"For Haigh, who died in 2023, held an abiding suspicion of most Australian prime ministers from Menzies to the incumbent, Anthony Albanese, and in his post-diplomatic life he used an acerbic pen as a commentator to enunciate countless reasons why. That Albanese will be at the dedication service in Pretoria on Friday (he is attending the G20 summit) might also have brought a trademark luminous smile to Haigh's face."
"It was never invective that impelled Haigh, but passion and a fearless quest for justice for the oppressed and less fortunate. Those qualities marked his service in South Africa as second secretary in the Australian mission from 1976 to 1979 and which are being memorialised by his inclusion on the Wall of Names. Haigh was quick to form a close relationship with the Black Consciousness movement."
Bruce Haigh was included on South Africa's Wall of Names at Freedom Park in recognition of resistance to apartheid. Many who knew him believed he would have been bemused to be listed alongside former prime ministers Bob Hawke and Malcolm Fraser. Haigh died in 2023 and held longstanding suspicions of Australian prime ministers from Menzies to Anthony Albanese. He used an acerbic pen as a commentator and criticized Albanese for outsourcing defence and foreign policy to the United States. Haigh served as second secretary in the Australian mission in South Africa from 1976 to 1979 and formed a close relationship with the Black Consciousness movement. He was the first foreign diplomat to meet Steve Biko and sent confidential cables outlining the racism underpinning apartheid.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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