Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That the Senate expresses its sorrow at the death, on 20 November 2021, of the Honourable Donald James Grimes AO, former senator for Tasmania and Minister for Social Security and Minister for Community Services, places on record its gratitude for his service to the Parliament and the nation, and tenders its sympathy to his family in their bereavement.

Today we take the opportunity to reflect on the life and lasting contributions of former senator Dr Don Grimes. We remember Don Grimes as a man of great compassion and decency whose legacy endures through the social policy reforms that he advanced.

Born on 4 October 1937 in Albury, New South Wales, Donald James Grimes was son to Walter and Nancy Grimes. His father worked as a fitter and turner with New South Wales Railways, and his mother, Nancy, worked as a nurse. I'm not too sure how many of us in the chamber today would have been all that familiar with Hansard at an early age. Nevertheless, in reflecting today on Don's upbringing, it's interesting to note that, despite a lack of books in his home, one of the few publications in the Grimes household—how I'm not quite clear—was apparently Hansard, of which Don was an avid reader, the first instance of a political thread that was to continue to weave itself through Don's journey through and beyond his service in public office.

Through his schooling at Fort Street High School and thereafter, Don was remembered as an exceptional sportsman who excelled in athletics, Rugby Union, Aussie Rules football and water polo. After matriculating in 1954, Don studied medicine at the University of Sydney, completing his clinical training at the Royal North Shore Hospital. Of note is that one of Don's lecturers during his medical training at the University of Sydney was a future colleague of his from across the aisle, Senator Peter Baume.

Through his work in regional Tasmania, Don observed the debilitating effects of poverty, domestic violence and illegal abortions, which would influence his approach to social policy. His work took him and his young family to the UK in 1965. Here his political views were consolidated by the experiences he had, which included joining the British Labour Party. Upon his return home to Australia in 1966, Don Grimes's political interest was piqued further by the challenges posed in Australia at that time by the Vietnam War, and in 1968 he made the life-altering decision to join the Australian Labor Party. Six years later, Don's active involvement in the Tasmanian branch of the Labor Party culminated in his election to the Australian Senate in 1974, just ahead of the tumult that was to occur in the Senate one year later. In his maiden speech to the Senate, Donald Grimes outlined his noble vision of an Australian future where:

… people should have the freedom and the opportunity to realise their reasonable ambitions without being exploited by others or indeed without exploiting others.

Don Grimes quickly ascended to the position of leadership on the opposition frontbench in January 1976, having been elected by the federal Labor caucus to serve as the shadow minister for social security. Grimes fostered strong relationships and a broad dialogue with interest groups and stakeholders in his portfolio right across the nation. In this way, he helped to craft the Labor Party's social security election platforms and cemented himself as an increasingly influential figure within the then modern-day Labor Party. He indeed helped to transform Labor's platform and policies to return the party to being an electable alternative following the crushing defeats of the Whitlam government, and in the 1977 election.

Administratively, Don Grimes also stepped up to serve as president of the then troubled Tasmanian branch of the ALP; when his party called upon him, holding multiple leadership roles, he helped to lead Labor back to government. Following Labor's election victory in March 1983, Donald Grimes was appointed Minister for Social Security in the Hawke government. He was an active minister—indeed, an activist minister. Through his time as minister, perhaps no achievement stands out more than the enactment of the Disability Services Act of 1986. The act enjoyed bipartisan support, reflective of widespread consultation that Don Grimes had undertaken. It provided linking government funding to organisations for specified outcomes for clients, providing recognition and dignity to people with disabilities. As those of us serving in this place through recent years reflect upon modern day reforms such as the NDIS, the first steps for real support by a Commonwealth government in disability services were taken very much during that era and under the leadership of Don Grimes.

Don Grimes was a true Labor believer, a true believer in the philosophies that underpin the Labor movement. During his time in government, he pursued a better and more equitable Australia. He also was there for some great challenges. Former Labor health minister Neal Blewett, a cabinet colleague of Don's, considered Grimes very much the architect of Labor's social reform agenda, and together Neal Blewett and Don Grimes are remembered for the work that they undertook in combatting the terrifying AIDS epidemic in Australia in the 1980s. The public health response to the AIDS crisis has long been lauded as one of the most effective in Australia, and that undertaken by the likes of Neal Blewett and Don Grimes at that time in Australia was recognised as one of the most effective in the world.

His advocacy in this space continued long after his service in the Australian parliament. Don Grimes also controversially was the architect of the reinstatement of the assets test on the age pension in Australia. In doing so, he took a difficult policy platform. He argued the case for the age pension to be applied in a manner that was truly needs based and to be reflective of the need for sustainability in the provision of such social services spending.

Indeed, it was that pursuit of sustainability that was also reflected in some of his less-successful attempts at policy reform. Don Grimes argued strongly for tax reform in Australia and for the Labor Party to pursue an enhancement of tax revenue raising, particularly through the pursuit of indirect taxes—the type of tax reform that would take some decades until it was enacted with the GST at a later stage. But he did so, arguing quite transparently that if the left of the Labor Party—as he thought was appropriate—were to pursue a bigger welfare state and a greater role for government, then it needed to be appropriately and fairly funded and that such indirect tax measures were a way to do so. He was true to himself, applying principles based, again, on the need for sustainability in budget and in welfare spending. But, unfortunately, at that time, he was unsuccessful in persuading his party to hold the line.

Don Grimes would leave parliament in 1987, following a number of health complications. From 1987 to 1991, Grimes served as Australian Ambassador to the Netherlands, having built strong relations through international socialist movements, particularly across European nations. During his service in the Netherlands, he again took on roles combatting AIDS and, in particular, leading parts of the World Health Organization response.

I note in particular one of Don Grimes's comments, made to a journalist in 1988, reflecting his view of Australia from afar. And, indeed, it is also reflective of Don Grimes's commitment to innovative, ambitious policy reform. From that overseas perspective, he said, 'In Australia there is a healthy suspicion of the new, but, sometimes, a pathological suspicion. Politicians there, including me at times, have been reluctant to try new programs in case they don't work. Unless you accept that when you try new approaches some will fail, then you will never get anywhere. There's an unfortunate corollary that when people do try new programs which fail they are reluctant to admit they have failed.' It's an insight that's well worth all of us recalling, even some decades later. As we navigate the challenges of coronavirus, rapid technological change and globalisation, and the strategic challenges within our region, it's important to remember the need for policy innovation, the need for policy ambition, the need to be willing to fail and the need to acknowledge failure.

Don's insights remain as pertinent today as they were 30 years ago. In recognition of his services to the Australian parliament and to international relations, Don was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1992. Mr President, we can and should all draw strength and encouragement from Don's posture towards the challenges of his time. His pursuit of policy with principle and purpose earned him respect and praise across factional boundaries, across party boundaries and across politics generally. He wasn't always successful, but he made real, meaningful, lasting and beneficial reforms to our nation. I know firsthand, from speaking to those who knew Don Grimes, even some of those who worked for Don Grimes, that he was admired, respected and loved by many. On behalf of the Australian government and the Australian Senate, I extend our sincerest condolences to Don's family and our thanks for his service to the nation.