Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

Australia is a better place as a result of the life of the Hon. Tom Uren AC. There have been many tributes paid to Tom. He has been described as a 'true believer' and 'a proud man of the left'. Tom has been a constant in Labor politics for longer than I can remember. Tom was still attending Labor Party conferences when he was in his late 80s. He was a figure who you could see and everyone knew him in the Sydney Town Hall during Labor conferences. Everyone knew Tom: his bush hat, his massive frame and his commitment to progressive politics, which made him such a significant physical and intellectual presence.

The breadth of Tom's contribution to Australia was demonstrated by the attendance of three former Prime Ministers, the Governor-General and the Governor of New South Wales at his funeral. I want to particularly acknowledge the presence at the service of former Prime Minister John Howard, along with the former Liberal minister Sir John Carrick, a fellow prisoner of war with Tom on the notorious Thai-Burma Railway. This demonstrates that Tom Uren commanded respect despite his tough and unequivocal views on many issues.

Tom's son, Michael, said his father carried into later life the lessons he learned in prisoner of war camps:

… the strong should look after the weak, the young look after the not-so-young, the fit look after the sick.

Michael said Tom spent his life in the service of the working people. He remembered his father as:

… one of the most determined, arrogant, egotistical, opinionated, loving, humble and genuine men I have ever met.

Tom was also tough. He took on Frank Packer and Fairfax in a defamation case. It was a big call to take on Fairfax and the Packer organisation at the height of their powers. Tom won those defamation cases and he called his first house that was built after that—the 'Fairfax Retreat'—and his second house was called the 'Packer Lodge'. I think that was quite appropriate.

Tom championed many issues: peace and the anti-war movement, antinuclear engagement, opposition to the Vietnam War, support for East Timorese independence and environmental issues. The establishment of public parks in Western Sydney was a key issue that Tom Uren pushed. One we can all be thankful for if we live in Western Sydney is the connection of sewage. The connection of sewage in Western Sydney was due to Tom Uren. He increased public housing. The decentralisation and the development of Albury-Wodonga was Tom Uren's doing. Tom was a key player in the Whitlam and Hawke governments. Tom continued his political activism following his career as a politician: he campaigned for improvements to the Sydney Harbour foreshore and he succeeded in achieving compensation for the surviving prisoners of war, an achievement that he was extremely proud of.

The complexity of Tom's character and politics was epitomised by the fact that, as a former boxer and soldier, he became a pacifist. As a former practising Christian, he became an atheist. In recognition of the bravery and sacrifice of the armed forces, Tom had the Last Post played at his funeral—this is a pacifist. In recognition of the commitment and work that Tom has done, Sister Josephine Mitchell, a catholic nun, said that:

Tom Uren may not have believed in God, but God sure believed in him.

In recognition of the struggles of the trade union movement, Tom had the Sydney Trade Union Choir sing The Ballad of 1891. I am sure I saw former Prime Minister John Howard clap along!

Tom was held in high regard and rightfully so: a man of principle and a man of courage. Vale Tom Uren, it was an honour to work with you and to know you. My condolences go to Tom's family and friends and to Albo and Tanya, who were so close to this great politician, this great Australian.