Opening of the Petrov Affair Exhibition

Old Parliament House, Canberra
12 August 2004

I am pleased to be here tonight in my new role as Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.

The last half of the 20 th century saw much of our foreign and domestic policy directed against a perceived communist threat from the Soviet Union and its allies.

Indeed, fifty years ago, Australia had an adversary; one that fortunately we can now call a friend.

The communist threat was for most Australians a distant problem, an entire continent away.

But in April 1954, the Cold War came to Australia when Vladimir Petrov sought asylum in Sydney.

Petrov's decision sparked one of the most significant diplomatic and political incidents in Australian history.

Petrov failed to tell his wife, Evdokia, of his defection, and the Soviet Union hastily made arrangements for her departure.

The defections were a game of cat and mouse. ASIO took Vladimir Petrov to Mascot in the back of a ute, covered over with a tarpaulin, in case he was needed to talk to Evdokia at short notice!

But the Russian couriers left through the wrong departure lounge and consequently bypassed the waiting Mr Petrov.

William Carty's photograph of Mrs Petrov being dragged across the tarmac at Sydney Airport by two Soviet couriers is a permanent reminder of what happened next.

Indeed, that picture has become one of the iconic images of our history, and tonight we have an opportunity to understand the real story behind the photograph.

This evening, we have the privilege of being among the first to see this exhibition - a piecing together of documentary material, sound recordings and audio-visual footage into what is an intriguing and informative exploration of the Petrov Affair and its impact on Australian politics and society.

And is there a more fitting place to open The Petrov Affair exhibition than where much of the intrigue and political drama took place?

Old Parliament House has been home to a number of important exhibitions, but this evening is truly an auspicious occasion.

It was tonight, fifty years ago and almost to the hour, that the Petrov Affair took centre stage in the House of Representatives.

On 12 August 1954, Prime Minister Menzies rose in the House to counter Opposition Leader 'Doc' Evatt's claims of a government conspiracy to discredit the opposition.

Evatt had accused the Menzies' Government of orchestrating the defection.

The debate that followed in the House is widely regarded as one of the most significant and bitter debates between a Prime Minister and Opposition Leader in Australian Parliamentary history.

Many regard the exchange as the turning point in the Petrov incident; the point where the "defection" became "the affair."

Now the Petrov Affair can be explored in detail through the historical material available in the collections of our national cultural institutions.

Indeed, the support and assistance of the National Archives of Australia, ScreenSound Australia and the Australian Film Commission was crucial in putting together this exhibition.

Our thanks go to these important national cultural institutions.

They are strongly supported by the Australian Government and receive significant funding to care for our nation's cultural heritage.

For 2004-05, funding provided for these organisations totals more than $111 million.

Of course, special thanks must also go to the staff at Old Parliament House. Particular acknowledgement must be made of the exhibition curator, Linda Cumming.

The Petrov Affair has been a labour of love for Linda and as you will shortly see, the extraordinary story of the Affair has been uncovered by Linda in amazing detail drawing on some of Australia's most important documentary heritage never before seen by the public.

Since it reopened in 1992, some 1.7 million visitors from around Australia have visited the House to learn about our fascinating political history.

The Australian Government is proud to support this historic building, thereby ensuring that future generations can experience our rich heritage and celebrate the legacy of one of the world's oldest and arguably most stable democracies.

Major funding initiatives have included significant capital works to restore and refurbish the dining rooms, the chambers, the party rooms and of course the National Portrait Gallery.

Three ACT and two national tourism awards highlight that Old Parliament House is fast becoming a major cultural tourism destination.

And this exhibition will only add to its fine reputation.

It is an outstanding example of how our national cultural institutions can work together to create historical and cultural exhibitions of the finest quality.

And such exhibitions contribute to ensuring that the legacy of our rich democratic traditions will survive for future generations.

It is now my pleasure to declare The Petrov Affair exhibition officially open.