Ian Goodenough (Moore, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of a grateful nation, I rise to convey my sincere condolences to the royal family on the passing of a beloved sovereign and head of state, Queen Elizabeth II. This parliament mourns the loss of our late Queen, who served the people of the Commonwealth beautifully, with great dignity and grace, for 70 years, celebrating her Platinum Jubilee this year. As Australia's head of state for the past seven decades, the Queen has led us both through the good times that have defined our nation and also through the struggles of the difficult times, uniting us, the Australian people, through natural disasters, international conflicts, economic downturns, crises and even the recent pandemic. Inspired by her leadership and example, Australians have built a thriving nation post the Second World War, with a strong, prosperous economy and a stable civil society.

Such is the esteem in which our late Queen is held that over the past few days we have seen millions of people across the globe queuing to sign condolence books, attending memorial services in churches, and paying their respects by lining the streets of the United Kingdom to witness her funeral procession. The sophistication, colour and pageantry of the proceedings served as a reminder to us all of the importance of economic development, military service, discipline, the rule of law and patriotism in defining who we are as a society and nation. As Queen of Australia, Queen Elizabeth II set a fine example for us to follow. Our national and cultural identity as Australians is inextricably entwined in the crown—if you like, like the direction provided by a compass. We are not the lucky country by chance. Our prosperity and stability is the result of our system of government.

My electorate of Moore is home to a large British community, with approximately 17 per cent of our population born in the United Kingdom and more than 40 per cent of residents having close family connections to Britain. British culture is an intrinsic part of our everyday lives. It is part of our language, our customs, our traditions, our culture, our manners and our social graces. We are proud of our British heritage that is now an intrinsic part of modern Australian culture.

As Head of the Commonwealth, the Queen has contributed to strengthening international relations. Today the Commonwealth comprises 56 member states covering an area of approximately 30 million square kilometres, with a combined population of more than 2.4 billion of the world's citizens. As the name suggests, the Commonwealth is an institution that has lifted billions of people out of poverty across the globe by providing governance and the rule of law, and promoting industry, economic development and security. The Crown is heavy because it represents a glorious burden of responsibility for the welfare, security and prosperity of the people of the Commonwealth.

I have fond memories of our late Queen. Growing up in Singapore, I first learned about Queen Elizabeth from my grandparents. As a Eurasian family, we are the descendants of British migrants who settled, as pioneers during the days of Raffles, in the bustling colony of the Straits Settlements which later became known as Singapore. My late maternal grandfather, TB Smith, kept a framed portrait at home of a very young Queen Elizabeth. I was brought up on stories of the history of the royal family, and as a high-school student I helped plant a tree in Leederville to commemorate the Ruby Jubilee in 1992. I recall queuing up among a large crowd in the warm sun on the tarmac at Perth airport, in 2002, to catch a glimpse of the Queen as she arrived in Western Australia, and again, years later, at Government House on St Georges Terrace, for her subsequent visit to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

The Queen was a remarkable lady who enjoyed the outdoors and rural pursuits. As we look to the future, in a rapidly changing and uncertain world, we will face new threats and challenges to our country, welfare and economic prosperity. We will rise to meet these new challenges. We now place our trust in the new king, Charles III, to lead us forward and overcome the obstacles in our path. Long may he reign, and may Almighty God save the King.

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