Simon Crean saw Labor’s best and worst

Simon Crean

The high esteem in which Simon Crean was held by all sides of politics is testament to the human qualities he brought to the combative and sometimes difficult world of politics. Reflecting on Mr Crean’s death, Anthony Albanese said the former Labor opposition leader and trade union leader had enjoyed respect across the political spectrum. Peter Dutton said Mr Crean was “a gentleman to deal with and a giant of the Labor movement”. Mr Crean’s legacy transcends his difficult period at the ALP helm. His failure to become prime minister underscores how timing can play the determining role in attaining high office rather than any obvious failings on his part. Like Kim Beazley before him, Mr Crean led his party at a time when the Coalition under John Howard was simply beyond reach.

Through the lens of history the ALP may well surmise that it erred in allowing Mr Crean to vacate the opposition leadership in the face of poor polls to become the first leader of the party not to face a federal election. With his departure the ALP, rather than return to Mr Crean’s affable predecessor, followed a disastrous path of seeking generational change, perhaps too soon, selecting Mark Latham, who imploded during the 2004 federal election campaign. An experienced hand, Mr Crean served as a minister in four Labor governments led by Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, before a stint in opposition, and then Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard. Before entering parliament as MP for the Melbourne seat of Hotham, Mr Crean was ACTU president, where he played a key role in implementing the Accord during the Hawke government. As such, Mr Crean was an influential figure when Labor federally was at the height of its powers. The economic decisions taken at that time, in co-operation with the trade union movement, helped cement a decades-long period of national prosperity.

That Mr Crean was a man of conviction was shown in his decision to speak forcefully against Australia’s involvement in the second Gulf War, arguing it was reckless and unnecessary. His good grace was evident in the fact he accompanied Mr Howard to farewell Australian troops when it was decided we would join the coalition of the willing.

After losing the party leadership, Mr Crean distinguished himself as trade minister before being consumed politically by the rivalries and disappointments of the Rudd and Gillard years. After politics he continued to represent the nation, serving as chairman of the European Australian Business Council and the Australia-Korea Business Council at the time of his death. Mr Crean left his mark and will be sorely missed.