Gordon Reid (Robertson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the people of Robertson, I wish to extend our condolences to King Charles III and to the royal family on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, a queen who dedicated her life to the service of the community and of the Commonwealth and never wavered from responsibility. We pay tribute to a remarkable life and we pay tribute to a historic reign. Queen Elizabeth II was, without a doubt, a constant and reassuring figure during her reign from 1953 to 2022. Queen Elizabeth II is the only monarch that I have ever known in my lifetime, and I will always admire her stoic dedication to service as leader of the Commonwealth, of which Australia is a proud member.

Queen Elizabeth II was coronated in June 1953 after the passing of her father. After she became Queen, her reign included numerous visits to Australia, and it is clear through these many visits that she had a fond appreciation of Australia—of the land and of its people. Queen Elizabeth II's first visit to Australia as Queen, and as the only reigning monarch to have ever done so, was following her coronation in 1954. The official royal tour covered large swathes of the nation, and it is said that three-quarters of the Australian population came out to witness and meet with Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. Of particular note was Her Majesty's visit to the Central Coast. During the journey from Sydney to Newcastle, the royal train would slow down at Gosford station and at Wyong station so that Her Majesty could greet the crowd and the people of the Central Coast could bear witness to their monarch, to their head of state. The Queen and Duke spent six months touring the Commonwealth nations, and this was a huge success, demonstrating the dedication she would continue to example throughout her reign as monarch.

On a more personal level, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, during the times of rising infection, during the times of rising admissions to hospital and intensive care, and during the time prior to the rollout of vaccinations, the Queen broadcasted a message. That message was titled 'We will meet again'. For those on the front line providing medical care, those transporting our goods and those stocking our shelves, this was a message of inspiration and a message of motivation and encouragement in what was one of the darkest times outside of conflict in our nation's history. As Her Majesty's recognition of those who were grieving, those who were experiencing incredible financial difficulties and those who had had enormous change in their lives, the message was a testament to the steadfast commitment she had for the people of the Commonwealth.

In total, the Queen came to Australia 16 times over her reign, and our nation was always a priority. The Queen kept abreast of developing situations in Australia and shared with us in times of celebration as well as commiserated with us during the more challenging periods. This was highlighted during times of national crisis, like the recent bushfires in 2019 and 2020 and during floods that impacted large areas of our country.

Queen Elizabeth II was Britain's longest-reigning monarch and a queen who had a strong sense of duty and a determination to dedicate her life to the people. For many citizens in Australia and around the world, the Queen represented a constant presence in a rapidly changing world. Here in Australia it has been a time of mixed emotions for many, and this is understandable. However, the outpouring of emotion shown since her passing demonstrates what an extraordinary leader she was. In my electorate, people have come from all over the region to sign the condolence book, republicans and monarchists alike, sharing their unique story and their memories of Her Majesty.

I thank the Queen for her service to our constitutional monarchy here in Australia and her guidance over her reign. Thank you for your service, Queen Elizabeth II. May you now rest in peace.

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