Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to pay my respects to Antonio Calabria, a man well known to many of us in this building, who welcomed us every single day at the family-run cafe Aussies here at Parliament House. Tony greeted visitors and parliamentarians with a gentle smile and kind words. He was more than just a welcoming face at Aussies; he was its heart. Born in Calabria, he journeyed to Australia from Italy in 1955 with his mother and siblings to join his father, arriving with little more than hope for a better life. Like so many migrants, he built a life through hard work and sacrifice, creating a home for his family and a welcoming community for all of us who pass through those doors at Aussies.

Family was central to his life. In our many conversations, he spoke with pride about his children and grandchildren. Beyond family, Tony loved his sport—Juventus and the Canberra Raiders, of course. He never missed a chance to watch his grandchildren play soccer—or should I say 'football'?

In a letter read at Tony's funeral on Monday last week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote:

He kept our democracy humming with his coffee. And thanks to his sheer drive and dedication, he truly cemented Aussies as a cherished institution within an institution.

Those words capture the spirit of a great man whose hospitality strengthened the fabric of this parliament and the great story that every migrant brings to this country. To Tony's wife, Anna; his daughters, Teresa, Rosanna and Lisa; and his son, Dom, who we all know: I want to extend my deepest condolences to you and your family. Tony's legacy lives on in the memories we carry and in the community that he built. Riposa in pace, Antonio.