The former Labor leader and cabinet minister, Simon Crean, has died age 74.
Crean died suddenly on Sunday in Berlin after his morning exercise, his family said in a statement. He was in Germany as part of an industry delegation.
Crean led the Australian Labor party from November 2001 to December 2003, a difficult period for the party after its third federal election defeat to John Howard.
Crean spearheaded Labor’s opposition to the Iraq war, but was replaced as leader ahead of the 2004 federal election.
Crean served as a minister in Labor governments under prime ministers Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, including as trade minister from 2007 to 2010.
He was president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions from 1985 to 1990.
The Crean family said they were “devastated” by the news and said Simon was “a fierce advocate for working Australians and dedicated his life to making a difference”.
But “his greatest achievements were as father to Sarah and Emma and loving husband to Carole”, they said. Simon and Carole were married for over 50 years.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said he was deeply saddened and shocked by the news.
In a statement released on Sunday night, Albanese said Crean’s many achievements “were characterised by a focus on the national interest, engagement with stakeholders, and always acting with principle and determination”.
“The common threads running through his long career were his courage and his principled action, qualities that came so powerfully to the fore when he opposed the Iraq war,” he said.
“History has vindicated Simon’s judgment, but at the time his stance was deeply counter to the prevailing political and media climate. Simon retained his abiding sense of humanity, and he was respected by all who had the privilege of working or interacting with him.”
Albanese said as Labor leader he had benefitted from Crean’s advice and wisdom. “I will greatly miss engaging with him,” he said.
The current member for Hotham, Crean’s former seat, and home affairs minister Clare O’Neil said it was “unbelievably sad news”.
“Simon was a giant of the Labor Party and the labour movement,” she wrote on Twitter. “He was a Labor icon; integral to Australian politics and industrial relations for more than forty years. And he was my mentor, and friend.
“Simon’s length of service to our nation was extraordinary. He served eight terms as the Member for Hotham. He was the only person to be a part of cabinets during the Hawke, Keating, Rudd and Gillard Governments.
“Simon made Australia a better, fairer country. He was a reformer, a thinker, a doer, a negotiator; a politician who bought a good mind and a good heart to every task. He was egalitarian to his core – equally at home in the suburbs or a country, on the factory floor or the boardroom, at the footy or at the opera.
“And his service to my community, in South East Melbourne, is the stuff of legend. Simon served the people of Hotham for 23 years. My community, where he is still worshipped as a hero, owes him a great deal.
“Simon Crean supported Labor women, and he backed me every moment of my life in the Labor Party. I will miss him terribly. He was a devoted father, grandfather and husband. This is an incredibly sad day for Simon’s family and my thoughts are with them tonight.”
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, paid tribute to Crean on social media, giving his condolences and best wishes to Crean’s wife Carole and family and friends, saying it was a sad day and he was shocked and saddened to hear the news.
“Simon was a gentleman to deal with and a giant of the Labor movement,” Dutton wrote. “I always admired Simon for his intellect and decency.”
The ALP national president, Wayne Swan, said Crean was a great Australian and his passing a reminder of how fragile life can be.
Former prime minister Kevin Rudd remembered Crean’s kindness, his “generous and compassionate soul” and his tireless efforts as minister for trade.
Labor minister Tanya Plibersek said Crean was “a giant of the union movement and the Labor party. He was never afraid of fighting for what was right – like when he bravely opposed Australia’s involvement in the Iraq war.
“Smart, principled, courageous and kind. He will be missed.”
Crean’s former colleague, erstwhile defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon wrote on Twitter: “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.”
Former Labor MP Craig Emerson, who said they were “good friends through thick and thin”, paid tribute to Crean as a “loyal servant of the Labor party”.
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”.
ACTU president Michele O’Neil said Crean was a respected and loved leader of the union movement, a man of conviction, courage and principle who was a “fighter for fairness and justice”.
The current ACTU secretary Sally McManus simply said “rest in power”.
– with Australian Associated Press
