Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's with great sadness that I rise here today to pay my condolences to our Luch. No-one in this place does their job alone, especially in Parliament House. Some of us are lucky enough to spend enough time in this place to get to know a lot of people behind the scenes—and I say 'behind the scenes' but, for all of us, Luke stood out. He was someone who had the heart and soul of our parliament really close to his heart. He was ever the professional. He carried out his role with pride and with really good humour, and he was a big personality. He was a friendly face who cared deeply.

When I learned of his passing, it came as a shock, and I know it came as a shock to many people across this parliament—both elected officials and all of the people who work in this building. He was someone who was so full of life—Luch Jonceski from Jerrabomberra. He served parliament and its members for four decades, always with a smile on his face and always bringing a bit of fun and humour to a place that can be short on it a lot of the time. He'd offer you water and he'd say, 'It's on the House.' He'd greet me every single sitting day with, 'How's my local member today?' He'd sneak in a chocolate, and he'd do so from within the sleeve of his coat, and he'd always chat to me about his beloved Queanbeyan City Football Club. He'd ask for his birthday card and his Christmas cards to be delivered personally, and I always obliged.

It's been really interesting talking to so many other people across this building, because everyone has a personal story or a connection with Luch just like that. There was his daily quip to the Speaker of the House at the opening of parliament every day: 'Let's do this, Mr Speaker.' He was comfortable speaking with prime ministers, with opposition leaders and with members from all political persuasions, and he helped each and every person in this building. His work here was diligent. He was diligent in his job because he had a deep respect for the institution that he served and he had an existential belief in the proper running of our democracy.

Luch, it was a privilege to be your local member. It's something I'll always cherish. A couple of weeks ago, in that extraordinary sitting of parliament, I'm sure I wasn't alone when I came in and was looking around and found it quite weird that he wasn't actually in the chamber. And I'm sure it's going to be a habit that's hard to shake for many of us, because Luch was the very best of us. He was a friend to a lot of people. He was a genuinely good man. He cared for others, and he's going to be really missed in this place. My sincere condolences to his family and friends and to the many members of the Macedonian community, of which Luch was a really, really proud member. These halls will not be the same without you, but we are forever indebted to your memory. Vale, Luch.

Zoe McKenzie (Flinders, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A few days ago I actually got up to give my speech for our dear friend Luch in this place because I was fearful that, listening to the contributions of others, I would struggle to keep myself together. And, may I say, I delivered in spades. I was a burbling, sobbing mess. But today I hope to tell some of the fun stories of Luch. After all, I can't cry in front of the member for Canning! I would never live that down. But, as I went to give my speech a couple of days ago, I actually reached out to Luch's colleagues, and I said, 'If there's anything you'd like me to say on your behalf—to read into the record of Hansard forever—then I am very happy to do that. And so here are some of the reflections of his friends and colleagues in the messages to Luch. I'm mindful many of them are watching from your offices and that some of them are here with us today.

Here's the first one. This one's from Raff. Everybody knows Raff. Raff has been around forever, and I didn't know that Raff's official title is Messengerial Attendant. I assume that's what Luch was too. Raff said:

I first met Luch when I joined the Messengerial Services Team a number of years ago.

It was clear to me right from the start that he was well respected and much loved. It didn't take me long to realise that he was a bit of a legend throughout Parliament House. He was a trusted source of information and people would seek out his counsel—he was often a 'steady hand' that provided calm reassurance.

One of the things that I admired about him was that he didn't have tickets on himself. He was a 'down to earth' kind of guy who was pretty happy (and so grateful) for his lot in life.

He was the longest serving member in the Department of the House of Representatives and he had a vast amount of experience and knowledge in the functioning and operations of this place. All of which he was willing to share with you, and I've learned so much from him in my relatively short time here.

Raff, it feels like forever. He goes on:

Luch was a wonderful colleague who brought much joy and humour to this place. He took his role seriously but he also loved a chat and a joke behind the scenes, and occasionally from the Centre Stage of the Chamber.

I will always cherish the many laughs and good times we shared. He was a wonderful workmate and friend, and it was a privilege to have worked with him.

I will miss the larger-than-life character, along with his trademark smile and booming laugh.

Rest in peace my Friend!

And there's another one from Messengerial Phil—I love the way they sign them off:

Luch was a font of knowledge in the Reps chamber back office. Whenever he had answered a clarifying question from a colleague, he would then usually add, "What are you going to do when I'm gone?" or "What will you do without me?" Unfortunately Luch was taken from us too soon and we are left trying to work out what we are going to do without him.

We all miss you, Luch.

This is from one of my own staff members. We all love Luch in our office precisely because, as the member for Eden-Monaro would say, he'd always come around at Christmas time, my birthday, his birthday—any excuse for another photo and indeed another card. And so Unity Paterson in my team said:

He insisted on showing me the prorogue personally when parliament dissolved—something I'd never forget, because he reminded me how genuinely incredible a peaceful dissolution and election is. People just rush past this inconspicuous document on this inconspicuous stand, on their way to do this or that, but Luch was PROUD. I would have done the same if it wasn't for him, and it really reframed how I entered the election. How lucky we are to have democracy sausages as a hallmark of our election, not violence, and that Luch's pride is what sustains that—it's not really luck after all.

He was so proud of the functioning of this building, connecting the dots and people to get the best outcome, whether it be a piece of mail, a piece of advice, or just a feeling of inclusion.

He was always worried about people's wellbeing, and he was genuinely interested in the humans that made up this building. People like him are the reason that these institutions stay strong, as he reminds those who work in it, when the stakes are so high and the stress is so much, and it all starts to feel not real, of the human stories that make up our democracy and our country.

My friend Annabel Crabb, who had featured Luch in her series, The House, back in 2017, says:

Of all the Parliamentary denizens we interviewed for our documentary series 'The House', Luch captured better than any what the spirit of this place can be when it listens to its better angels. He was courteous, respectful, charming, industrious and observant to a fault. I will never forget the wonderful sight of Luch reporting to Mike Hughes' office at the beginning of a sitting week to have Mike do his tie. They would never let me film this little ritual, but it's always stuck in my mind. Towering Mike and modest Luch, preparing solemnly for another week in a place whose purpose and significance is far greater than that of any individual. It is a great honour for Australians that such a man both helped to assemble the bricks and mortar of this place, and then contributed an infallible humanity to its democratic function.

In my interactions with Luch over the years, every single one of these stories was brought to life. There was one day when we were threatened with a Saturday sitting, and I said, 'Luch, can you remember when it was that we sat on a Saturday?'

Here came the response: 'It was back when Kevin 07, Mr Rudd, was PM, and Mr Randall got a cardboard cut-out of Mr Rudd and brought it into the chamber that morning.'

I said, 'Oh, my goodness.'

He said, 'And before that, well, I think that was when we were doing Mabo, the stolen generations legislation. But I will confirm tomorrow.' He followed up with an Excel spreadsheet of exactly when we'd sat on a Saturday. I don't even know how he did it.

Luch, as we know, was famous for sneaking chocolates into the drawers of some of his favourites. It didn't always work well. I do remember once I was chomping down on a Flake. Why would he put Flakes in my drawer? Honestly, that is the least appropriate thing to put in the drawer when it's illegal to chew anything in the chamber. But he gave me a Flake once, and I was talking to the member from Macnamara, who'd come round for a chat. I looked down and I said, 'Oh, dear, Josh. There's a problem.'

He said, 'What?'

I said, 'I've had a chocolate explosion on my pants.'

He looked down, and he said, 'There's no recovering from that.'

I said, 'I know. I don't quite know what to do.'

Anyway, it turns out we have leather on the seats down there, where the chocolate went. Luch must have known, and that's why he gave me a Flake.

But there was another instance where I said, 'Luch, my goodness! I've had a mini-Crunchie choc explosion in my drawer. How do I deal with this disaster?'

'Leave it with me,' said Luch. The next day the Crunchie explosion was gone, and there were more to replace them.

Luch was an avid follower of politics. I think he knew more about politics than most of us. At the last election he would send text messages every few days, checking in on the count and making sure that I was going to be okay. And then came good wishes for Easter and then came good wishes for promotions. He signed off every text message 'Luch-elicious', which I called him one day. He seemed to like it, and so he stuck with it.

There was one day in the campaign when we'd run out of all the money that we had, and we had run out of stamps. But I knew there were about 40 stamps somewhere in the office here. Luch broke in, got the stamps, stuck them in a package, and sent them down to Melbourne. He went far and beyond for all of us to make democracy work, and he was so proud of his time here. He sent me a photo of the pollie class we all do when we first get elected. When I looked at it carefully the other day, I realised the reason he sent me that one was that it shows Luch in the attendance box, watching over us for the future. My great regret is that I missed my last Christmas photo with him. He'd said to me, 'Can we do the Christmas photo?' I said, 'Yes, yes.' But the end of the year was so crazy and so busy.

There's one person I want to thank, who is one of the silent angels in this building. On New Year's Day, I received a message from the member for Fadden. He said, 'I just need to tell you that we've lost Luch.'

I was shocked and I said, 'Are you sure?'

He said, 'Yes, absolutely. Leanne, the former attendant, wanted you to know specifically.' I don't know Leanne, but I know she's one of the angels of the architecture of this building. Wherever you are, Leanne, I say: thank you.

I sat with the news of Luch's loss for a day, and then I wrote an ode to him on Facebook. Then I observed Luch's last great gift to democracy: 300,000 people read that post. Thousands engaged with it, and hundreds of people commented. It was obvious that through the story of this wonderful, humble and humorous man, so dedicated to this place, that Luch had restored their faith and hope and belief in democracy itself.

I leave you with the final words of Luch's family—so raw and yet so formal, as was our man Luch:

The Jonceski family extends their sincere gratitude for the kind words shared and for recognising the positive impact his presence in Parliament had on many, all of whom he regarded as family.

Julie Collins (Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think the fact that so many of us in this place are actually speaking on a condolence motion for an attendant in this building says a lot about the person that Luch was and the esteem in which we held him. He had been a constant in my journey here in parliament. I've now been a member for over 18 years, and every day I turned up Luch was in the building. Every day, he anticipated my needs and the needs of the other many members of the federal parliament in the House of Representatives chamber.

Everybody here, when we talked about the sudden loss of Luch, was shocked. Everybody was saddened, but everybody had such wonderful anecdotes to share. Talking to my colleagues about those anecdotes, about those stories about what made Luch so special, a few themes came through. One, of course, was the great dedication to his job and the important role which it played in our democracy and how proud he was of it. One was his sense of humour and that great smile and the little smirk he would give as he made his jokes. The other, of course, was his industriousness. He understood how this building worked, and he made sure it worked as well as it possibly could. He was so proud of his role in it. As we heard from others, it didn't matter if he was talking to fellow attendants, clerks or people that work in this building or if he was talking to prime ministers, treasurers, leaders of the opposition; every single one of us Luch made feel important. He took time to engage with all of us equally. None of us was more important than anybody else, nor are we, but the fact that Luch saw that, understood it and treated us all equally, I think, says a lot about Luch as a human being.

To Luch's family and friends: I hope that our stories, our condolences, give you some comfort as you deal with the sudden loss of a loved one. Sudden loss can be incredibly difficult, but the stories and the esteem in which we held him in this place hopefully will help heal some of that pain.

I was talking to the Chief Government Whip today, and we remembered how hard the attendants and the people in this building worked through COVID to make sure that our parliament could continue to sit. Luch—we called him our official greeter. Every day he would tick us off and make sure that all of those that needed to be here, in terms of the reduced quorum in this place, were here to be able to make sure that federal parliament could continue to function, that the government could continue to function and that we would together work to make sure that Australians got the support they needed during what was an incredibly difficult time for our nation and indeed the globe. Luch had an important role in that, like everybody else did, as part of that democracy and the institution of democracy in which he took such great pride.

It was very lovely to meet his family yesterday and to pass on my condolences. Like many others, I'm sure, I was shocked that they knew my name. Engaging with them, I recalled very fondly that each year at the end of the year I would bring gifts up for the attendants, from my electorate, of Tasmanian fudge. I always brought them up and still do every Christmas. I would try and find Luch or some of the attendants, and Luch was always making sure that everybody got their share of the little token Christmas gift that I was bringing to say a big thank you for all of the work that the attendants and the people in this building do to make our job so much easier. He was always thinking about others. Clearly some of those made it home with my little 'Thanks from Julie Collins' on it, because the family knew who I was. I think that that says a lot about Luch too. He was also taking them home for his family and friends to enjoy—a little gift from Tassie that I made sure that I brought to this building to make sure that he and the other people that work in this building understood that we do value what they do in this place, that it's important and that it matters.

To all of those for whom Luch's life matters: there are many, many people in this building for whom Luch's life mattered. We share with you in your grief. We hope that our stories and anecdotes give you some comfort at a time of sudden loss, and we wish you and your family all the very best as you deal with this sudden loss. Vale.

Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal National Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's not very often that you get to rise in this place and on the passing of someone who works in this place, bringing all of us together, and that's what Luch has done.

Ljupco Jonceski—I didn't know that was his full name. I used to call him 'Luciano', after Luciano Pavarotti, because I wanted to be different from everybody else who called him Luch. Luch was the kind of gentleman—and I use the term 'gentleman' in its truest sense—that had the ability to make everybody feel as though you were the only person in the room. When he was operating in a room as the attendant of 150 people, many of whom probably had pretty high opinions of themselves, Luch had the ability to make everybody feel special.

It's really quite remarkable to stand here and listen to the minister and the member for Flinders and many other speakers, whether they've been here for five minutes or 25 years, and listen to their stories, because I thought I was the only one who had a really good relationship with Luch. And that was the nature of the man—that he had that kind of relationship with so many other people.

I remember working very closely with Luch when I was the Speaker of the House. Listening to the current Speaker talking yesterday, he used the same jokes with me. But being the Speaker of the House of Reps is a very stressful job. Most people would have absolutely no concept of how stressful it was and is. But Luch, every single day, was a voice of reason, of calmness, of good humour and of good sense. It was his ability to be able to lighten the mood in what could sometimes be a very difficult working environment. I will always remember Luch for that.

I don't know how it came to be, because, of course, we can't take photos in the House of Representatives, but somehow a photo was taken of Luch and me. We were the only ones in the chamber. The House wasn't sitting at the time. I think it was in between sitting weeks. It was after the election that we'd lost, and I think it was probably the on last day, or on the last day before I handed the baton over to the current Speaker. There's this great photo of me on the floor of the House of Reps, and Luch is standing in the seats looking over me, looking like he's giving me a lecture, and, of course, nothing could be further from the truth. But I'll cherish that photo because Luch was a true gentleman and an inspiration to me and clearly to everybody else that he touched in this place.

It was really interesting to hear the Prime Minister talk about Luch yesterday. This was a gentleman who worked in the employ and service of our great democracy for more than 40 years. In fact, to be the longest serving employee in the Department of the House of Representatives is no small feat, but to have worked down the hill at Old Parliament House, then to have come up here to work as a labourer in the construction of this great, magnificent building and then, once again, to have worked in this building since 1988, serving democracy, serving us all—not just serving the people who have the privilege of being in here but serving the nation in the way that he did—as a former carpenter and joiner, really struck a note with me.

That is what's great about this country—that a man from a Macedonian background can come here, whether working as an attendant or a labourer on a building site, and 40 years later have so many members of the House of Representatives stand up and talk about how great this man was. It is a testament not just to Luch, not just to his family, but to our country. They don't make them like Luch anymore. That's really sad to say. But Luch was a man of what I would regard as great integrity and good humour. He treated everybody the same, whether it was the Prime Minister or the newest backbencher. What the Prime Minister said yesterday was very true. He would often just bring you a glass of water and say, 'That's on the House, sir!' He had a terrific sense of humour and was a good man. I had the privilege of working very closely with his daughter Jess, who worked in this building. Jess served on the secretariat of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, which I had the privilege of being the deputy chair of in the last parliament and for a bit in this one. I know that he was immensely proud of you, Jess. I told you that yesterday. I know you've gone on to perhaps bigger and better things now, but he was incredibly proud of you for the work that you were doing and have done for this country. I just wanted to put that on the record because he and I would often talk about the great work that you'd do, that you did, for the committee. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

So, to Luch's family, to Jess, of course, and to his wife and kids: thank you for sharing Luch with the Australian people for so many years, for more than four decades. We are richer for having worked with Luch. The country is richer for it. Our democracy is richer for it. I want to thank you all for sharing him with us. This place will never be the same. When I heard that he'd died, I couldn't believe it. 'Not Luch. Seriously? No, not Luch. He's still a young man.' I think I was a bit shell shocked then. But his legacy will live on. For the attendants that are here, I would encourage you to take a leaf out of his book and use his phrase, 'That one's on the House, Mr Hastie!' Try and emulate that success, that spirit of Luch. I don't know what we'd do for him as an institution, but we should not just remember him in this sense, which is very important, but, I think, do something a little bit more as well, because I think he's a terrific example of what our democracy is all about, of what our country is all about. We're a migrant country, and we should continue to celebrate that, for all the riches that people bring to this country from their different cultures and faiths. I'm probably rambling now. Vale, Luch. You were a good man. You were a great man. Thank you for your service.

Alison Byrnes (Cunningham, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to pay my respects to Ljupco Jonceski, known to all of us simply as Luch, and to extend my deepest condolences to his family. It is an honour to speak about a man who meant so much to this place and to the people within it. When we returned to this place at the start of the year, many of us felt Luch's absence immediately. In a place that is defined by change, by elections and by people coming and going, Luch was a constant. He was always here, always ready and always doing his job with care, dignity and good humour.

Luch served this parliament for over four decades, and he did so with an extraordinary sense of pride in the institution. As the Prime Minister noted, his story is deeply connected to this building itself. From working in Old Parliament House to labouring on the construction of this parliament to then serving here as a parliamentary attendant, Luch quite literally helped build and sustain the people's house, and that is a legacy that very few can claim. What set Luch apart, however, was not just his long service, but the way he treated people. He treated everyone equally, regardless of seniority, portfolio or party. He just had an instinctive understanding of procedure and ceremony, and he carried out his duties with efficiency, courtesy and warmth. He managed to be both highly professional and genuinely kind, and that combination earned him respect across the chamber. Many members will remember moments of nerves or pressure when Luch would quietly appear with a glass of water. You never had to ask; he had already noticed. It was a small gesture, but one that captured his thoughtfulness and his attention to others. He understood that this place can be demanding, and he took it upon himself to look after people in practical and very human ways.

For me, Luch was a familiar presence over a very long time. I had known Loochy for 35 years. During my time here as a staffer and as an MP, he would always ask me about my home in Wollongong. He loved the Gong, and he never missed an opportunity to ask how things were going there, what was happening in the community and how people were travelling back home. That genuine interest in people's lives beyond this building was part of what made him so very special. He often asked me about my predecessors Sharon Bird and Stephen Martin and spoke warmly about them. Sharon Bird shared this with me:

It was always such a pleasure to come back to Canberra and be greeted by his friendly smile, chat about the Gong and enjoy his little jokes.

Stephen Martin, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives described Luch as 'a champion person, a true gentlemen, friendly but efficient in all my close working relationships with during my parliamentary career and even on those occasions I returned to Canberra'. Those words reflect how deeply Luch was valued across generations of members in this place.

Like the Speaker, I shared familiar exchanges with Loochy in the attendants room near the chamber, where we bantered about who would get the lectern, who would get the water. He would insist on doing it. I would say, 'Loochy, I'm going to do it,' and that he could relax. He would say no, that he was going to do it, every time. It was said lightly, but it reflected his very deep sense of responsibility and his pride in his work. Luch loved this place and he loved the people who worked within it. He was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word, not because of formality but because he looked for ways to help others, to treat everyone with respect and to do his job well and without fuss.

His passing has left a real void in this parliament, and I really did not want to walk into the attendants room at the start of this year and not see him here and not get a chance to banter about who gets the lectern. His legacy lives on in the memories, the kindness and the care that he showed to generations of members of staff and of visitors. On behalf of all of us, I extend my heartfelt sympathy to Luch's family. May he rest in peace.

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just think about this: condolence motions are usually reserved for royalty, for world leaders, for ministers of the Crown and now Luch. Luch! What a national icon he is in life and in death. Ljupco 'Luch' Jonceski was 59 years young. Like the member for Fisher, I was shocked and saddened when I learnt of his death. I learnt it from Zoe McKenzie's Facebook page, actually. I was just stunned. I think we all were. He had such a wonderful life. He'd packed so much into those 59 years, and I'll say 'short years' because he left us all too soon, all too suddenly.

There are thousands upon thousands of people who come to Parliament House to work every day. It doesn't matter whether the place is sitting or whether it's in recess. I can think of four who are universally loved and, moreover, universally known by all of us, and they are, in no particular order, Brigette Bull, who is the barista at Aussie's Cafe, and then Maria Ljubic and her sister, Anna, the cleaners—those well-known cleaners who always have a cheery smile and sometimes a cuddle and a kiss for the MPs. Aren't they fantastic? What an amazing duo! Then there was Luch, universally loved and respected and known. Now the parliament stops to honour his memory, a right usually only reserved for somebody really important. But, you know, Luch was important, and he was important to each and every one of us because he made our jobs easier; he made our lives better. He was a builder, and we know that he helped build this place. Later on, when his labouring days were over and he became a greencoat, he built relationships. He built relationships across the aisle. We didn't even know that he was doing it, but he did.

The last time I saw Luch, I was dressed up as Elvis Presley. I was. We had our seventies and eighties dress-up theme night, as only the Nationals could do, and Luch spotted me in my powder-blue sequined suit, and he made a beeline for me because he wanted a picture with me. We did the old Elvis thing. I was a little bit tardy in sending him the picture—it took me about 10 minutes—and Luch was straight on the phone: 'I want that picture. I need that picture.'

He was somebody whose smile, no matter how bad a day you were having—on some of your worst days in politics, Luch was there and he was always smiling. He was always wanting to gee you up and make you feel good about yourself and make you feel good about the fact that you were here in the people's house and you were here representing the nation and representing your electorate.

Like the member for Cunningham, I too shared in Luch's want—his need—to know about your electorate and your people. I attended his Monday 12 January service, his funeral, at Queanbeyan's Macedonian Orthodox Church of the Prophet Ilija, and I got there early. I could not believe the throng of people. It's only a little church, but I was astounded by the number of people who turned up at that service. I was one of the lucky ones to be inside the church. I felt a bit guilty, but I was dragged in there by someone who felt that I should be in there. There were a few parliamentarians there, and I must admit I didn't understand the whole service; it was done in the native tongue. But the eulogies were very special. They were done in English as well, and they described a man who was a wonderful human being. We all saw him just as somebody who we thought we owned, but he was more than that. Out in his Macedonian community, he was a sports follower. He was somebody who, as here, had an infectious way about him. But he was a family man as well. He was a husband, he was a father and his family just adored him, as you can understand. But so did the entire community who turned up at that service—a bigger service than probably most of us will get, and deservedly so.

He ran the green-coated attendants with good humour, with professionalism and with aplomb. Nothing was ever too hard for him to do. Nothing was too menial. He would do anything for you. He treated everyone the same, from the prime minister of the day to the newly minted backbencher, and everybody loved him for his trademark smile, his happy disposition and his wisdom. He didn't clean your office like the two sisters, and he didn't make your coffee like Brigette, but what he brought to this place and to each and every member was his love, his care, his support and his friendship. He was a stalwart. Hundreds upon hundreds of MPs have benefited from his more than 40 years of experience, his wisdom and him just being Luch.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the member for Oxley, described Luch as his 'main man'. When Luch passed away, I contacted the Speaker. He said, 'Every time Luch saw me, each time we walked the mace or he opened the door, he always said, "Let's do this, Mr Speaker."' It was a little thing, but, as the Speaker said, it made him laugh. Milton Dick said, 'I saw how kind he was to every new member. What a hero.' Too true, Mr Speaker. He was such a generous soul. We mourn his loss.

The place, as the member for Fisher said, will not be the same without him. It would be nice to think that we could do something for him—maybe name the attendants room in his honour—that would honour his memory. I did go into the attendants room just before question time on the first day back here, on Tuesday, for the parliamentary year—apart from the extraordinary January sittings we had—and I offered my condolences to the attendants, and I do so again now, because I know how each and every one of you would be feeling because he was a special person. It's like losing the mentor who you've known, loved and respected.

I say, again, what an extraordinary human being—the fact that the Parliament of Australia can stop, can grind to a halt, and we can all as one rise in our places, offer him the respect he deserved and then give speeches for his passing. Who else would get that but Luch? He'd be looking down on us now and he'd be almost annoyed at the fuss. He'd be humbled by it, but, in his own special way, I think he'd quite enjoy the fact that he was being honoured in this way, because he was gregarious and he was a great people person. May he rest in peace. We love you, we honour you, and we miss you dearly. Vale, Luch.

Cassandra Fernando (Holt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today with a very heavy heart to mark the passing of Ljupco Jonceski, who was known to many of us in this place as Luch. For more than four decades, Luch dedicated his working life to service in the Australian parliament. His contribution may not always have been visible to the public, but his presence and work strengthened the way this place functioned every single day.

I was fortunate to share a very special bond with Luch—one that was deepened by my role as chair of the parliamentary friendship group for the Republic of North Macedonia. Luch was incredibly proud of his Macedonian heritage and he shared that pride very generously with me. He loved teaching me Macedonian words. Every morning, he would say good morning to me and how are you, and would speak with such great affection about his culture, his religion, his community and also his family.

When I was first elected, everything felt new and everything was overwhelming. I felt nervous in the House sometimes, but somehow Luch always knew. He would quietly bring me a glass of water. He knew exactly how I liked my glass of water—with no ice—and he would say, 'Ms Fernando, pretend it's vodka,' just to make me laugh and settle my nerves. It was such a small gesture, but it meant so much to me. Those little moments of kindness are what I will always remember. Walking through these halls now, the House feels a little bit different without him. He was a devoted husband, colleague and friend.

Luch, when I do go back to your home country, I will always remember everything that you've said and everything that we have shared over the last few years. It will always be a part of me. Thank you for everything. You are deeply, deeply missed.

I also extend my heartfelt condolences to his wife, Mary, his kids, his family and his friends, and especially to the Macedonian community. His presence is deeply, deeply missed throughout Parliament House. We love you, Luch. I am missing you so much; every question time or 90-second debate, I miss you. Vale Luch.

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

Having listened to so many fine tributes to Ljupco Jonceski—or, as we all knew him, Luch—it's hard to add much more to what has already been said. I begin by making this observation: it was absolutely wonderful to see Luch's family on the floor of Parliament House yesterday when the Prime Minister moved the condolence motion. For someone who had been so much a part of this House, who had spent so much of his life in this building—and, in particular, on the floor of parliament where few people ever get to step—I think it was not only appropriate but so good to see his family share in the space that took up so much of Luch's life. To them I extend my sincere condolences. Luch died too young, and I'm sure that the heartache of knowing that he died too young is something that they will have to try to work through over the years ahead.

When I heard of Luch's passing, like so many others I couldn't believe it. I just thought, no, it can't be possible. Sometimes things seem to be what they are—I can recall on the very last day of last year when we were in this place, seeing Luch there and admiring him on that particular day for the way he conducted himself and for the way he worked within this building. When I reflected back on it later, I thought, 'I have been here for 18 years, but why did I think of him on that particular day in the way that I did?' Perhaps it was because, for some unknown reason, it was the last time I would see him. When I came back here after the break, and even now, I still don't find it real that he's not part of this building and that he's not one of the people that we see each and every day.

When I was first elected in 2007 and came here, Luch was the first attendant I got to know. He was the one that you might say I was introduced to as one of the attendants of this place. From that very first moment, he made me feel welcome and he made me feel supported. For a new member, it's pretty important to know that you feel that you've just made a friend that knows this place and is going to be there for you when you need that support. It's incredibly important. Over time, you build up relationships with so many other people, but he was the very first person I can actually recall. Others have spoken of the way he was able to support people in this room, regardless of which side of politics they came from, and to do so in such a professional way that everyone felt treated—as others have quite rightly said—equally. And they were treated equally; he didn't differentiate and he tried to support people in every way he could.

One of the things I did notice about Luch was that he got to know the procedures and processes of this place so well, and he was a stickler for procedure. I could see that in the way he would talk to his other attendants, making sure that things were done right according to the rules and conventions of this place. He did that and I admire him for it. The credibility of this place all comes down to the way we all conduct ourselves and the processes which we adhere to and which, in turn, give legal standing to everything we do. Luch wanted to make sure that was done properly, and he always did.

As we all know, the role of politicians is not always easy, and there are indeed stresses that we all face each and every day. As so many other members have pointed out, Luch could read people. He could read the floor of parliament and he could read when he perhaps needed to do that little bit extra that others might not have picked up on but Luch had. With respect to his work here, I have to say that it is something that has touched each and every one of us, because he touched each and every one of us in a very, very personal way.

He reflects and embodies what I believe is the spirit of all of the staff that work in this building—whether it's the attendants, whether it's all the other staff that we see in Parliament House—who, equally, are nonpartisan and don't treat anyone differently but collectively make our role work as well as it does and give us the support that they do. I suspect that Luch, even among the attendants and the other staff, set an example for others to follow, which is something that we should also appreciate.

I thank him for his personal support, but I also thank him for being the role model he became as an attendant in this place. As others have said, and as the last speaker—the member for Riverina—quite rightly pointed out, it's not usual that we honour someone that hasn't been a statesman of some sort, yet here we are, honouring and remembering Luch, because he did touch our lives. I say to Luch: thank you for your support during my time here. It's greatly appreciated, as I'm sure it is for all the others. May you rest in peace.

Just while I'm on my feet, I will also take the opportunity to recognise Malcolm Balcarek. Malcolm, who also passed away only recently, was one of the small team of Comcar drivers in Adelaide. Malcolm's funeral, I believe, is tomorrow. Like Luch, Malcolm was one of those people upon whom we rely each and every day who do such a wonderful service—unassuming and always there supporting. Again, I simply want to say thank you to Malcolm and offer my condolences to his family.

Leon Rebello (McPherson, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm rising to speak on today's condolence motion in relation to the passing of Luch Jonceski. Like many in this chamber, we've had the opportunity to know Luch through our work in this place, but I'm probably one of the only elected officials who can say that they shared the chamber with him as a fellow attendant.

I met Luch just over 12 years ago when I started in the building as an attendant. I was paired up with Luch in question time on the government side—Luch was always insistent on being on the government side, whoever was in government at the time—and it was a great opportunity for me not only to get to know the work and the parliament but to get to know Luch. When I was in the chamber yesterday and we had the opportunity to recognise Luch's contribution—and to do so in front of not only the public but, most importantly, his family—I was thinking about Luch and how he would have absolutely loved that, because he very much felt at home in the building, and I think all of us felt at home in the building because he was there.

For those who didn't have the opportunity to know him, Luch was the longest serving House of Representatives employee. His service went not only across the lifespan of this building but into the lifespan of Old Parliament House. In fact, I understand that he was involved in the construction of this place as well. Luch understood service. He understood the importance of this place as being significant, and he understood the value of it in our great democracy. For him to be acknowledged in this way following his passing is, I think, a testament not only to him but to our country, because our country is here and our parliament is here to serve those who go about their lives in the way people like Luch did. He had quite an incredible story.

When I joined as an attendant, I was in my first year of being an attendant while Luch's daughter Jess was in her second year, so I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with Jess. I just say, my thoughts really go out to Jess, to Luch's other daughter, Rebecca, to his son, Joshua, and of course to his wife Mary and extended family as well. Luch will definitely be missed in this place. As someone who had the opportunity to sit next to him in countless question times, I'll always remember the inside jokes. He taught me a few words of Macedonian, and he knew every single room and every single story behind every single room in this place as well. Rest in peace, Luch. You will be missed by the parliament, and we had the absolute privilege of spending time with you.

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was really lovely to hear that story, and I've learned something new about the member today as well. I rise as well to join colleagues from across this chamber in offering my heartfelt condolences to the family of our very beloved Luch, a proud Macedonian. Like many others, I've had experiences of him sharing his culture and language through this place. My husband is Croatian. It's a similar sort of language and ideology, so on occasion he would attempt to compare and teach me words in Macedonian and vice versa.

I've known Luch for my entire political career, first as a staffer—a very, very long time ago now—and for the past 24 years that I've been a member of this place. He knew this building and Old Parliament House that came before it like the back of his hand. He spent more time here than he would have done at his family home. Always extremely professional, he was the person you could rely on for absolutely everything. I think many of us remember back in late 2014, when question time coincided with a really big thunderstorm, a leak was spotted in the ceiling above the chamber, and Speaker Bishop remarked, 'I realise that leaking is a familiar problem for political parties; however, I think we need a bucket!' Within minutes, Luch had sprung to his feet and gotten a bucket to the floor of the chamber, rightly to the applause of all members. There was an iconic photo in the Age newspaper with Luch and the bucket, rescuing us all from imminent threat of getting very wet.

Luch's unfailing good humour, kindness and absolute love of this parliament and the people who work here made him a joy for us all to be around. No matter how you were feeling or what was happening in the chamber, he could always put a smile on your face. I'm so sorry that he is gone. It is not how any of us ever expected to say goodbye to him. After a 40-year career, you would have expected that we would have had a retirement motion in the parliament. I know we were all just extraordinarily shocked over summer and just couldn't believe it. He's just been such a part of this place. We are so grateful to Luch for his long and dedicated service to this House and to the people of Australia, and I thank so much his beautiful family, including his daughter, who works in this building now as well, continuing in her dad's footsteps. We are so grateful that you allowed him all of the time that he spent with us. And I want to say thank you in Croatian, not too dissimilar to Macedonian: [Croation language not transcribed].

Julian Leeser (Berowra, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's an honour to follow Minister King in her contribution and the member for McPherson, who not only worked with Luch as a parliamentarian but as an attendant as well. There have been so many beautiful speeches made in this debate, and I agree with the minister that Luch is the sort of person that we would have had a series of speeches for had he lived to retire; he'd have had a particular retirement farewell speech. Luch is one of those people that is so vital to the character of an institution like this.

One of the things that he didn't do towards the end, because I think the parliament had dispensed with it, was this. In the first two terms that I was here in my 10 years of service, Luch would greet you at the airport on a Sunday evening. Like a barista knowing your coffee order, he would remember what time your car was going to pick you up and where it was going to pick you up the next morning. He brought a great smile, and, after a flight that could sometimes be unpleasant, he was a wonderful person greeting you and bringing the good humour that he brought to all of the work that he did.

My office is opposite Zoe McKenzie's, the member for Flinders's, and in her office window she had a beautiful picture of her and Luch, when the parliament resumed in January for those important sittings to deal with the aftermath of Bondi, and I said, 'That's a beautiful picture of you and Luch in your office window.' And then she told me that Luch had passed, and, like so many, we just couldn't believe it—that somebody who's been so vital to this place, who's been so important for the good humour of this place, had. Some days in politics you have days where the highs are very high, and other days you have days where the lows are very low, and Luch was always there to inspire, to welcome, to greet—to just remind you, with his good humour and good nature, of the importance of the service role that you're giving here.

To those of us in partisan politics, it's often hard to imagine what it must take—an idea that the member for McPherson knows well—to be engaged in an impartial position in this House. So many of us join our political parties because we feel so passionately about our democracy and about issues to do with our democracy, or we stand for parliament—as you do, Deputy Speaker Sharkie—as a crossbencher, because you have a set of values that you want to impart onto the parliament. But our attendants don't do that, and the staff that work in the parliament don't do that; they are here as servants of our democracy, and they take a dispassionate view.

And Luch was such a great ambassador for the parliament. He was such a great ambassador for the idea of service. I will never forget, when I was on the back bench, sometimes you'd only just need to wave at Luch and he knew exactly what you wanted, whether it was a water or the big lectern or the small lectern, and there were other days where perhaps the only thing you did, in terms of walking into the House, was walk in just to get your name marked off and see him. But his service, his decency, his remarkable connection with people right across the parliament and right across the building is something that is very much worthy of celebration.

To his family, who will have been shocked at his untimely passing, as we all are: I hope they take comfort from the fact that so many people from across the parliament who've served here for many years are paying tribute to this wonderful man who really touched so many people's lives. I wish I'd had the opportunity to say to Luch how much he mattered to me, as he mattered to so many of the colleagues here. To his family and to all those who knew him: may his memory be a blessing.

Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I rise to also associate my comments with others' on the passing of a much loved and deeply respected figure in this place, Ljupco Jonceski, known affectionately as 'Luch', but, as an avid Collingwood supporter, to me, I think, the Parliament House's very own Macedonian marvel. He was not an elected member, he never stood to speak at the dispatch box and his name will not appear on the rolls of parliament, but make no mistake: he was part of the fabric of this place. Listening to other members' contributions today, and having had time to think about what Luch meant to me, and to other people in this place, since his passing, I keep coming back to one known fact, and that is that Luch spent his time helping to build this place, and I think it's part of the reason why his fabric is so interwoven into every little facet of this building—someone of the people who helped to build the people's house and then attend us in the House of Representatives for four decades. I think it's quite a fitting achievement for the man.

I often come here early in the morning and I leave late at night, and Luch was always someone who I would come across very early, on my path in, and probably the last person I'd see, apart from security, as I'd leave the building, and I was always met with, 'How're you going, boss?' and I'd reply with, 'Good thanks, chief.' The interactions that we had with him were so genuine, at just the purest, simplest level. There was no fuss about all the other noise going on in this place. It was his opportunity to make sure that you felt grounded in this place and that you weren't being lost in the hustle and bustle and noise.

I know there have been a lot of comments around how people have felt et cetera, but I do want to extend my condolences not only to his family but, importantly, to all of the chamber attendants. I know that it was extremely difficult when we came back for the couple of days' sitting in January. I had the good fortune to speak to a few of our wonderful staff that assist us every day and I know that it was extremely difficult. I think the member for Fisher spoke about legacy and the desire to have people cut from the same cloth as Luch. I think that Luch's presence in this building and his service to this place have left an imprint on each and every single attendant, so I think that there is, without doubt, no risk to the fact of his legacy living on, because I am very certain that every attendant will do everything they can to uphold the values for which Luch stood.

We often speak in this chamber about service to the nation. Luch was a great servant of Australian democracy, not through speeches or legislation but through constancy, professionalism and decency, and through decades of showing up early, staying late and making sure this place functioned with care and respect. His contribution reminds us that democracy depends not only on those who debate and decide but on those who support, sustain and uphold the institution itself. Luch did that for longer than anyone, and since his passing, Parliament House has been a quieter place, but his legacy remains in the memories of colleagues, in the stories shared in these corridors and chambers and in the culture of respect he embodied.

On behalf of the parliament he served and the nation that parliament represents, I extend my deepest love and sympathy to Luch's family, friends and all who had the privilege of knowing him. May you take comfort in knowing that he was admired, respected and genuinely loved. Vale Luch.