Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to pay tribute to Sir David Amess, whose death has come as a profound shock. The cruelty of Sir David's murder was counter to everything that he was. Tributes speak of his gentleness, his kindness, his humour, his generosity, his faith and his unwavering spirit of public service. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who entered parliament the same year as Sir David, said of him: Though on opposite political sides I always found him a courteous, decent and thoroughly likeable colleague who was respected across the House.

That is the mark of a politician for whom humanity comes first.

The shock is also that it happened at all. The United Kingdom has carefully and painstakingly built and nurtured a system that places in the hands of every adult citizen something far more powerful than any weapon: the ballot. To take up arms against elected representatives is an act of cowardice, one that is designed to make people lose their courage. The murder of Sir David as he met with his constituents was a betrayal of everything our shared democracies stand for: transparency, accountability and approachability. In both our nations, with our deeply entwined political heritage, our elected representatives are not separated from their constituents by walls of security. People are able to approach the politician who acts as their voice in parliament and make their own voices heard. It is about conversation. It's about understanding. It is about the absence of a divide between the representative and the represented. That is something that we have taken for granted in both our nations, but it is precious and it is rare, and it is not invincible. Once it is lost, it can be lost for good.

Sir David embodied these values—values that transcend the political divide. His death comes five years after Labor MP Jo Cox, who I knew, was murdered on her way to meet with her own constituents. Her young family was robbed of a loving wife and mother, and her community of a talented, much loved representative. Somehow her husband, Brendan, was able to gather himself in his time of grief to make a statement of extraordinary grace. In it he said that what Jo would have wanted would have been, to quote:

… that we all unite to fight against the hatred that killed her. Hate doesn't have a creed, race or religion. It is poisonous.

Just as remarkably, Sir David's family have also risen above the awfulness of what has happened to send a message of great humanity. In it they said:

He was a patriot and a man of peace, so we ask people to set aside their differences and show kindness and love to all. This is the only way forward. Set aside hatred and work towards togetherness. Whatever one's race, religious or political beliefs, be tolerant and try to understand.

A remarkable statement. That is the spirit that should drive us all because it is so much greater than that which seeks to divide us, which seeks to cower us, which seeks to erode the courage that is at the heart of every great democracy.

We feel the pain of the British people. This has been a blow against one of the great foundations of their modern nation. Both our countries rely on good people putting up their hands to represent their communities, whether it's in parliament or on the local council. The courage that is now required is very much on display. In the wake of Sir David's death, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, went ahead with his own regular meeting with constituents. He stressed that it was essential that MPs maintain their relationship with those they represent. In his words, 'We have got to make sure that democracy survives this.' Sir David died as he lived, serving his constituents. It should never have come to this. Our thoughts are with the British people.

On behalf of the Australian Labor Party I express my condolences to Sir David's colleagues in the Conservative Party and his colleagues right across the UK Parliament, but especially our condolences go to Sir David's family. Despite your loss, you have sought to lift everyone higher. With one gesture you have reminded us all that even in the face of the inhumane, a better force can triumph. There could not have been a more fitting tribute to Sir David. May he rest in peace.

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