Milton Dick (Oxley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

By celebrating her Platinum Jubilee, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has achieved what no other British monarch has in history. For 70 years she has presided over the Commonwealth. Across these decades, her enduring dedication and unwavering sense of purpose have inspired literally generations. Queen Elizabeth cemented her special place in the heart and history of Australia when she became the first reigning sovereign to visit our shores. When the 27-year-old sailed into Sydney Harbour on 3 February 1954, she all but stopped the nation. Her arrival attracted an estimated one million onlookers in a city with a population of just over two million. Those who couldn't be there in person listened to ABC radio's nationwide coverage of the historic occasion. The trip was an unrivalled cultural moment for Australia, and it cemented the Queen in the heart of our nation. And, while we celebrate her Platinum Jubilee milestone, it is not, as we've heard, without its own sadness.

Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth's partner in life and a constant source of support throughout these years of leadership, we know is, sadly, no longer by her side. Of course, Queen Elizabeth's rise to the throne all those years ago came in the wake of a profound personal tragedy. It's difficult to imagine the sheer emotion of this time for the Queen, to have these two hugely consequential life events linked to each other: one a beginning, the other an end. And, more than a year after this tragedy, on 2 June 1953 Princess Elizabeth was crowned Queen at Westminster Abbey. The delay was out of respect to the memory of her father, George VI, and allowed time for the preparation of the televised ceremony. The elaborate occasion was beamed to the homes of millions of people across the globe, bringing together both tradition and innovation. It is this mix of the ancient and the modern that has gone on to be a defining feature of her reign, a reign that has seen humanity grow and change and has seen our world become, in some ways, much smaller, as our ability to connect across the seas has soared to new heights.

What has not changed, however, is the Australian people's enduring respect and admiration for our Queen Elizabeth. On the Queen's visits to Brisbane, my grandmother, who was working at David Jones in Queen Street, in the women's fashion department, used to chuck a sickie so she could go and see the Queen. She took my mother and my aunts so that they would be first in line, to make sure that they got a glimpse of the Queen. When I was growing up, my grandmother always had cut-out photos of the Queen, and she also had calendars and fine china dedicated to all the anniversaries and major milestones in the Royal Family. I know that in my electorate of Oxley, when I visit constituents to mark a remarkable birthday, like a 100th birthday, they are absolutely brimming with pride at their very own letter from the Queen. It is usually the first thing that they show me. I'll turn up there as the local federal member with a certificate and letter, which are quickly pushed out of the way so that they can show me that the letter from the Queen is sitting there, normally in pride of place next to some flowers. But that is a generation that would remember the Queen's first visit in 1954, when three-quarters of the population lined the streets to see her in person. When I'm talking to older people in the community, many remember that moment and speak about it with such joy. For that generation, Queen Elizabeth is part of their personal history and our national identity.

On behalf of the people of Oxley, I extend my best wishes to the Queen on this incredible milestone. The Platinum Jubilee will be celebrated across the world in recognition of service to people. I thank you, Your Majesty, for the dedication you've displayed in the service to the Commonwealth and your deep and abiding commitment to Australia and her people.

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