Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

It is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death on 13 April 2026 of Trish Crossin AM, a former senator for the Northern Territory from 1998 to 2013.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That the Senate records its sadness at the death, on 13 April 2026, of Trish Crossin AM, former senator for the Northern Territory, places on record its gratitude for her service to the Parliament and the nation, and tenders its sympathy to her family in their bereavement.

Nhamirr bukmak? Manymak walnga nganapurr nhinan ngarra ga gurrutumirr ngarrak, ngunhal Yirrkala wangangur. Yolngu walal ngarrak djaka, ga gurrutu gathar ngarrak ga marnggikungal ngarran Yolngu Romgu. Buku—wekan mhuma, wanga—watangun Yolngun, nhe ngarrak, djaka.

Those were the first Indigenous language words in a speech in the Australian parliament, and they were spoken on this very day in 1998, and today we honour the woman who said them. Twenty-eight years ago, in her first speech to the Senate, Trish Crossin was saying to the traditional owners, 'Thank you for welcoming my family and me, for allowing us to live on your land and for the opportunity to understand your culture.' With characteristic boldness and authenticity, Senator Crossin set the tone for her 15-year contribution and set the tone for many others to come, not least with her personal apology on that day to the stolen generations. And what followed was 15 years of persistent, determined, compassionate and courageous advocacy for a better, more respectful, more just and more modern Australia. How lucky we were to have her.

I want to express my personal condolences and those from all on this side of the chamber to Mark, Paul, Melinda, Amanda and Kate and to all of her grandchildren, as well as other family, friends and parliamentary colleagues—to all who knew and loved Trish.

Trish was many things—a working mother, later a grandmother; a proud feminist; a stalwart unionist; a committed practitioner of reconciliation; a believer that ceilings were made to be broken, not least by becoming the Northern Territory's first female member of federal parliament. And what a formidable senator she was.

Trish's life tells a story of deep devotion to the people she loved and the causes she championed. From the streets of Kensington, Melbourne, where she grew up, to Yirrkala in East Arnhem Land, where she first taught, wherever she went, Trish's first thought was to help those around her. Someone needed help. Something needed fixing. It didn't matter what it was or where you came from, Trish would show up.

In 1956, Clare and Albert Borlase were convinced they were going to have a baby boy, due around St Patrick's Day, and thus they were primed to name him Patrick. But on 21 March, in her first act of defiance, she was born a girl. Still the name more or less stuck. But Trish didn't like being called Patricia much and even less Pat. So Trish or Trisha was how she continued. Growing up in Kensington, her youth exposed her to what she described in her first speech as a 'rich, multicultural, working-class community', and she credited this setting with imbuing in her the spirit of social justice and fairness she would come to embody throughout her life.

It was in these early years that Trisha's gift to connect deeply with any community she found herself in was first nurtured. She played organ in her local Catholic parish at mass, weddings and funerals, forever part of the rites of her neighbours. And, as a young adult, she earned a diploma of teaching at Mercy College and her bachelor's in education from Deakin University. She knew early on the power of an education. At 13, Trish met Mark and, soon after, announced her intention to marry him. Eventually she did and soon found herself on a new adventure with him, moving to a remote community in the Northern Territory where they would both teach. At 24, Trish took up a post teaching in Yirrkala, and there she fell in love with the community and the local language of the Yolngu people, Gumatj. She recognised the opportunities afforded to children if they were allowed to be educated in a bilingual environment.

Her experience teaching in remote communities, along with Mark's influence, drove Trish to join the Labor Party, to get involved in her trade union and to eventually become an industrial officer at the NTEU. Trish Crossin was never there to occupy the space. We see this throughout her life, including at the union. She had seen firsthand the change she could make to students' and educators' lives if she worked for it, and she fought successfully for the pay and conditions of Indigenous teachers to match those of non-Indigenous teachers under the award. It is no surprise that her tenure as union secretary from 1996 to 1998 was marked by a rapid growth in membership. In Darwin, she also helped establish the NT Working Women's Centre and was central to unearthing a shocking case of migrant worker exploitation, where workers were paid roughly 75c an hour and faced threats to their families.

In 1998, Trish won support to fill a casual vacancy in the Senate. As I said at the outset, today is the anniversary of her groundbreaking first speech. As well as thanking the Yolngu people and apologising to the stolen generations, the first commitment Senator Crossin gave in this place was to the Yolngu to work hard to represent them and to continue to respect and acknowledge their rights. Trish Crossin never shied away from saying what she thought, and she famously earned the ire of then senator Vanstone for being controversial in her first speech. Given how polemical Senator Vanstone was willing to be, it seems like Trish might have struck a nerve. She said:

As a Territory senator, I will continue to promote the benefits of a tolerant, multicultural Australia.

… We must continue to strive for a country that is built upon the foundations of unity rather than division …

Trish might have been responding to the politics of her day, but they are words that resonate today.

Trish Crossin also brought to this place her lived experience as a working mum, and she fought consistently and continuously for the importance of child care to be recognised by this parliament. In that prescient first speech, she observed that this building housed no childcare facilities for people like her, a deficit it would take over a decade and a Labor government to correct. You see, child care in Parliament House might now seem obvious, but it was not seen that way. As a result of efforts by Trish and others, along with Labor's affirmative action policies, we now have a parliament that far better reflects our society.

Over the years, Trish Crossin was a member of more select, standing and statutory committees than you could count, and she understood that the concentrated work of Senate committees could help achieve generational change, be it in education, employment and workplace relations, where she drew from her time both as a teacher and as a union official, or as chair of the legal and constitutional affairs committee, where she led a 2008 review into the Sex Discrimination Act, which amongst other reforms saw the inclusion of protections for breastfeeding mothers.

In a speech after the 2010 election, Trish remarked on another occasion in which she crossed paths with history, saying: 'Last night I was calculating with Kate, my 14-year-old. After 4,486 days, as of today, I'm now the longest-serving senator from the Territory.'

Two years later, Trish again took up the fight for others, introducing the Marriage Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2012 into the Senate. She made the case for marriage equality, something that is today accepted as given, and spoke to the heart of Australian values. In her second reading speech, Trish said:

Australians do not tolerate discrimination based on race or religion or ethnicity or sexuality. And still we have Commonwealth law … that in its very meaning entrenches discrimination.

She went on to say:

But almost equal is not equal. Discrimination based on sexuality is still discrimination.

As was Trish's way, she saw her actions as a duty to right a wrong she saw, and her support meant a great deal to me personally.

Trish's work was neither limited to nor bound by the confines of Canberra, and, though she spent countless days here in this building, her heart and her thoughts always remained in the Territory and with Territorians, and she was known to welcome anybody into her electorate office, regardless of the issues they may be having. Whether they needed help navigating government services or, in one moving case, were a single father struggling to help his daughter through the changes of adolescence, her attitude was that, if someone needed your help, you showed up and you stuck with them. For Trish, that often meant reminding her colleagues across this chamber about the unique challenges faced by rural, remote and Indigenous Australians.

Trish Crossin gave her valedictory to this chamber on 18 June 2013, and she gave her thanks to almost everyone in the building, including the clerks, whom she knew all by name, and the men and women of Parliamentary Services, the library, Broadcasting, Hansard and beyond. It's a reflection of 15 years she spent in this Parliament House, and she warmed this Parliament House, and it is a reflection of the many deep relationships she built throughout her time here—relationships which extended across the political divide. She spoke warmly of Senator Nigel Scullion, her fellow senator from the Territory for over a decade, and she also retained her belief in working constructively across political divides with members and senators that she knew to hold convictions as earnest as her own.

Trish knew the best solutions to our biggest challenges came from a willingness to engage eye to eye and to learn from the experiences of others, no matter where they came from, and Trish Crossin ended her time in this place just as she began. From her first speech to her last, Trish's deeply felt dedication to First Nations justice and equality permeated her parliamentary service, and, after 15 years, hundreds of sitting days, thousands of divisions and countless committee hearings, Trish used her closing words to once again thank the Yolngu people and once again in the Gumatj language.

For Trish Crossin, being a senator was neither the beginning nor the end, and her commitment to reconciliation and to Indigenous Australians and her drive to empower other women stretched from her time as a teacher in a remote school to post-parliamentary life and all throughout. She served as a director on the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, where she always ensured the community's voice was heard. She worked with Gender Equity Victoria and she chaired the Gordon TAFE in Geelong—roles she used to continue her lifelong ambition of expanding educational opportunity.

In the time since Trish's passing, as well as reflections on her remarkable contribution, there have been reflections on the profound pride and deep love she had in and for her family. She always said Mark was her best friend and greatest support, and, of Paul, Mel, Mandy and Kate, Trish sang endless praise. Senators would know I have the great fortune of coming to know one of Trish's kids well. Kate works in my office, and she's known to many of you. As Kate's sister Mel said at Trish's funeral, 'Nothing made her prouder than tuning into the Senate during a late night sitting and watching you working away in the advisers' box.' Kate, take comfort and strength from the pride in you she had and her love for you. From wherever she is watching, I know that, like me, she can't wait to see where your extraordinary talent and commitment take you.

On the issues that animated Trish, there is more work to do, not least the acute challenges in addressing Indigenous disadvantage. Trish's dream of this country, Trish's dream of Australia, never centred on why we couldn't do something or why it was too difficult. Instead, I think it's better encapsulated by what she said, with typical gumption, whilst marriage equality was still being debated: 'Let's get over it and let's just do it.'

I close by saying, to Mark, to Paul, to Mel, to Mandy and to Kate, to all of Trish's grandchildren, to her family and loved ones and to all who called her friend, accept my deepest condolences for the loss of a true comrade. Farewell, Trish Crossin.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on behalf of the coalition to pay tribute to former senator for the Northern Territory Trish Crossin AM, who passed away on 13 April at the age of 70. Senator Crossin served, as we know, in this chamber for 15 years, from June 1998 to September 2013. I had the privilege of serving with Trish between 2008 and 2013, and I echo Senator Wong's comments. Trish was someone who was thoroughly committed to the issues she came here to prosecute. She was someone who was always up for a chat, but she was also someone who would sit down with you and actually work through the issues that she wanted to get done in this place.

She was chosen in June 1998 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Senator Bob Collins. She was subsequently elected to the Senate in her own right at the 1998 election. She was re-elected four more times, in 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. She was the 472nd member of this place, she was the fifth senator for the Northern Territory and she was the first woman to represent the Northern Territory in the federal parliament.

Before entering parliament, she served as an industrial officer and then as the Northern Territory secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union from 1996 to 1998. Indeed, during her tenure, NTEU membership in the Territory more than doubled. She was also the founding chair of the NT Working Women's Centre, something of which she was incredibly proud.

As we've heard, though, when she worked in this place her passion for Indigenous issues was second to none. Senator Crossin's connection to Indigenous Australia predated her parliamentary career by over two decades. She taught at Yirrkala Bilingual School from 1981 to 1985, and she wasn't a visitor to the community; she lived and worked there with her husband, Mark, and she was regarded as a lifelong friend to the community after she left. She fought passionately against the abolition of bilingual education in the Northern Territory. When the Territory government moved to dismantle the system, she actually opposed it from this chamber. She had seen firsthand what the education model meant to the communities that it served.

In her first speech in this place in 1998, before she had held a Senate seat for a single sitting week, she offered a personal apology to Aboriginal people and to the stolen generations. That was nine years before the national apology delivered by the Rudd government in 2008. She did not frame it, though, as a political position; she framed it as a personal statement of regret for the harm caused by the forced removal of children from their families. She then co-authored a book on the stolen generations, prepared for use during the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and continued to lobby for compensation for members of the NT stolen generations throughout her time in this place.

She chaired the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples from November 2012 until she left the Senate in August 2013. She was a member of the Senate Select Committee on the Administration of Indigenous Affairs in 2004, serving as its chair from June to November of that year. She sat on the Select Committee on Regional and Remote Indigenous Communities from 2008 to 2010. The NT Emergency Response, which began in 2007, occupied much of her attention during those years.

Her other committee work in this place was extensive. She served on the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs for many years, including as chair from February 2008 to May 2009. She chaired the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee from May 2009 until she left the Senate in September 2013. She also chaired the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee from June 2005 to September 2006, and she again served on it from May 2009 to September 2013. Her work on the education, employment and workplace relations committee spanned many years, including as chair of its references committee from December 2004 to June 2005. As we have heard, and as she is well known for, she co-sponsored the first marriage equality bill in this Senate. This is a very interesting fact about Trish and something she was very proud of. Early in her career, she asked in Senate estimates how many Australians had trachoma. The answer from the department was that they actually didn't know. That exchange then contributed to the Commonwealth committing $17 million to trachoma eradication in 2009.

Her Senate career, as we know, sadly ended in 2013, and she used her valedictory speech to say at the time what she thought about how that had been handled, but whatever the politics of that decision, 15 years of service to this institution speaks for itself. In 2023, Trish Crossin was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to the parliament and to the people of the Northern Territory. She is survived by her husband, Mark, her children, Paul, Melinda, Amanda and Kate, whom we know so well, and her grandchildren. On behalf of the coalition, I extend my sincere condolences to the Crossin family.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) | Link to this | Hansard source

It's a real privilege to stand and make a few remarks during this condolence debate, although it's a very sad occasion to do so. I acknowledge Trish's family up in the gallery here today.

Trish's sudden passing, just weeks after she celebrated her 70th birthday, has shocked and saddened everyone who knew, cared for and loved Trish. Listening to the contributions already in the chamber today and reflecting on her memorial, three words keep coming to mind: principled, passionate and pioneering. She was principled in her fight for fairness and equality for women, for First Nations people, for anyone who endured discrimination and, of course, her constituents, the people of the Northern Territory. She was passionate about her adopted home of the Northern Territory and all the people who call it home. I think her proud record in this Senate clearly demonstrates how committed she was to representing First Nations Australians in this chamber, and, in many ways, it goes to my third point of pioneering, and how Trish was a woman of many firsts.

She was the first woman to represent the Northern Territory in this parliament. Before that, she was the first full-time industrial officer in the Territory for the National Tertiary Education Union. She was the founding chair of the Northern Territory Working Women's centres, which continue to work today, and, as we've heard from Senator Wong and others, the co-sponsor of the first marriage equality bill ever brought to the Senate. She was the first speaker of First Nations language in this chamber and the first to apologise to the Stolen Generation. In her first speech, Trish said it was important that more women be directly involved in the decision-making bodies of this country so that they looked like the electorates they represented.

I didn't have the opportunity to work directly with Trish in this place, as our paths were narrowly misaligned in terms of our service in this chamber. But looking around the chamber today, with a woman leading every party in this chamber, I think Trish would have been pretty proud of how much progress has been made. She was a strong advocate and champion for the National Women's Alliance to create a better, more informed and representative dialogue between women and the Australian government. Again, I think she was pleased and would be proud to know that, when I met with them earlier this year, they're still carrying on the work that she supported so actively throughout her career.

In her time in parliament, Trish fought for better retirement outcomes for women, for paid parental leave, for closing the gender pay gap. Back in 2011, she put it simply:

The concept of equal pay for equal work of equal value seems like such a simple and logical concept …

And yet the gap persisted. She led major amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act and Fair Work Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, same-sex marriage or relationship status, gender identity and to remove breastfeeding as grounds for discrimination in the workplace. She argued for better wages for childcare workers, and, very fittingly, she was instrumental in establishing the childcare centre right here in Parliament House, so that no parent in this building would have to choose between their work and their children the way so many women of her generation had. I thought of her this morning as we gathered in the marble foyer to recognise the extension to paid parental leave that is coming in, in a week's time, where we had women members of parliament with their babies on their hips—some of whom attend the childcare centre that Trish was instrumental, along with others, in establishing here. In that sense, this morning I was thinking of how much the work she did, working with others in the party and across the parliament, is impacting the lives of serving members, and senators in this chamber, right now.

When you look back and read about Trish's work, it is striking how relevant much of it remains today. The work she did in all those areas I've just touched on, around gender equality and women's policy—they are still things that all of us on this side and across the parliament continue to work on today. In many respects, she was years ahead of her time in some of her pursuits of those issues. For us on this side of the chamber, this is work that we now have the responsibility to continue. But we know that we are building on the work of those like Trish Crossin. These changes don't come just from a change of government; they come from years and years of campaigning for change, and she was always there doing that. As a serving woman in politics, I know that the capacity to contribute and work the way I do over my career is because of the work the women of Trish's generation started. We hope to continue that and build on that in this parliament.

I was reading Trish's valedictory, because I want to make a few comments about Kate as well. I noticed, in that speech, she talked about Kate riding on a Teletubby scooter around the parquetry floors of the Senate chamber. It's always struck me: how does this young professional woman know so much about the Senate? I learned from Kate pretty much on a daily basis. Kate, when I read your mum's valedictory, of how you used to sit and watch how the counts were done from a very young age, it made a lot of sense to me—and the image of you sliding around the floors as a two- or three-year-old will not leave me as I continue to work with you! To Kate and to the entire family—to Mark, to Paul, Melinda and Amanda, to Trish's grandchildren and to the many friends and colleagues across her career throughout the Territory and the broader labour movement—the collective arms of everyone who knew, cared for and loved Trish are wrapped around you at this really difficult time.

I watched Trish's memorial a few weeks ago when it was held, and I thought it was lovely. I thought it was perfect, and it really showed—from listening to stories from her family and friends and to memories of Trish, and recognising the extraordinary contribution that she made to public life, not just to the many communities that she was a vital part of and a constant advocate for and organiser of—just how much she contributed and, also, how much family and friends were so central to who she was and the gift she has given to others. I send my condolences to Trish and her family. She was a great Labor senator. She had a great career in this chamber—15 years. I know she saw that as a privilege, but we were privileged to have her as part of the Labor team.

Susan McDonald (Queensland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today on behalf of the Nationals to acknowledge the passing of former senator Trish Crossin AM, and to extend our sincere condolences to her husband, Mark; her children, Paul, Melinda, Amanda and Kate; her grandchildren; and all those whose lives she touched through her decades of service to the Northern Territory and to Australia. Senator Crossin served the Territory with distinction over many years, first as an educator and later as a senator. While we sit on different sides of politics, there is so much to be said in recognition of a life dedicated to public service, community involvement and improving opportunities for others.

Born in Melbourne in 1956, Trish Crossin's life took a defining turn when she moved to the Northern Territory as a young teacher. Like so many who go to the north and to the Territory, she found something special there and made it her home. Before entering federal politics, Trish spent more than a decade working in education. Most notably, she taught in north-east Arnhem Land, including at the Yirrkala bilingual school. Those years were formative, not only in shaping her understanding of the Territory and its people but also in demonstrating a lifelong commitment to education and public service.

Teaching in remote Australia demands patience, resilience, adaptability and a genuine belief in the potential of every student. It requires people willing to leave the familiar behind and commit to communities that face complex issues and challenges. Those who worked alongside Trish in Arnhem Land have spoken warmly of her dedication, her willingness to listen and her determination to make a difference. Former colleagues recalled her as a teacher who always sought to do the best she could do for her students and who earned the respect of the local Indigenous community. Relationships she built during those years remained important throughout her life. They helped shape her understanding of remote communities and informed, as we have heard, much of her later work in public office.

In 1998, Trish Crossin entered federal politics, becoming the first woman to represent the Northern Territory in the Commonwealth parliament. That achievement alone secured her place in the Territory's political history and allowed many other women to come behind her. Being the first is never easy. It comes with expectations, with scrutiny and responsibility. Yet, by all accounts, she carried that responsibility with determination and a strong sense of duty. She blazed a trail for northern Australian women to participate in political life, and, as the first Northern Territory woman elected to the federal parliament, she demonstrated that leadership and public service were open to everyone.

Her appointment to the Senate in June 1998 marked the beginning of a parliamentary career that would span more than 15 years. She served five terms before retiring in 2013, and throughout that time she was a strong and consistent voice for the Northern Territory. Territorians expect and, indeed, need their representatives to understand the unique circumstances of life in the north—the vast distances, the remoteness, the challenges of service delivery and infrastructure, and the opportunities that exist in one of Australia's most remarkable regions. Senator Crossin understood those realities because she had lived them. Whether speaking about education, regional development, community services, Indigenous affairs or the challenges facing remote communities, she sought to ensure that the Territory's voice was not only heard but understood in Canberra.

Her contribution to the Senate extended well beyond the chamber itself. Over the course of her career, she served on parliamentary committees dealing with education, legal and constitutional affairs, Indigenous affairs, foreign affairs, regional communities and parliamentary administration. As we know, committee work is rarely glamourous. It attracts little public attention, yet it is often where some of the most important work of parliament takes place. It requires diligence, attention to detail and a willingness to work constructively with colleagues from different political backgrounds. Trish Crossin earned a reputation as a hardworking parliamentarian who approached these responsibilities seriously. Whether serving as a member, the deputy chair or the chair of a committee, she contributed to the detailed scrutiny that is such an important part of our parliamentary system.

Many of the tributes offered following her passing have highlighted her deep commitment to Indigenous Australians and to reconciliation. Those commitments were shaped by her experiences living and working in remote communities and, of course, by the friendships she formed throughout her life. Others have spoken of her dedication to education, her concern for vulnerable Australians and her determination to ensure that regional and remote communities were not overlooked in national conversations. What emerges from these reflections is a picture of someone who genuinely cared about the people she represented.

Politics can be a difficult profession. It invariably involves disagreement, contest and conflict. Yet when parliamentarians pass away, we are reminded that beyond political differences lies a shared commitment to public service. Many who worked alongside Trish Crossin, including political opponents, have described her as determined, hardworking, approachable and deeply committed to the Northern Territory. These qualities earned her respect across the political spectrum and, after leaving the Senate, she remained active in public life and continued contributing to the community through a range of roles. In 2023, that contribution was formally recognised when she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the Parliament of Australia and to the people of the Northern Territory, and it is a fitting acknowledgement of decades spent serving others.

Public life often demands sacrifice. It requires long periods away from home, endless travel, missed family occasions and a commitment to causes larger than oneself. Behind every parliamentarian stands a family that shares those burdens and makes those sacrifices possible. Today, our thoughts are especially with Mark and the Crossin family. Recent tributes from her family paint a picture not simply as a senator or public figure but of a devoted wife, a mother and grandmother whose greatest achievements may well be found beyond politics. Their reflections speak of a woman deeply involved in her community, generous with her time and devoted to those that she loved. That is perhaps how many people will choose to remember her, not only for the positions she held but for the relationships she built and the lives she touched.

While political differences are an inevitable part of parliamentary life, occasions such as this remind us of the common purpose that brings people to this place—a desire to serve their communities and contribute to the nation. Trish Crossin devoted much of her life to that endeavour. As a teacher, she sought to expand opportunity. As a senator, she sought to represent the people of the Northern Territory with conviction and shared commitment, and, as a community member, she gave generously of her time and energy to causes she believed in. Her passing marks the loss of a significant figure in the political history of the Northern Territory and of northern Australia, and of a woman whose contribution to public life spanned many decades. And perhaps the most wonderful legacy for Labor and for the Senate is in Kate. May her family find comfort in the respect, gratitude and affection that so many Australians hold for her years of service. Vale Trish Crossin.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

I'd like to associate myself with all the comments made by my colleagues here today in relation to this special and important condolence for a woman of strength and honour that many of us worked very closely with. Firstly, I just want to say to her family who are here today: we're thinking of you. This is always a difficult time. Thank you for being here and thank you for giving so much of your time to us and our parliament through the work and dedication that Trish gave to this place. No-one would ever say that Trish Crossin wasn't a hard worker. She was dedicated to this job like no other. She was a genuine person, a deeply genuine person. You always knew where you stood with Trish. I want to say to her Labor colleagues she was definitely a Labor stalwart through and through. She loved your party like it was her family, but she was aware that, in this place, in order to get things done, you had to work across party lines. Particularly in this chamber, you have to work across lines, so Trish, while always being the strong advocate for Labor, was prepared to listen to other people's points of view and to find that commonality, whether that was in working out recommendations for various reports or working through some of the difficult issues that we have from time to time, not just on the floor of the chamber but in our committee process.

I was very lucky to be able to work with Trish during her time as chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee. At the time, I had two issues that were really in my sights. They were marriage equality, and, of course, Australia's immigration system and the treatment of refugees. Trish was so fabulous to work with because, despite political differences, we always found a way to make sure that the witnesses we both wanted to hear from were heard, there was respect in how the committee would operate and that, if we could come to an agreement, an arrangement and a compromise on recommendations and committee reports, we would. Trish always treated everybody with respect, with care and with kindness. But I don't want to suggest that she was soft, because she was not soft. There were times when Trish and I had some barnies. She was a bit of a hard arse at times, but she was always honest about it, always direct and did it with empathy and compassion.

Her work helping young women in particular in this place be able to manage the job and our families was really important. Her work to help establish the childcare centre is a legacy that should not be forgotten and is one that is so important today. When I came to this place as a young mum, Kora couldn't even walk when I first arrived. Trish was so supportive and just so lovely. I remember the day that Kora was thrown out of the chamber. Trish was one of the first people to come up to me and see if I was okay, because she knew how important it was for working mums to be able to care for their kids and do their job and have respect for the institution. I will never forget that.

Sorry, I didn't mean to get upset. There were some times in this place that there are people you meet who do have a real impact on how we get our job done: whether we can do it properly, whether we can think differently about ideas and whether we can find ways to collaborate. In that moment, Trish showed me that it didn't matter about the political differences; there was humanity in this place and, for mums in particular, we had to stick together. That is what she taught me.

Kate, I can see you sitting up there. You spent a long time in this building. I'm not sure I want my daughter working in politics, but I know that Trish was very proud of what you do and very proud of the work that she has done. I know you are as well. I won't take up any more time. But, as I said, most people come to this place wanting to contribute to their communities, and it comes with huge sacrifices for family. Trish knew that. She knew everybody else did that. She was prepared to give grace where grace was warranted and to call you out when that was deserved, as well. She was a genuine person and somebody this chamber should be very proud to have had as one of our serving colleagues and senators.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to remember someone who means so much to me and my families in the Gulf country of Borroloola. I first met Trish when I was a young mum in Borroloola. I remember meeting her in the Working Women's Centre with her dear mate Gillian Harrison, both of whom became very good mates of mine as well. We offer our deep condolences, Mark. I've been thinking a lot about you and your children and your grandchildren. Mel and Amanda and Kate and Paul, your mum loved you all so much. She'd leave on a Thursday from the Senate, get on that plane and make sure she was with you over the weekend. She'd be there at committee meetings over the weekend, dragging one of you or all of you along with her. She'd be holding those meetings too, with our Labor women, forever encouraging and inspiring the next generation, not just her children but so many of us in the Northern Territory who learnt so much from her and were mentored by her.

When I had the opportunity to run for the seat of Arnhem, Trish was there, and we had so many bush trips together. Oh, yes—some of those bush trips! Tomato Island—remember that one? I think the most memorable one was trying to get Trish out to Beswick when the rivers were flooding. She really wanted to get back from the Senate to help and, with a lot of us bush members, try and get out to the communities. Your mum was so determined to come with me, and I was a little bit worried, thinking, 'I don't know; if we get out there, we might get stuck, and you won't be able to get back down to Canberra in time.' She would come up on the Thursday night and fly down on the Sunday night or in the early hours, which is something I've learnt from her, I think—doing that same flight.

When we tried to get out to Beswick, we couldn't get across the Waterhouse River. The community were on the other side, and they were really needing help, and we were on our side trying to work out how we were going to get across. We couldn't wade across; the water had risen too high—no good. Your mum spotted a good old tractor down the road, so we went and looked for a driver. In the next minute we were on that tractor, ploughing through the water, making sure we didn't fall in—there are crocs up there, as we all know. We were determined to get to the other side, and I remember looking at your mum and thinking: who is this woman? For us it was pretty normal to do all sorts of things out bush to just get on with it. I have always admired your mum and love her dearly. I miss her greatly.

When I lost my seat in 2012 it was Trish who rang me first, straightaway, and she came to see me to find out what had happened but also just to check in. We've heard some really beautiful stories here of her humanity, her kindness and her empathy, and I certainly experienced that in that moment. When so many others judged you differently, she made sure she was there to check in and say, 'How are you going?' Four years later, when I had the privilege of getting a seat in the Senate, Trish was there again. One thing I couldn't believe was how she still remembered, even after three years of not being in the Senate herself, every single detail: 'On Monday, Malarndirri, it's 10 am that the Senate opens. You make sure you're there. You have to be there at five minutes to 10. You've got to go in, and, when you go in, you stand there and you do this. And then you can finish at this certain time.' And she knew exactly the time. Then she said: 'There are all these committees. There's the legal and constitutional committee. There's the community affairs committee. You could do that one, but this one over here is also good.' It was just impressive. She had her own handbook. She wanted to show me all these things. I just loved the fact that, no matter what time of night it was, I'd get a text, going, 'If you need someone to talk to, I'm here,' because she'd be watching her favourite channel, the Senate!

I am going to miss her deeply. I think the love that she had from so many people that never knew her and then got to know her and the service that she provided as senator for the Northern Territory—the love that she had for the Yolngu, Gumatj and Rirratjingu and all the families. I was in Nhulunbuy recently, and their big love to all of you will always be there no matter what time of day you get out to Arnhem Land. Your family is deeply respected, Mark, through you and through Trish, and your children and grandchildren. Thank you for your service as well, with Trish, in working for the people of the Northern Territory. I know that the Northern Territory parliament has also provided a condolence motion—rightly so and beautifully so—and now the Senate has too. Know that Trish is deeply missed by us as well. We love her dearly. Yo, bauji barra.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) | Link to this | Hansard source

I too would like to make a few brief comments about Trish, who was one of the most welcoming people when I first arrived here in 2012 as a fresh-faced kid who had absolutely no idea what I was supposed to do. Trish came over and I thought, 'Oh, my gosh, there are real people in the Senate,' because she actually spoke just like every other person you've ever met. There was nothing toffy about Trish. She was just the most down-to-earth person that you could ever imagine. She didn't care whether you were sitting on this side of the chamber, that side of the chamber or down the other end; she cared about all the people in this place.

For us here, the day that we heard about the famous Julia Gillard's captain's pick—when Trish was no longer going to come back to this place as a senator—deeply saddened so many people in this place, so many people who were in her own party but also those of us on this side who had respected Trish's absolute dedication and commitment to the people she represented. It did not matter what the issue was, Trish always applied a lens of what was in the best interests of the people of the Northern Territory. Most particularly, she had such an incredibly strong focus on the Indigenous people of the Northern Territory.

A funnier couple you could not have imagined in Nigel Scullion and Trish Crossin as the two representatives in the Senate from the Northern Territory, yet, together, the impact and effect that those two people had was because there wasn't a snowflake's breadth of difference between them in what they wanted as outcomes for Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory. That sort of practical, pragmatic approach to everything made them deeply, deeply lovable, the pair of them. But Lord only knows what the pair of them got up to after they left this place and there was no further scrutiny on them, because the one thing you can say about them was that neither of them was very conventional about their approach to things.

Trish was taken way too soon. I'm sure, to her family, it must feel incredibly real for a life that was cut short. I'm sure Trish had so much more to give, not only to you as her family but to her nation and to the great love that she had for the Northern Territory. But the one thing you can be assured of, when it came to the people that knew her in this place, nobody could have packed a bigger punch than she did in what she achieved and the impact she had on the lives of the people that she interacted with while she was here.

The fact that we're sitting here today—you heard the beautiful comments from Senator Hanson-Young, you heard the comments from her colleagues in the Labor Party and you heard the comments made by both Senator Cash and Senator McDonald—you can see she was universally loved in this place. I've got to tell you, that is not something that is particularly common; perhaps it was more common in the past than it is now. But the one thing I can absolutely say about Trish is that she was absolutely, universally loved. There was not a person in this place that didn't have respect for her, for who she was, and the fact that she called a spade an absolute bloody shovel every single time. We always knew exactly where she stood.

She was a trailblazer. She was somebody who was immensely respected. She will have a legacy that will live much longer than her short time on this earth, because it was her incredible passion and commitment that has seen a lot of change. I'm sure she wanted to see a lot more and, if she has her way, I'm sure she'll be dictating from where she is now to make sure things continue to change, such was her passion. Can I just put on the record my incredible sadness in hearing of Trish's passing, and my condolences to you, Mark, and to your family for your incredibly great loss. Her loss to you is obviously felt deeper than anywhere else, but please be assured and take comfort in the fact that your loss is shared by so many people across this country, so many people whose names we don't even know. She made a difference.

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) | Link to this | Hansard source

At the heart of our democracy is the principle that ordinary people with enough passion for their ideas and enough commitment to their community can make a real impact on the floor of the Australian parliament, and Trish Crossin's life is a testament to that principle.

Arriving in the Northern Territory in Yirrkala on the Gove Peninsula in 1981, she became the first woman elected from the Northern Territory to the Australian parliament, and she made her mark in this place and in many other places across her life. A committed unionist, she was a significant figure in the early history of the NTEU, and she was the founding chair of the territory's Working Women's Centre. The current CEO of that centre, Abbey Kendall, has described how Trish operated, saying:

She was relentless. Trish was known for turning up, pushing hard and refusing to leave offices.

She did not accept vague assurances or half answers.

Certainly for her Labor colleagues who knew her through the Labor Party this is a very recognisable description because she brought that same energy to our party and to this parliament. In fact, Hansard records that her first speech had so riled up the Howard government senators that it descended into interjections across the chamber. She was a fierce advocate in the very best traditions of Labor women, and she was smart and tough and completely committed. She used her time here as a tireless advocate for education, First Nations communities, the environment and the advancement of women.

I couldn't date when I first met Trish, but it was many years before I came to this place. It was through our shared involvement in our national party organisation and through our shared interest in the advancement of women and women's issues in that organisation. The many people who worked with her in the Labor Party through that period will remember her as a person of deep conviction, with deep commitment to the party and deep commitment to her community. Every time I saw her in that period, during her period as a senator and after, she was full of energy, full of warmth, full of opinions and full of enthusiasm that never stopped. It was a mark of her commitment to advancing the interests that she believed in and the interests of the communities that she sought to represent.

My heart goes out to her family, to you, Mark, and to Paul, Melinda, Amanda and our beloved colleague Kate. We in the Labor Senate family know that her smarts and her courage and her sense of justice will live on.

Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) | Link to this | Hansard source

I too rise to share some thoughts about Trish and my condolences with her family who are here today. Trish was a woman who was fiercely devoted to her own family and a woman who was fiercely devoted to her Labor family as well. On the first day of May, her two beloved families were able to come together at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Melbourne's west to honour Trish and say farewell. I was really pleased to be able to be there and help honour Trish's contribution at that service. Trish was baptised at that church, and we were told there that her values of justice and fairness formed through her Catholic faith. Her family and all of her friends and comrades came together in sadness that day, but we also came together in a lot of pride in an amazing woman as well, a woman who always stood up for the people she cared about, who always fought for the underdog and who absolutely never wavered in her belief in the Labor cause.

Much has been said already today about Trish's incredible contribution. She was the first woman to represent the Territory in the Australian parliament. Her 15 years of service here in this place were incredible, as we've heard. She really lived out her values—the values she learnt through her Catholic faith and the values she learnt in her time teaching in remote Indigenous communities in the Territory as well, where she developed that deep and abiding respect for First Nations people which was in evidence every year of her time here, from her first speech through to her valedictory.

Trish was an absolutely passionate fighter. She fought injustice, she stood up for working people, she stood up for First Nations people and she stood up for women. She was absolutely tireless in her work to build a country that she believed in—a country built on unity, not on division. Those were not just values that Trish pursued in her work; I think they were values that she pursued in her life as well. We've heard that from the contributions that leaders in this place have made from across the political spectrum, and I just wanted to thank all of those people who've made those contributions.

I think one thing that I have heard today is that Trish was really a senator's senator—someone who had immense respect for the institution and knew how to use this institution to do good things for the people that she fought for. Trish was not a fence sitter. She did not hedge her bets or wait on the sidelines; she picked sides. She backed people. She backed causes, and, when she did, that was it—she didn't second-guess anything. If you were lucky enough to have Trish on your side, you had a constant champion.

Like many Labor women—including Senator McCarthy, who spoke so beautifully before—I was pretty lucky to have Trish on my side as well after I entered the Senate in 2019. I first met Trish through Kate, who worked in my then backbench opposition Senate office. Luckily for Kate and for all of us, we've all gone on to greater things now, but Trish and Kate very much came as a bit of a package deal for me, and what a gift that was.

Trish took the time to give me the benefit of her advice, her experience and her strength, and she took mentoring really seriously. She saw it as a responsibility to support those people, particularly women, who came to this place after her. I remember Trish coming to my house for a cup of tea and a bit of a chat about life in the Senate, and it was more than a chat; it was a massive pep talk. Really, every conversation with Trish was a pep talk. I was pretty new, still, to the Senate, and, as with so many Labor women, what she did with me was tell me that my experience mattered, my voice mattered and it should be heard. I remember that meeting so much. I remember her dedication, her commitment and her absolute determination to pass her strength to me and to all Labor women. She was so generous in sharing her strength, and I am forever grateful to her for that. When you left a conversation with Trish, as I did on that day, you stood a little bit taller and you were also a fair bit more grounded, grounded in those values that bind us all together in the Labor movement: belief in workers' rights; belief in equality for women; belief in the strong, proud 60,000 years of culture and connection that we have in this place; and belief that how far you travel in your life should not be determined by where you begin your life.

Her fierce loyalty to her Labor family was magnified a millionfold in her devotion to her own amazing family, who are with us today. The same strength, certainty and generosity she brought to our movement, I know, was felt most deeply by those closest to her. Trish has done an amazing job raising her children, and her daughters. Melinda, Amanda and Kate, spoke at the service incredibly powerfully about what it was like to grow up with a mother like Trish, a mother who was a strong woman who was clearly determined to build and grow strong women too—and that is exactly what she has done. They spoke about how, whatever idea they had, Trish would back it 110 per cent, so much so, I recall, that you had to be really clear what your idea was because, if it wasn't a good idea, she'd back it anyway. So make sure that it's a good idea!

Kate, you spoke so movingly at the service. You honour your mum in your own journey in this place—from being a two-year old, as we've heard from other contributions, wandering the corridors as a senator's daughter to now in this place as an adviser to the Labor leader of a second-term government in this place. That is an absolute tribute to your mum. I just want to reflect on this moment with you, Kate, which I now realise has so much of your mum in it, which is when you were working with me: we were in an opposition backbench Senate team, and I remember Kate marching me on the blue carpet through the ministerial wing, and I said, 'Kate, why are we doing this? Why are you marching me on the blue carpet through the ministerial wing?' and she said, 'Because we're going to be here one day.' That was such a Crossin moment.

To Amanda, to Melinda, to Paul and to Mark, her beloved partner of so many years: we stand with you in your loss. We saw the strength of your family as you all came together, with Paul there as well in the church. We saw how much her grandchildren will miss their nan, and we know that Trisha's strength leaves you so much stronger for the journey ahead. Thank you for sharing her with us for so many years. You have our condolences. May Trish rest in power.

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to pay my tribute to Trish Crossin and to offer my condolences to her family and all those whose lives she touched. Trish served the people of the Northern Territory in this place for 15 years, from 1998 to 2013. She made history as the first woman to represent the Northern Territory in the Australian parliament, but Trish was never interested in history for its own sake. What mattered was what she could do with the opportunity that she'd been given. She used her time in this place to stand up for people that too often went unheard. She was a strong voice, as we've heard here today, for First Nations communities, women workers, public education and people living in remote and regional Australia.

Before entering parliament, Trish was a teacher, and those years shaped her understanding of the Territory, her respect for Yolngu culture and language and her lifelong commitment to justice and reconciliation. In her first speech to the Senate, Trish thanked the Yolngu people in their own language. She made a public promise to work hard to represent them and to respect and acknowledge their rights, and she kept that promise. She fought to protect bilingual education. She pushed for better health and education services. She supported early work for compensation for members of the Stolen Generations. She spoke up for communities that were often a long way from Canberra but never far from her mind.

Trish also brought to this place the values of the union movement. Before becoming a Senator, she worked as the industrial officer and as secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union in the Northern Territory. She understood that secure work, fair pay and dignity at work can change lives. She never lost sight of why unions exist for the people they represent.

Trish was a proud feminist. She helped establish the Northern Territory Working Women's Centre and fought for reproductive rights, child care and greater equality for women. Indeed, Trish had pursued a relentless campaign on entering the Senate on the lack of childcare facilities in Parliament House and the barrier it presented to women's participation in politics. She said at the time:

… it is unfortunate that there are no child-care facilities in this building … It may well be one of the reasons limiting the capacity of women to enter this arena.

She kept her promise, and 10 years later, when the childcare centre proposal was finally being approved, she reflected:

From the moment I put those words down in Hansard, I decided that I would spend my time in this place developing a campaign and pushing for some recognition that a childcare centre would benefit … the many thousands of families, women and men, who work in this place—

another successful Trish Crossin campaign.

Another proud moment, we've heard it here today, was when Trish co-sponsored the first marriage equality bill in the Senate, along with Gavin Marshall, Louise Pratt and myself. Working with Trish with on that bill and taking it through the Senate—unfortunately, unsuccessful at that time—was such an insight into the work of Senator Trish Crossin. She was just an amazing person with her support and her acknowledge.

She served as the deputy opposition whip and was a renowned chair of both the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee and the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. Across those roles she brought discipline, courage and deep respect for the people affected by the decisions made there. I had the privilege of serving alongside Trish from the time I arrived in this place until the time she left the Senate in 2013.

To many Australians, Trish will rightly be remembered as a trailblazer, a fierce advocate for the Northern Territory and a proud champion of the causes she believed in. But those of us who worked with her will remember something else as well: her generosity, her friendship and her unwavering support for those around her. Trish was strong, determined, courageous and deeply intelligent. She was never afraid to stand up for what she believed was right, and she approached every challenge with conviction and purpose. But she also brought warmth, humour and kindness to her work and her relationships.

For many of us in the Labor family, Trish was someone you could always turn to. She offered wise counsel, practical advice and steadfast support whenever it was needed. She understood that politics is ultimately about people, and she invested deeply in the people around her. She built lasting friendships throughout her parliamentary career, and I know that former senators Gavin Marshall, Claire Moore and Ruth Webber, among many others, will be mourning the loss of a dear friend. The affection and respect they held for Trish reflects the esteem in which she was regarded by her colleagues. The Prime Minister described Trish as a 'trailblazer 'who served her community, the Labor Party and the parliament with 'strength, decency and pride', and that is a fitting tribute. As we heard, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy spoke about the wise counsel and support Trish offered after she entered this place. That generosity was characteristic of Trish. She was always willing to share her experience, offer encouragement and help others find their way through what can often be a demanding and challenging environment.

I also want to acknowledge in the chamber here today, Amanda Diprose. Amanda was one of Trish's closest friends, and, in the days since her passing, she shared many stories around Trish's extraordinary generosity, loyalty and capacity to care for others. Through those stories and through my own experience of serving alongside Trish, I am reminded that her greatest legacy lies not only in what she achieved but in the lives she touched and the friendships she nurtured. Amanda's presence here tonight, and the presence of so many others here and listening to this condolence motion, is a reminder that behind every parliamentary career is a life rich with friendship, shared experiences and cherished memories. Those personal connections are every bit as important as the public achievements.

I also want to acknowledge the presence in the chamber of former senator Anne Urquhart, now the member for Braddon, who served alongside Trish from 2010 to 2013, and knew Trish as a colleague and a friend. I know Anne has been feeling Trish's loss.

After leaving the Senate, Trish continued to serve. She worked with the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation and continued contributing to public and community life. In 2023, she was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the Parliament of Australia and to the Northern Territory community. Her death was a terrible shock to all who knew her and loved her.

To her husband, Mark; her children, Paul, Melinda, Amanda and Kate; her grandchildren; and her wider family, I offer my sincere condolences. The Labor family has lost a cherished friend and comrade, and all of us who had the privilege of knowing and working with Trish have lost someone whose wisdom, courage and generosity enriched our lives and made this parliament a better place. Vale, Trish Crossin.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Regional Development) | Link to this | Hansard source

I acknowledge Mark and the Crossin family as well and pass on my condolences. I did not know Trish as a senator. I only got to know her subsequently after Kate started working for me, after she worked for Senator Walsh and before she started working for Senator Wong. I wasn't as familiar with Trish's Senate record, but, hearing the changes and what she achieved in 15 years in the Senate—and, I was thinking, only six or fewer of those years would have been in government—it's a remarkable record to have that length of achievement. It shows her capacity to work across the aisle with other senators and make the most of the opportunity before us. Whilst I hope we never go back to opposition, there'll certainly be inspiration there for us, knowing what you can do when you are back there.

As I mentioned, Kate worked for me as well. I only met Trish once, and that was when I was walking back to my office here, when Kate was working for me. I spotted Trish waiting in the corridor as I was going back there. I got the sense that she didn't want to come and interfere with Kate's work but was sort of hoping to say hello. I saw her and started talking and invited her back to come into the office. The one thing that became clear to me from getting to know Kate is the impact that Trish had on her family. I've got the sense that she also had that impact on colleagues here and in the Northern Territory and anyone who's come across her. As someone whose mother was extremely influential in my life, I know how influential she's been in Kate and her children's lives as well, and as a partner, but also as a friend and family member.

I know that she will be missed greatly by the family and that these days are difficult. As I said to Kate on Monday when I saw her, there's not a day when you don't think about your mum when she's had an influence on your life, like she has, but it does get easier, and I'm confident that, over time, those memories will be something that you'll cherish and embrace. You should know that Labor colleagues are thinking of you. So many people across the country are thinking of you. Trish will be remembered for her outstanding career but also for the role model she was and the impact she had on her family and friends. Vale.

Question agreed to, honourable senators joining in a moment of silence.