Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing within days of each other of Mr Lester and Mr G Yunupingu. Both men have made such a great contribution to this country. I should say that Scott Ludlam would like to be here today to talk about and share his condolences for Mr Lester, because he worked with Mr Lester and other anti-nuclear campaigners to get justice and to campaign against the nuclear industry. I think it was very fitting, and I'm so pleased, that Mr Lester got to see the commitment to the expansion of the gold card to those affected by the nuclear tests, in the budget in May. I'm really pleased that he got to see that because he campaigned for such a long time for justice, for the people who are affected by the radiation from the British nuclear tests in Maralinga. At least he got to see that. It is a shame that Scott isn't here to also add to the condolences. Mr Dave Sweeney, who is a very well-known anti-nuclear campaigner and who worked with Mr Lester for a very long time, said of his passing:

We owe him a great debt because he faced adversity with understated courage, with humility, with humour, with great strength.

In a world without nuclear threats and risks Mr Lester would have been a great stockman. In a world with nuclear threats and risks he would crack his whip loud, hard, sharp and constant to sound a different alarm.

Mr Lester made it part of his life's work to fight for people affected by nuclear testing and to campaign for Indigenous land rights, and we've just heard today what a success he made of that and what a difference he made. Vale, Mr Lester, and our condolences go out to his family and friends.

Mr G Yunupingu—what a huge contribution he made to Australia and the world, sharing his music with the world. It was such beautiful music which made such strong statements, such heartfelt statements, and enabled people to understand his culture through his words and his music. His music is a lasting contribution to this country. I was at Garma just a couple of weeks ago, where his legacy was celebrated and his passing very strongly felt. You could feel it everywhere over the weekend at the time of Garma.

I just want to add, very briefly, to the comments that Senator Dodson just made around kidney disease and the need to address kidney disease in this country, given the impact it has had on these two great Aboriginal Australians. People are aware that this has been discussed extensively in this chamber, and we need to keep talking about it until it gets the attention that it needs and we stop the going backwards and forwards between the state and territories and the Commonwealth about who pays for what. It absolutely needs to be addressed. The causes need to be addressed, so that we don't get to the point where we need end-stage treatment such as dialysis. These two men's legacies will constantly remind us of that.

Vale, Dr G Yunupingu and, as I said, the Greens add their condolences to this motion. I should also say thank you to Minister Scullion and Senator Dodson who ensured that we do get to commemorate these two great men in this chamber.

Question agreed to, honourable senators standing in their places.