Making his inaugural speech to the UN general assembly, Mr Abbott drew inspiration from Bathurst’s favourite son, and former Labor Prime Minister, Ben Chifley’s famous 1949 speech.

“One of our prime ministers once talked about our great objective – our ‘Light on the Hill’ as he put it – to work for the betterment of mankind, not just at home, but wherever we can lend a helping hand,” he said.

He said the world was wracked with problems – ISIS, Russian aggression in the Ukraine, Ebola, and economic stagnation – but all could be overcome. Australia, he said, would always play its part.

“We’re strong enough to be useful, but pragmatic enough to know our limits,” he told the half-full assembly chamber.

“We have never believed that we can save the world single-handedly, but nor have we shrunk from shouldering our responsibilities.”

He spoke of Australia’s pride at having contributed so much to UN peacekeeping and humanitarian missions over the institution’s 70-year history. He described the UN as “an imperfect instrument”.

“Still, it’s better than ‘might is right’ and it gives good arguments the best chance to prevail,” he said.

Abbott, like Chifley, also emphasised the importance of economic growth, saying in his speech that while it would not solve every problem, it would make many problems easier to tackle.

Senator Penny Wong, who last week gave the Light on the Hill address in Bathurst, also paid tribute to Chifley’s stance on economic growth.

“You can almost see him, perhaps with his pipe in the corner of his mouth, safely steering the powerful engine of government policy through the night, alert for unexpected hazards and safeguarding the citizens whose lives and livelihoods depended on his skill and judgement,” she said.

Senator’s Wong’s address at Bathurst Panthers was heard by more than 330, who gave the Senator a standing ovation.