Peter Garrett (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On indulgence: it is my sad task to inform the House of the passing away of the American born but very popular Australian entertainer Don Lane, who has died from a dementia related illness aged 75. Many of us in this House and many listening will know Don Lane for his work on the Don Lane Show. It debuted on the Nine Network in 1975 and ran for almost a decade. Over what was a very extensive career, he won some 15 Logie awards, and in 2003 he was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame. Lane was diagnosed with dementia in 2005. I think that he has been living in a care facility since reports surfaced that he was suffering from dementia.

Interestingly, Don Lane began his working life as a nightclub performer and singer. He briefly appeared on one episode of the Ed Sullivan Show in the late 1950s as one half of a double act. In Australia in the sixties he was involved in a number of different television programs, but it was the Don Lane Show on the Nine Network that made him a household name around Australia. On behalf of the government, I pass on to his family, friends and colleagues our sympathies for this tragic loss.

Steven Ciobo (Moncrieff, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors, Tourism and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On indulgence, on behalf of the coalition, we would like to associate ourselves with the remarks of the minister on the passing of Don Lane. He is certainly, although not a native-born Australian, someone who made a very marked impact on Australian cultural life. Many millions of Australians would recognise the amazing contribution he made. Having been born in New York City to a Catholic mother and a Jewish father, he certainly grew up with a lifestyle and in a family that was, although not unique, perhaps interesting coming into Australia.

His early work as a nightclub performer and a singer, doing a mix of comedy and singing, certainly boded well for his subsequent years on the Don Lane Show. Of course, he worked very closely with a number of famous Australians, including Bert Newton. The various national Logie awards that he received—including the Gold Logie; Most Popular Male Personality; Most Popular Male, in Victoria; and Most Popular Show—were all a testament to his fine contribution to Australian culture. He will certainly be missed.