Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That the Senate records its deep regret at the death, on 8 February 2013, of John Joseph Morris, former senator for New South Wales, places on record its appreciation of his public service and tenders its profound sympathy to his family in their bereavement.

John Morris was born on 12 June 1936 at Young Wallsend, New South Wales and died on 8 February 2013. From a young age John was a passionate member of the Federated Liquor and Allied Industries Employees Union of Australia, New South Wales branch. He held the positions of organiser from 1966 to 1970, secretary from 1970 to 1981 and president from 1981. John was also the national President of the Federated Liquor and Allied Industries Employees Union of Australia in the 1970s and again in the 1980s. Among the other trade union positions he held during the period, John was a member of the interstate executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions; World President of the Hotel and Catering Group Board and President of the International Union of Food and Allied Workers Association, Asia-Pacific Region.

With this strong union background, John was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council in 1976 and served that parliament for eight years before resigning in 1984. In the same year he was elected as a senator for New South Wales. He began his term in mid-1985 and retired in June 1990. John was on a number of parliamentary committees and served as Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Animal Welfare and Chair of the Joint Statutory Committee on the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. John was also a temporary chairman of committees from 1987 until his retirement in June 1990. On behalf of the government I offer condolences to his wife, Margaret, and his family.