Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to pay tribute to a giant of the trade union movement, a man some may say is a myth but most would agree is an absolute legend. If there's one thing that Johnny Lee loved more than the Labor Party, it was his beloved Maritime Union of Australia. I met John approximately 14 years ago down at Browse Basin on a leadership training course. Over a week of training, I formed a very close bond with him. He left a lasting impression on me but also on a lot of the other participants in that course. That was how John was. He left a lasting impression on everyone he was around, whether that was fellow seafarers in the Maritime Union or people he met through his day-to-day interactions. I know there is a person in the other place, Senator Nita Green, who he worked with closely on her election campaign recently, and they formed a very close bond. That's what John did.

To John's daughter, Cindy, and to the family, I send my deepest condolences. To my fellow shipmate Dave Lyon and all the MUA family in Cairns, my thoughts are with you and the rest of the MUA membership. To Johnny, fair winds and a following sea, comrade. Vale, John Lee.