Former Labour leader Simon Crean will get a state funeral, according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The news was made by Mr. Albanese on Monday during a press conference in which he paid tribute to Mr. Crean, who passed away unexpectedly while travelling for business in Europe.
In Berlin, Germany, the 74-year-old died after his morning exercise, according to a family spokeswoman on Sunday.
More information will be made public in the upcoming weeks, although the prime minister has not yet disclosed the date or location of the state funeral.
“A state funeral will be held for Simon Crean. We’ll provide those details when it’s appropriate, but for now, we just want to offer our profound condolences,” he said.
Mr. Crean was “fit and enjoying life” when last seen, according to Mr. Albanese, who said this happened some weeks ago.
The loss of Simon Crean far too soon, he continued, “came as a great shock, and the entire labour movement is saddened.”
Simon and I last spoke a month ago. He was in good shape and had fun. And our movement has been shaken by this shocking news.
From 1990 until 2013, Mr. Crean served in the legislature for more than 20 years, representing Melbourne’s southeast’s Hotham electorate.
Mr. Crean served as the president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) before being elected to the House of Representatives.
During John Howard’s premiership, from November 2001 to December 2003, he served as Labour leader.
Along with serving as a minister under the Hawke, Keating, Rudd, and Gillard administrations, Mr. Crean had “an extraordinary career of achievement,” according to Mr. Albanese.
Mr. Crean’s passing is “a great loss for the labour movement, but a great loss for our nation as well,” the prime minister continued.
As the leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labour Party, Simon Crean “made a difference every single day” and “showed extraordinary courage to oppose the Iraq war,” Mr. Albanese added.
But by saying goodbye to a deployment from Sydney during that time, he made it obvious that he supported the men and women who serve us in uniform.
“He continued to serve Australia after his time in the parliament, most notably as the executive director of the European Australian Business Council.
“And he was there in Germany, continuing to work for our national interests, continuing to support Australian companies, continuing his commitment to the creation of good-paying jobs here in Australia.”
According to a family spokeswoman, the “greatest achievements” of the former opposition leader were being a husband to wife Carole and a father to their two daughters.
The Hon. Simon Crean passed away this morning in Berlin, Germany, the Crean family announced in a statement.
“Simon devoted his life to changing the world and was a tireless advocate for working Australians.
He served as the former president of the ACTU, a federal minister under the Hawke, Keating, Rudd, and Gillard administrations, and the Federal Labour Leader from 2001 to 2003.
Although his roles as a loving spouse to Carole and a parent to Sarah and Emma were his greatest accomplishments. They were wed for more than 50 years.
