Allegra Spender (Wentworth, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to express my condolences, on behalf of the community of Wentworth, on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II—not just to express my condolence but also to pay tribute and to celebrate the extraordinary life of a remarkable woman: a woman who was our Queen and the head of the Commonwealth; a woman who was a quiet but persistent model for duty, for service, for tolerance, for humility and for respect; and a woman who was dearly and clearly loved and respected by many millions of people right around the world.

One lesson we can learn from her life is how much people value constancy in their leaders. Not just doggedly sticking to a belief or attitude, regardless of changing facts or the changing world, Elizabeth clearly saw and understood, perhaps better than most, that the world is changing. She took the crown at a time when the British Empire was in terminal decline and oversaw its transformation into a Commonwealth of, largely, independent states.

Her coronation was for many people the first television program they would ever watch, while every single moment of her funeral was documented on social media. The world changed and Elizabeth changed. But it felt as if she was entirely unchanging. That is because she remained true to her values. People felt they understood her. They knew who she was and what she was about. I think this is what people want from their leaders. They want someone who knows themselves, who knows what they believe in, and someone who will stand by their principles their entire careers and lives.

A second thing we can take from the Queen's life is that she took her responsibilities and commitments seriously. She made a pledge on her 21st birthday that her whole life would be devoted to the service of her people, a pledge that she recommitted to on her coronation day and a pledge that she honoured for seven long decades. She honoured that commitment. It seemed that all her days were devoted to meeting people from all walks of life, celebrating their achievements, raising the profile of those who supported others, and offering comfort and support to those in hardship.

This devotion to service was best demonstrated through her work with the Commonwealth, which has supported democratic values, human rights and the rule of law in member states throughout her reign. She took her responsibilities and her commitments seriously and she honoured them for every day of her life. It is clear to me that this is what people want, what they and what others value in their leaders. That is why there's so much respect for Elizabeth. As the Prime Minister said this morning, 'You could be a republican and still have a deep affection and respect for her.' I think people in all walks of life, certainly in Wentworth, acknowledge the stability that her reign has provided our own democracy, even as many consider how our democracy may change.

Elizabeth II was a remarkable woman, one who was respected and admired by so many Australians for so many reasons. I'm deeply honoured to be representing the people of Wentworth as I say, 'Thank you for a full life of devoted service.' I would like to finish with a brief note from one of the constituents who left a condolence in my office. They're simple words, but I think it is well expressed: 'Sincere condolences. Thank you for your lifetime of service and duty. Always loved and missed.'

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