Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm very saddened by the passing of Shirley Shackleton in Melbourne on 15 January at the age of 91. She was a lifelong campaigner for Timor-Leste's freedom. Shirley Vern married Channel 7's Greg Shackleton, and Greg was one of the Balibo Five journalists murdered in 1975. Shirley fought for decades, including visiting the UK, to advocate for East Timor in the early 1990s. She also played an essential role in persuading former Victorian Premier Steve Bracks to turn the house in Balibo where the journalists had sought refuge into memorial.

Shirley is mourned by her son, Evan, family and friends from around the world. Bernard Collaery; Timor-Leste president, Jose Ramos Horta; and American public intellectual Noam Chomsky have all praised Shirley.

I'd also like to pay tribute to Jill Jolliffe, journalist and author of the book Balibo, who passed away on 2 December aged 77. Jill grew up in Geelong and was educated at Monash University before visiting Timor-Leste in 1975 as a student. She reported on Timor-Leste ever since. Jill is remembered as an intrepid war correspondent who risked her life to do her job. To Shirley and Jill: obrigada barak. May these strong women rest in peace.