Labor luminary and former Labor leader, Simon Crean, has died at the age of 74. According to Neos Kosmos sources, his untimely death was due to a hiking accident while visiting Germany, but we have no confirmation of that yet.
Crean was born in Melbourne and was the son of Frank Crean, the Deputy Prime Minister under Gough Whitlam. By 1979, the former law and economics graduate from Monash University became the General Secretary of the Storemen and Packers’ Union. In 1981, he was elected Vice-President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), and by 1985, he became its president.
As ACTU leader, Crean played a vital role in Australia’s economic and industrial relations transformation during the Bob Hawke Labor period. After leaving the unions, he was elected as a member of parliament in 1990, representing the Victorian seat of Hotham.
Crean served as a minister in Labor governments under prime ministers Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, Kevin Rudd, and Julia Gillard. He held various portfolios, including trade and industry, regional affairs, and arts. Crean also served as the leader of the ALP in opposition from 2001 to 2003, where he strongly opposed Australia’s entry into the Iraq War.
Tributes poured in across social media from Labor, the Coalition, media, friends, and unionists. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote on Twitter, “Vale Simon Crean. A great servant of the labour movement and a wonderful human being. Our condolences to Carole and all his family.”
Former Labor leader Bill Shorten wrote on Twitter, “Vale Simon Crean. Simon was a great in the generation of Hawke, Keating, and Kelty.”
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, paid tribute to Crean on social media, expressing his condolences and best wishes to Crean’s wife Carole, family, and friends.
He said, “It was a sad day, and I was shocked and saddened to hear the news. Simon was a gentleman to deal with and a giant of the Labor movement. I always admired Simon for his intellect and decency.”
Crean retired from the Labor party in 2013 after more than two decades on the front bench. He was known for championing the rights of migrants and refugees and was equally invested in local constituents’ issues and national concerns.
Former defense minister Joel Fitzgibbon expressed his shock on Twitter, saying, “I’m shocked by the news of Simon Crean’s death. Far too young. A good and talented guy, history will treat him kindly. Thinking of Carole and the family.”
Current Labor MP Rob Mitchell said Crean “was a wonderful minister and colleague who always made time to talk with you. Rest in peace and thank you”.The current ACTU secretary Sally McManus simply said “rest in power”.Clare O’Neil, the current member for Hotham and the home affairs minister, said it was “unbelievably sad news.”
Former Labor strategist Kosmos Samaras wrote on Twitter, “Crean was part of a generation that thought deeply about government and how to better the world you lived in.”
Simon Crean was a close friend of the Greek community, as he was with all migrants.
Vale – Simon Crean.
