Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Hansard source

I rise on behalf of the opposition to give full support to the motion moved by Senator Wong, to associate ourselves with the fine and thoughtful words of Senator Wong and to pay our own tribute to the life of the Hon. Simon Crean.

Simon Crean did indeed dedicate his life to the service of Australians and to the pursuit of his vision and the Labor vision for a stronger Australia. He performed his duties always as a gentleman and a man of principle, remembered as not only a stalwart of the Labor Party but someone who truly reflected the very best of the values and the ethos of his party.

Simon Crean was born into the world of politics. In hindsight, it almost seems inevitable that Simon would one day enter parliament. The son of Frank Crean, deputy prime minister in the Whitlam government, Simon got a political education from the family dinner table onwards, with dinner conversations and guests ranging from Evatt to Calwell to Whitlam. But, of course, he forged his own path, and, as Senator Wong rightly acknowledged, he forged a path that ensured he will be remembered for his contributions and his deeds.

At Monash University he studied law and economics and initially joined the storemen and packers union, as acknowledged, with Bill Kelty. Together, they would become—and I've got the same word as you had, Senator Wong—a 'formidable' duo, who would eventually come to lead the Australian Council of Trade Unions together. Simon was first elected ACTU vice-president in 1981, and eventually became president of the ACTU in 1985, with Bill Kelty as secretary by his side. They played key roles in negotiating big reforms through their time at the ACTU, engaging extensively on reforms such as universal superannuation, reforms to welfare and social security payments, and pathways to skills and employment. It is fair to say it was an era of effective, pragmatic and forward-looking leadership by the ACTU, which itself, in partnership with the Hawke government at the time, left a lasting legacy on Australia and was perhaps the ACTU's most impactful era in terms of its contribution to Australian public policy.

Following this significant period of work at the ACTU and in the union movement, Simon Crean made the move to parliamentary politics, into the House of Representatives. He was elected as the member for Hotham in 1990 and continued to serve as the member for Hotham, being re-elected for seven consecutive elections.

Amongst so many tributes paid to Simon Crean, it is notable that, through so many of them, there are reflections upon his commitment to his local community, to his work as a local MP and to never losing touch with those local ties. This is notwithstanding the fact that he was, immediately after his election, appointed as a minister, serving from 1990 to 1996 and again from 2007 to 2013. It is quite a remarkable feat to have spent some 23 years at the Labor Party frontbench, most notably serving as a minister under Prime Minister Hawke, Prime Minister Keating, Prime Minister Rudd and Prime Minister Gillard. Not only the diverse array of portfolios through that very long span, serving as minister in the fields of science and technology, primary industry and energy through to employment, education, trade and the arts but also the significant impact he had in each of them that is in part evidenced by the extraordinary range of organisations that pay tribute to Simon Crean upon his passing, from the Australian Ballet, the Australian Livestock Exporters Council, Monash University, Screen Producers Australia to his very much beloved North Melbourne Football Club.

Simon's parliamentary biography paints quite a picture also of the international representations and engagement he made during his time as a cabinet minister, undertaking some 68 international official visits to 134 countries, probably some not even captured within that. Notwithstanding the intensity of his work and the tempo of his travel, it is notable just how much unfailing love and kindness Simon Crean is credited with having shown very much not only to his family and his loved ones but across his friends, his colleagues and his wider community. Following the election of the Howard Liberal government in 1996, Simon served as deputy opposition leader and shadow Treasurer through the 1998 and 2001 elections, before becoming opposition leader for the Labor Party in late 2001.

As has been mentioned by Senator Wong and reflected upon by so many, one of Simon Crean's most profound moments in his parliamentary and political career was when he opposed Australia's involvement in the Iraq war as leader of the opposition. As is depicted by the Australian Financial Review, he did this from a difficult and challenging position. They said:

It was a tough environment for a Labor leader who was unpopular in the polls against an ascendant Howard. But on February 5, 2003, just over a month before the invasion began, Crean stood his ground.

Simon's qualities as a leader of the upmost principle and integrity were displayed in his strong support of the Australian troops being deployed, working tirelessly on his part to actively avoid a repeat of the Vietnam War, while still being clear in his grievances with the government and that his grievances with the government, never with those who wore the Australian uniform. Indeed, as so many have acknowledged, he farewelled our troops as they left Australia not only with patriotism but also with the respect of honesty, treating them with that respect and outlining very clearly not only the views and stance he took but also why they deserved not only his respect but that of all Australians. He did likewise in the parliament when the US President George W. Bush visited Australia, speaking to, again, his principal nature, being up-front yet gracious, saying very directly to President Bush:

Our commitment to the alliance remains unshakeable, as does our commitment to the war on terror, but friends must be honest with each other. Honesty is, after all, the foundation stone of that great Australian value—'mateship'.

This was not the only area where Simon Crean in a relatively short period of parliamentary leadership within this building demonstrated his willingness to use his political capital. During his time as opposition leader and as leader of the Labor Party, Simon Crean took the opportunity to pursue dramatic change within the Labor Party. Against great opposition from some, this product of the trade union movement used much of his capital to pursue reforms in Labor including the dilution of union influence in Labor Party preselections from 60 per cent to 50 per cent while also taking the step of ensuring female candidates were picked in 40 per cent of winnable seats, leaving a lasting and positive impact on his party.

His opposition to the war in Iraq, his reform of the party created disgruntlement and challenges, both outside and within Labor, during those tumultuous times. Being opposition leader then, as it has been for so many generations and remains, is an often thankless task and so it was for Simon. He stepped aside as a leader in late 2003. Nevertheless, as a respected former leader, Simon Crean was appointed and served as cabinet minister following Labor's election in 2007, notably as trade minister, a position that naturally aligned with his character, with his principles and with which he showed great gusto. After 23 years as the member for Hotham, and the majority of those as a cabinet minister, Simon announced his retirement before the general elections in 2013.

I can say that Simon Crean was someone who was always generous. As someone who followed him, though some years apart, in both the education portfolio and the trade portfolio, his willingness to provide advice, to engage and to work was always evident. His kindness, his thoughtfulness and his engagement, I acknowledge, I thank him for and I welcome. Whether it was on matters of international education or in the pursuit of our trade agreements, particularly those with the European Union, Simon Crean was always somebody worth having a conversation with, worth listening to and worth ensuring that he was deployed, as he would always seek to be, in the national interest.

One of his most notable post-parliamentary appointments was as the chairman of the European Australian Business Council, working to facilitate more open trade with the EU. His belief in the advancement of those trade networks and ties and their benefits to our nation were unwavering. It was this work which he so loved and was so good and effective at that he was pursuing at the time of his sudden death.

In Simon Crean, Labor has lost a former leader and a principled yet pragmatic advocate. But our nation has also lost an effective advocate and champion for our interests right around the world as well as for good, sound policy across our nation. His passing was sudden, and this no doubt has been a terribly difficult time for his loved ones, but I hope they can find some comfort in the recollections that have been shared across this place and in so many others, and in the huge outpouring of respect and admiration across all sides of politics that so many held for Simon Crean. As John Howard summarised, he was 'a formidable adversary who I both liked and respected' and that respect is perhaps the most important of all attributes.

On behalf of the opposition, and in joining all senators, I acknowledge and thank Simon Crean for his service, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Carol; his daughters, Sarah and Emma; their families; and to Simon's so many loved ones, friends, colleagues, including many here, I know, across from us who served closely with Simon and who valued and treasured his friendship and support. We extend our deepest sympathies and our thanks for his service to our nation.