Simon Crean (Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

I do thank the House for providing this opportunity. As they know, my father passed away on Tuesday afternoon. It was peaceful, and his family was by his side. Can I also thank the House and all the members from both sides for the wonderful words of comfort and sympathy that they have extended to me and my family both in written and spoken form. It is terribly reassuring, as hard as the circumstances remain.

Frank Crean was an extraordinary man. He was a wonderful and loving husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a loyal friend to many and he was a selfless servant of the nation. In many ways, he was what many people would like all politicians to be: decent, humble, a person of great integrity and someone who was always available to help others who needed assistance or to take the initiative and guide those who he felt needed direction.

His political cause and belief touched all three of his sons: my younger brother, David, served with great distinction in the Tasmanian parliament; I of course followed my father into federal parliament; and my older brother, Stephen, was active in the Public Service here in Canberra and in the union movement before his life was cut short in 1985—but he was super smart, he was really liked and he could have come into this place, too, I believe.

We all grew up in the family home in Middle Park—one that you, Mr Speaker, have referred to coming around to at some ungodly hour; my mother still talks about it—

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