Former Labor leader Simon Crean has died, aged 74.
Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum for the man who served in a range of ministries under multiple prime ministers in the 90s before leading the opposition from the end of 2001 to the end of 2003.
Labor Treasurer Jim Chalmers described Crean as a “very good man — decent, generous and wonderful company”.
“A lifetime of dedication to our country and its working people won’t be forgotten,” he said.
Former Nationals leader Michael McCormack said he was saddened to hear of the former member for Hotham’s death.
“As a first-term opposition backbencher in 2010, the advice and assistance this Labor luminary gave me was quite extraordinary,” he said.
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“He offered help when our daughter moved to Melbourne. A wonderful human being, he was an MP who genuinely cared.”
Journalist Barrie Cassidy highlighted the time Crean stood up to former US president George W Bush regarding the Iraq war.
“Simon Crean told the parliament in the presence of Pres Bush that the true measure of friendship was to tell a friend when they were wrong. And they were wrong on the Iraq war,” Cassidy said.
“He was right. Yet he became the only Labor leader never to contest an election.”
