue great social and economic outcomes. At the age of 79, Professor Stretton was awarded the AC, Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia, for services as a historian, social commentator and writer profoundly influencing and shaping ideas in the community on urban policy, town planning and social and economic development. He was a most worthy recipient of this very high honour that our nation can bestow upon one of its citizens.

On behalf of all those on this side of the house, I join with the government in expressing our sincere condolences to Professor Stretton's wife, Pat; his children, Simon, Fabian, Tim and Sally; and his extended group of family and friends. Vale, Hugh Stretton.

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (11:20): On indulgence, if I may briefly contribute to the recognition of the late Professor Hugh Stretton AC, whom we recognise today, and, in particular, his significant contribution in the academic world, which has been importantly outlined by the Premier and Leader of the Opposition, in politics and, indeed, public service and public life. May I also particularly extend my condolence to his widow, Pat, and his four children and family.

I had the pleasure in the 1970s of attending law school with His Honour Simon Stretton, who is now a member of the District Court of South Australia, and particularly recognise also, not to diminish the contribution of his other siblings, Professor Tim Stretton, who has in some ways followed in his father's footsteps as a professor of history in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I think the legacy we have in the public realm can be easily recognised in the legacy of his children and, doubtless, of others in the family who will take up this worthy contribution in public life and, in particular, the academic world. We also recognise and thank Professor Stretton for that legacy.

May I say of Professor Stretton's published position in respect of his support at the social democratic level that there would be, understandably, some significant difference in relation to the philosophies represented on this side of the house from those of Professor Stretton, but it is fair to say that his contribution to the academic world and, in particular, his advocacy in relation to social democratic principles is one to be recognised. I think the Premier's recognition of his stellar contribution at the academic level, his reasoned argument and presentation of that philosophical view, is to be respected. It helps to strengthen and provide depth in the debate of the political and pragmatic considerations that we need to make decisions on in this house and in other areas of public life.

Professor Stretton had a long career and many academic publications, as recognised in the Journal of Economic and Social Policy published on 7 January 2000. I think it is fair to say that one of his papers, titled 'Onwards, sideways or backwards: alternative responses to the shortcomings of social democracy', if ever read by prime ministers Hawke, Keating or Howard, would have elicited a touch of irritation in all three. Perhaps the value of the work of an academic is to ensure that there is a position presented that will cause those in leadership to make decisions.

His views, for example, on financial deregulation were well known. His views on foreign aid and its value are well known. From our side of politics, some of those areas may have made us blush, but others we welcomed. I consider his overall contribution to the enlightenment of the debates in this area to have been very significant.

I conclude by saying that I thank the government for its role in supporting the development of the Stretton Centre so that we recognise those who make a considerable contribution, as Professor Stretton has done in his lifetime, and I trust that that will go on to provide a valuable service to the people of South Australia.

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