Fed: State funeral for Don Chipp

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2006
Fed: State funeral for Don Chipp

CANBERRA, Aug 29 AAP - Australian Democrats founder Don Chipp will be given a state
funeral, Prime Minister John Howard says.

"Don Chipp's family has accepted the government's offer of a state funeral," Mr Howard
said in a statement.

The prime minister again paid tribute to the man who quit the Liberal Party in 1977
to set up the Democrats, saying Mr Chipp had made a significant contribution to public
life in Australia.

"To me, Don Chipp's most enduring quality was his relentless passion and commitment
to issues," Mr Howard said.

"Until the very end he had strong beliefs and strong opinions concerning issues of
public policy."

Mr Chipp, 81, died in a Melbourne hospital yesterday after a long battle with Parkinson's
disease.

AAP rp/so/evt/jlw

KEYWORD: CHIPP FUNERAL

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