James Stevens (Sturt, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on this motion of condolence on the death of Dame Olivia Newton-John. It's fitting serendipitously that this motion is being debated just after we've talked about the passing of Judith Durham. In many ways, Olivia Newton-John replaced Judith Durham as one of the great Australian female singers and entertainers of the seventies, just as Judith Durham was of the sixties.

As the previous speaker mentioned, I totally agree that she's a lot more than just being Sandy in Grease, but, first and foremost, that is certainly how so many tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions, of people came to know her. One of those curses for any Australian who travels to America is that Americans think there are about 30 to 40 people who live in Australia, so they will often ask the question: 'You are from Australia. Do you know Olivia Newton-John or Paul Hogan?' Well, Paul lives three houses down but Olivia is two streets over in the one suburb on continental Australia.

Her passing to me came as quite a shock. I very much regret that a few years ago I missed the opportunity to meet her when she was in this building. A lot of members will remember that she was here and attended question time, doing the great work she was doing to raise awareness in this building, like she raised so much money for cancer treatment. Of course, she succumbed to her long, long battle with cancer, tragically, but the legacy she leaves behind in this country around awareness and resourcing is truly spectacular. She was a very famous Australian but we do not merely remember her as just someone who was a very successful musician and actress, though she was. She chose to use that success to make a really significant difference in our society in Australia and, frankly, around the globe.

It is a tragedy that she passed much sooner than any of us would wish, but the legacy she leaves behind is one of many lifetimes of contribution. So with those words I pay tribute and reflect and, of course, mourn the passing of Dame Olivia Newton-John.

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