Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

There are moments and events in our lives that remain unforgettable and can never be replicated. Such has been the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the proclamation of Prince Charles as King Charles III. For the past two weeks, people around the world have been captivated by the unparalleled public display of tradition, protocol, regalia and sombre parades—an extraordinary public display of gratitude and admiration. Throughout it all, the world witnessed Great Britain at its best. With absolute perfection and precision at each step of the way, the endless formalities and ceremonies, which included the participation of a wide cross-section of British society, including the royal family, military and police sectors, Scottish bagpipes, religious ceremonies, angelic choirs and everyday British people, were all meticulously planned and superbly executed.

After two weeks of extreme commentary, glowing tributes and personal anecdotes, there is little left to say that has not been said, but I will share some brief observations about the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and events of recent days. The public fascination with protocol and regalia suggests to me that these practices still serve an important function in society and that there is a silent public craving for ceremonial conventions. In a world where there is growing indifference to civic standards of behaviour, protocols do not merely reflect heritage and historical traditions; they express public standards, pride, tradition and appreciation—protocols observed so well by Queen Elizabeth II. Protocols also reflect an orderly society and the values which guide that order. Importantly, protocol brings dignity to the person or the occasion. The protocols and ceremonies in response to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, including here in Australia and in this parliament, speak so clearly to how highly she was regarded, and how widely.

Notwithstanding their special status in society, members of the royal family have normal human emotions as they deal with both their personal and their public lives. Watching Queen Elizabeth's family members on ceremonial parade on the day of her funeral and on the days leading up to it, with media and public eyes scrutinising their every move, brought home the reality that these were real people grieving the loss of a person very dear to their hearts. To all of them, I—and on behalf of the people of Makin—offer my sincere condolences. More than anyone else I know of, Queen Elizabeth II lived under that intense spotlight for 70 years, never able to let her guard down whilst in public. Yet, to my knowledge, not once did she falter. It was her persona and her decency, which others have spoken so extensively about, that brought dignity and honour not just to herself but to the entire British monarchy.

Since her coronation in 1952, South Australians have had an enduring fondness for Queen Elizabeth. The City of Elizabeth and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide's western suburbs—and I note the member for Spence who is here mentioned them earlier in his address—were both established in the years immediately following her coronation and named in her honour, ensuring that her name will live on in South Australia.

A quotation from Roman philosopher Cicero perhaps best sums up the life of Queen Elizabeth II: 'The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.' The life of Queen Elizabeth II has been affectionately placed in the memories of countless people throughout the world. That is, I believe, the greatest honour that any person can receive. Queen Elizabeth II now lies in Windsor Castle, alongside her husband, Prince Philip; her father, King George VI; and her mother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, where now she can rest in peace.

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