Page 2197 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 29 August 2023
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Tuesday, 29 August 2023
MADAM SPEAKER (Ms Burch) (10.00): Members:
Dhawura nguna, dhawura Ngunnawal.
Yanggu ngalawiri, dhunimanyin Ngunnawalwari dhawurawari.
Nginggada Dindi dhawura Ngunnaawalbun yindjumaralidjinyin.
The words I have just spoken are in the language of the traditional custodians and translate to:
This is Ngunnawal Country.
Today we are gathering on Ngunnawal country.
We always pay respect to Elders, female and male, and Ngunnawal country.
Members, I ask you to stand in silence and pray or reflect on our responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory.
The Hon Mr Simon Crean
Motion of condolence
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism): I move:
That this Assembly expresses its deep regret at the death of the Honourable Simon Crean, former federal Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Labor Leader and Minister of a diverse range of portfolios, and tenders its profound sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues in their bereavement.
Simon Crean, unionist, Labor leader, family man, died in Berlin on 25 June 2023. Simon was born in Melbourne in 1949, son of Frank Crean, member for Melbourne Ports, Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer in the Whitlam Labor government. He was brought up in a Labor household with two brothers Stephen and David. Stephen was killed in a skiing accident and David became Deputy Premier of Tasmania. Simon’s mother Mary, a strong woman who lived to over 100, instilled in him Labor values of caring, compassion and courage, and Simon embodied these qualities throughout his life.
He attended Melbourne High School and graduated in law and economics from Monash University. After graduation he joined the then Storeman and Packers’ Union, later becoming its general secretary. Here he learnt the skills of communication and negotiation, always with the aim of a positive outcome—skills which he employed throughout his political life.
Simon was always ready to take the time to bring people with him to “have the conversation”, as he called it. He believed in the power of the collective and the role of unions in improving pay and conditions of working people, but he was no ideologue. He recognised that for workers to be paid well, businesses also needed to prosper.
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