Shorten, Bill, MP

Mr SHORTEN (Maribyrnong—Leader of the Opposition) (14:03): Since we first learned the sad news yesterday afternoon, I have had fond conversations with Con's family and former colleagues—people he mentored and fought alongside. I will be always grateful for Con's friendship, for his humour and advice, and for his unflinching support—a gift which he extended to all his friends. Sometimes, when people are very ill, we do not get a chance to say that final goodbye. I was fortunate that I was able to do so a couple of weeks ago. But, even then, the fighter was still fighting. He grabbed me by the arm and he asked, 'Billy, are the caucus in line? Are they behaving?' I confess, I made a favourable comparison to the other team. But Con was more than just a wonderful friend, a family man and a mentor. He was a patriot, a first-class mentor, and a fearless warrior for the Labor cause. Yesterday, Bill Ludwig told me the story of when Con offered himself forward to Paul Keating as Minister for Veterans' Affairs, with that special responsibility for commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Second World War. There was, as this House would appreciate, lots of to-ings and fro-ings and scientific analysis as to the merits of various candidates for ministerial office. Bill chuckled as he told me that Con explained that his case was beyond doubt because of his Italian heritage, which uniquely qualified him for the role. 'After all,' he said, 'his people had been on both sides of the war.' Whatever the logic of ministerial appointment, Con's work on the Australia Remembers campaign, I think, is a gold standard in how we commemorate the courage and sacrifice of all those who served our country. When he returned to the parliament in 1998 as shadow minister for multicultural affairs under Kim Beazley, Con relished the opportunity to celebrate his own heritage and Australia's great multicultural character. As a successful man from humble beginnings, he shared a deep affinity with those who came to this country seeking a better life for their families. However high he was raised by political, legal and commercial success, he was always the son of Salvatore: always the son of a father who left Sicily to cut cane in Queensland so his kids would have a better life. During those last few difficult years, and particularly the last six months—but, indeed, further back than that—Con had wonderful support from so many people: his beloved Karen, his daughter Zina, his sister Serena, his brothers Joe and Philip, stepsons Nick and Dan, and his many cousins—particularly Connie, who kept him well fed with the very best and authentic Sicilian home cooking. Most importantly, at the end, he wanted to live for his darling granddaughter, Grace. Con adored Graziella. She always brought a smile to his face, no matter how bad the pain that he was in. As he fought on, Con's home was always full of visitors. His phone was always ringing with warm wishes and love from his friends. So many proud Labor people who relied on Con's wisdom, who enjoyed his friendship and who had achieved their success in part on what he had taught them called or came to visit: Kim Beazley, Annastacia Palaszczuk, Wayne Swan, Milton and Cameron Dick, Greg Rudd, Jim Chalmers and too many more of my federal and state colleagues to name. But the goodwill did not just come from our side of politics—I guess it is the mark of the man. I know that the member for Warringah, the Minister for Health, the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Brendan Nelson, Santo Santoro, Larry Anthony and many more rallied around Con when times were tough. On behalf of his family and our Labor family, I thank them for that. The greatest sadness in Con's life came from that unimaginable experience: the death of his son Sam from Ewing's sarcoma in 1992. I hope that they are reunited now. Con, you gave us 'Australia Remembers'. Today we say: we will remember you.