Carina Garland (Chisholm, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It's always difficult to say goodbye to a friend and colleague. Linda and I came into this place at the same time. Linda had been in the party a longer time than me, but, when we came in together, it was wonderful to discover all the things we had in common, like our love for the arts. We were often at early-morning special events together for tours of the National Library here in Canberra, which Linda loved and played an active role in. We went to events at the National Archives to see exhibitions. We often spoke about all of the ways we could elevate the arts in this place. I spoke to Linda's office about establishing a parliamentary friends of opera group, which I know she was very eager to do. Unfortunately, of course, that won't happen under Linda's stewardship, but perhaps that's something to pursue in her honour. I know there were some beautiful pieces from her favourite operas played at her memorial. Those pieces will now take a special meaning for me, remembering they were played when we sat with friends to remember her.

One of the very last events I attended with Linda was a tour of the Victorian Trades Hall in Melbourne, which was a quick skip from Linda's office on Lygon Street and somewhere we both loved. There was the history. We were amongst friends. I was assistant secretary there for a number of years. In this job, it's often difficult to see the people from the lives that we may have lived before we became members of parliament or senators. It was a lovely occasion when we were brought together again with our friends, who I was reunited with again at Linda's memorial. We had the opportunity to take Minister Plibersek through this remarkable building—the oldest continuous trades and labour council in the world. I know that it was a great source of pride for Linda to be able to showcase the incredible history particularly of the Victorian union movement. She played such an important role in that movement, particularly around ensuring feminised workforces were able to get equal pay and enforce their rights.

Linda was formidable. You would always want Linda on your side in a fight. There was a particular moment last year when I remember just being absolutely blown away by her courage. We were sitting at Aussie's having a coffee, and an article had appeared in the newspaper that day that had incorrectly suggested that Senator Linda White was on the right of the Labor Party. She was very unhappy with this mischaracterisation! She saw the journalist at the table beside us at Aussies, and she just got up, marched over and introduced herself. 'Hello—' and I will leave the journalist's name off the record for now. 'Senator Linda White. Member of the left. Have been for decades.' There was a correction published later that day.

I thought Linda was amazing. The legacy that she has left for women in the labour movement, the Labor Party and the union movement is incredible. Before we both entered this place together, Linda was a senior figure that I admired so much in the movement. I encountered her at industrial law symposia and events, and at Labor Party and union movement events. She was such a key figure in the Victorian and national labour movement. It's really difficult to imagine our movement without her, but we're going to have to live that reality.

We have so many friends in common. I look to the people that she worked with at her beloved Australian Services Union. I know that they are grieving and will miss her so much. I know that that union is so close to one another, and they fight so hard, collectively, for their members to get a fair go. I know how much they're going to miss her. I want to state here, on the record, that, if there's anything I can ever do to support those dear friends, I stand ready to do so.

Listening to all the stories at Linda's memorial painted a picture of someone who lived a very full life—too short a life, yes, but a life that was absolutely lived courageously and with so many wonderful and surprising experiences. I wish I could have seen Linda again and asked her about her years as someone involved in the D-Generation, one of the most significant comedy outfits of the late 20th century. I would ask Linda about her catering business that she ran. How remarkable Linda was and what a full life she lived. I'm going to really miss her. I think we all will miss her here. I think we all know that her career in the Senate was too short. We can imagine what she would have done if she had had more time in service to our nation.

I send my thoughts and my love to her brother, Michael, and his wife, Julie; to her wonderful staff, who loved her so much and worked so hard; and to her friends and comrades in the union movement. Vale, Linda. We'll miss you so much.

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