Nicholas Whitlam, prominent businessman, career banker and chairman of the Port Authority of New South Wales – and the second son of the former Prime Minister of Australia Edward Gough Whitlam AC QC – paid tribute to his late father and other Labor forefathers in officially opening the office of the State Member for Macquarie Fields, Anoulack Chanthivong, on Friday 28 August.

Gough Whitlam once held the Federal seat of Werriwa, which encompasses the state electorate boundary of Macquarie Fields. Anoulack’s predecessors were also in attendance to mark the opening, including Dr Andrew McDonald and The Honourable Craig Knowles AM, whose father, Stan Knowles, held the seat from 1988 to 1990 and was Member for Ingleburn from 1981 to 1988.

Mr Chanthivong said he was both humbled and immensely proud to serve the people of the Macquarie Fields electorate, particularly given the legacy that had gone before him.

“I am indebted to those former parliamentarians who have provided their counsel and made my journey as a new representative all the more easier,” Mr Chanthivong said.

“I am especially indebted to Nicholas for agreeing to open the office and for his kind and encouraging words.

“It is an honour and privilege to stand among the likes of Nicholas Whitlam, the Knowles family and Dr Andrew McDonald, and I thank the people of the Macquarie Fields electorate for giving me this opportunity to serve them as their local member.

“Now that the office has moved to Ingleburn, I look forward to continuing to focus my energy on the needs of the electorate and advocating on behalf of the community for our fair share of services,” he added.