Bill Hayden tells Milton to ‘always look after battlers’

Ipswich legend and former Oxley MP speaks up on behalf of the battlers as Labor surges in Oxley

WISDOM: Dallas and Bill Hayden joined Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at the ALP Oxley candidate Milton Dick's campaign launch. Picture: Contributed

WE all have heroes.

But not every day do we get them to endorse us in our endeavours and pass on key advice.

In the case of ALP candidate for Oxley Milton Dick he had one of his own heroes launch his election campaign at the Blue Fin Fishing Club in Inala on Saturday.

Bill Hayden - former Oxley MP, Federal Labor leader and Governor-General – has been a family friend of Mr Dick’s for many years.

Mr Hayden and his wife Dallas joined with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at Mr Dick’s launch.

But it was the advice Mr Hayden imparted that has inspired him.

“It was an honour to have Bill and Dallas Hayden there when it was over 30 years since they had attended a campaign launch,” Mr Dick said.

“Bill offered words of strong advice and sharp intellect as we head towards the last two weeks of the campaign.

“He told the crowd, and me privately, to ‘always look after the battlers’. He said if you make sure the battlers come first, you can do a lot more for the community.

“By lifting people up and giving them a helping hand, you’ll then be able to achieve wider reform and change for the whole community.

“That determination of Bill’s to always look after the underdog has really inspired me and really fired up a room full of 300 people to fight as hard as we can for the next two weeks.”

Mr Dick is campaigning strongly on the need to retain Medicare and all the benefits that go with it, so it was fitting that Mr Hayden was there to be a part of the launch in more ways than one.

“He was the father of Medicare when he was Social Security Minister in 1973 and the member for Oxley,” Mr Dick said.

“Against fierce resistance from his opponents, he introduced Medibank…later Medicare. It is now an institution 40 years later.

“He initiated, passed the legislation and developed the scheme that is now Medicare. He was very clear that while he had a hand in forming Medicare, he wants to see me elected so I can save Medicare.

“That is the key takeout from his wise words, because the people of Oxley and elsewhere really rely on that as a key government service.”

Mr Dick has known Mr and Mrs Hayden for many years.

“I have always been inspired by his work in the Whitlam years, later as Foreign Affairs Minister and then as head of state for our country as Governor-General.

“Dallas was a very gracious First Lady and they have both been very generous with me in their time and support. I drew a lot of encouragement from two idols that I look up to.”

Mr Hayden represented Inala when he was Oxley MP so many old diehards came out to see him at the launch.

“They campaigned for him, and now they have very kindly agreed to campaign for me,” Mr Dick said.