Tuesday, 13 September 2022

The SPEAKER (Ms JM Edwards) took the chair at 12.03 pm and read the prayer.

Announcements

Acknowledgement of country

The SPEAKER (12:04): We acknowledge the traditional Aboriginal owners of the land on which we are meeting. We pay our respects to them, their culture, their elders past, present and future, and elders from other communities who may be here today.

Death of Queen Elizabeth II and accession of King Charles III

The SPEAKER (12:04): The Governor has issued the following message:

The Governor informs the Legislative Assembly that she has learned with the deepest regret that our late most Gracious Sovereign Her Majesty Elizabeth passed away at Balmoral Castle, United Kingdom on the 8th day of September, 2022.

The Governor further informs the Legislative Assembly that on the 11th day of September, 2022, His Majesty King Charles the Third was duly and lawfully proclaimed King of Australia and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.

The Governor therefore desires that pursuant to section 23 of the Constitution Act 1975, honourable members will, before they proceed to sit and vote in the Assembly, severally take and subscribe the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance set forth in the Second Schedule to the said Act to His Majesty King Charles the Third, before a Commissioner duly authorised by the Governor to attend in the Legislative Assembly this day to administer the same.

I will now leave the chair for the Commissioner from the Governor. I invite all members to stand while the Commissioner arrives.

The Speaker left the chair.

Death of Queen Elizabeth II and accession of King Charles III

Oath or affirmation of allegiance to King Charles III

The Commissioner, the Honourable Justice Phillip Priest, Judge of the Court of Appeal , entered chamber and was conducted to chair by the Serjeant-of-Arms.

The Commissioner: Members of the Legislative Assembly, I have received from Her Excellency the Governor a commission to administer the oath or affirmation of allegiance to members of the Legislative Assembly. I will ask the Clerk to read the commission.

The Clerk: The commission is as follows:

Acting under section 23 of the Constitution Act 1975 I authorise you, in the Parliament Houses, Melbourne, to administer the prescribed Oath or Affirmation of allegiance to any Member of the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council on the 13th day of September 2022.

GIVEN under my hand and the Seal of Victoria on this 12th day of September 2022.

It is signed by the Governor and the Premier.

The following members then took the oath or affirmation of allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III:

Electorate Member

Albert Park Martin Foley

Altona Jill Hennessy

Bass Jordan Crugnale

Bayswater Jackson Taylor

Bellarine Lisa Neville

Benambra Bill Tilley

Bendigo East Jacinta Allan

Bendigo West Maree Edwards

Bentleigh Nick Staikos

Box Hill Paul Hamer

Brighton James Newbury

Broadmeadows Frank McGuire

Brunswick Tim Read

Bulleen Matthew Guy

Bundoora Colin Brooks

Buninyong Michaela Settle

Burwood Will Fowles

Carrum Sonya Kilkenny

Caulfield David Southwick

Clarinda Meng Heang Tak

Cranbourne Pauline Richards

Croydon David Hodgett

Dandenong Gabrielle Williams

Eildon Cindy McLeish

Eltham Vicki Ward

Essendon Danny Pearson

Euroa Steph Ryan

Evelyn Bridget Vallence

Ferntree Gully Nick Wakeling

Footscray Katie Hall

Forest Hill Neil Angus

Frankston Paul Edbrooke

Geelong Christine Couzens

Gembrook Brad Battin

Gippsland East Tim Bull

Gippsland South Danny O’Brien

Hawthorn John Ormond Kennedy

Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines

Kew Tim Smith

Keysborough Martin Pakula

Kororoit Marlene Kairouz

Lara John Eren

Lowan Emma Kealy

Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas

Malvern Michael O’Brien

Melbourne Ellen Sandell

Melton Stephen John McGhie

Mildura Ali Cupper

Mill Park Lily D’Ambrosio

Monbulk James Merlino

Mordialloc Tim Richardson

Mornington David Morris

Morwell Russell Northe

Mount Waverley Matt Fregon

Mulgrave Daniel Andrews

Murray Plains Peter Walsh

Narracan Gary Blackwood

Narre Warren North Luke Donnellan

Narre Warren South Gary Maas

Nepean Chris Brayne

Niddrie Ben Carroll

Northcote Kat Theophanous

Oakleigh Steve Dimopoulos

Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy

Pascoe Vale Lizzie Blandthorn

Polwarth Richard Riordan

Prahran Sam Hibbins

Preston Robin Scott

Richmond Richard Wynne

Ripon Louise Staley

Rowville Kim Wells

Sandringham Brad Rowswell

Shepparton Suzanna Sheed

South Barwon Darren Cheeseman

South-West Coast Roma Britnell

St Albans Natalie Suleyman

Sunbury Josh Bull

Sydenham Natalie Hutchins

Tarneit Sarah Connolly

Thomastown Bronwyn Halfpenny

Warrandyte Ryan Smith

Wendouree Juliana Addison

Werribee Tim Pallas

Williamstown Melissa Horne

Yan Yean Danielle Green

Yuroke Ros Spence

The Commissioner withdrew and the Speaker again took the chair.

Commission to administer oath or affirmation to members

The SPEAKER (12:32): I have received a commission from the Governor to administer the oath or affirmation to members, given on 12 September 2022.

Address to His Majesty the King

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (12:32): I move that the following address to His Majesty King Charles III be agreed to by this house:

We, the Legislative Assembly of Victoria, in Parliament assembled, express our deep sympathy with Your Majesty and members of the Royal Family in your sorrow at the death of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We acknowledge and pay tribute to Her Majesty’s lifetime of dedicated service and honour the commitment she made to the people of the Commonwealth.

We also extend our sincere congratulations to Your Majesty on your accession to the Throne and express our wishes that your reign is a long and happy one.

In my lifetime and across the lives of so many of us Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the only monarch that we have ever known, and like no monarch before her she captured our hearts and our affection in the most compelling of ways. We treasured her, and the entire world respected her. We grew up with her, and she watched as the world grew and changed around her. A constant though she was, we also watched her change as she passed through the decades: at first a crackling sound on the wireless, then frozen in time on our stamps and coins, then awash with colour and brilliance in the gilded age of glossy magazines and TV broadcasts, and then at last those wickedly funny glimpses of her humour and humanity in viral videos, concert cameos and vox pop stories.

She watched us change too. The Victoria of 2022 is vastly larger, greater and richer, more daring and more diverse than the Victoria she first visited, as is our democracy. When she opened the Victorian Parliament in 1954, with both houses crammed into one chamber, she would not have seen a single female sitting member. If she could only preside over such a sitting today, she would see 52. Her presence spanned countries, cultures, language and continents, and her reign transcended generations. Hers was 70 years of dignified, dedicated service—not a role she chose but a duty she was called to. It was a duty she took incredibly seriously and one she acquitted without peer. When we reflect on those remarks Her Majesty made on her 21st birthday, when she pledged that her whole life, be it long or short, would be devoted to our service, it is quite amazing to acknowledge that that is precisely how she ruled and how she lived for seven decades: seven decades of service with her distinctive sense of grace, her profound sense of humility and a real determination to play her role with compassion.

Queen Elizabeth II visited Victoria 11 times. During those visits we saw that grace, humility and compassion firsthand, time after time. Two of those visits hold particular significance for the Royal Children’s Hospital, with the Queen named patron of the hospital and opening the original Parkville building in 1963. Some 50 years later I had the opportunity to be in her presence when she returned to open the new Royal Children’s, built just next door. I can well recall how Cath and I were struck by her relentless work ethic on that tour in 2011. Even then, with many decades of service behind her and almost half a century between Royal Children’s Hospital visits, the Queen showed such unyielding enthusiasm for her role. Cath and I were also struck by the very nurturing way she engaged with everybody she met. She had a gruelling schedule that day, as I am sure she did most days, but she remained genuinely thrilled to be part of the opening of the children’s hospital because for her, duty and service were more than just concepts, they were the pillars on which she lived her life.

As she did in 1963, the Queen took the time to befriend some of our state’s youngest patients and some of the hospital’s most precious charges: then two-year-old Scarlett McGowan, the first child in Australia to receive an ABO-incompatible heart transplant; 19-year-old Leanna Babet, who had been a patient at the Royal Children’s Hospital her entire life, receiving treatment for cystic fibrosis, and was also the person who turned the first sod at the site of the new Royal Children’s Hospital; three-year-old Isaac Jones, who underwent world-leading craniofacial surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital in 2009; and Emily Blake, who was just nine when she suffered horrific injuries after her school bus collided with a truck, a story that touched countless Victorians. The Royal Children’s Hospital showcased the very best of care that day, and so did the Queen. Her commitment to her role, to her task and to all those who looked to her for a hand of friendship and some inspiration was a truly impressive sight.

Matching the affection shown to her by Victorians right across our state, the Queen’s visits were more than a whistlestop tour of the city centre. She wanted to meet people where they lived, and she did. She met regional Victorians on Sturt Street in Ballarat and at the showgrounds in Shepparton. She greeted men and women near the old coalmine at Yallourn. She was cheered on by thousands of kids at the old Upper Reserve in Bendigo, and she was welcomed by scores of families at the South Geelong railway station. She travelled across the state visiting, among other places, Tatura, Echuca, Rochester, Castlemaine, Maryborough, Sale, Traralgon and Warragul, touching so much of what makes Victoria special. But she did not just seek us out; we sought her out too. During each of her trips to our great state millions of Victorians travelled far and wide to catch a glimpse of the Queen. Many lined up for hours with gifts, letters and flags, all waiting for their chance to see her trademark colourful hat and white gloves, complete with a warm smile and a friendly wave. I know Victorians will take great pride in honouring her mission in 2026 when we bring the Commonwealth Games to regional Victoria, to a community of diverse places who embraced our Queen and even educated the new King.

Between visits we know the Queen’s deep regard for Victorians never wavered. Through many of our darkest hours and most tragic catastrophes her steady hand and unwavering strength stood as a symbol of hope and assurance when it was needed most. I remain heartened by the words of former Premier John Brumby, who recalled her concern for the victims of the Black Saturday bushfires and her special interest in their stories of recovery and rebuilding. To quote former Premier Brumby:

She showed great care and concern and affection for the people of our city and our state …

But most significant was the ongoing interest and concern she had for the welfare and the recovery of those communities affected by the fires.

From afar she showed that Victorians remained in her heart and her thoughts. She sought regular briefings on the recovery process and made a rare private donation to support bushfire victims. While her historic reign and long life have come to an end, it is gestures like these that will see Victorians’ deep affection and respect for the Queen live on.

On behalf of the government and the people of Victoria, I extend our warm and sincere congratulations to His Majesty King Charles III on his accession to the throne. We wish His Majesty a long and happy reign, one we hope will give him the opportunity to return to Victoria in the near future. We also send our deepest condolences and our sympathies to His Majesty and to all members of the royal family. We hope that the very genuine outpouring of grief and emotion we have seen across the world in recent days provides some small comfort to the Queen’s family as they deal with the most personal of losses. Indeed we send our love and support to all who are saddened by the loss of such a significant figure in all of our lifetimes.

As we mourn the end of her life with profound sadness, we also celebrate that life and look to what she taught us, the great example that she set, the great work that she did and the fact that despite not choosing her role, she made it her own. Through it all she taught us how to go about our business with unruffled dignity. She told us that even a queen can have a bad year or a horrible one, and then she showed us how to stay the course, how to keep calm and carry on as a figure of strength, as a figure of duty, as a figure of service. Vale, Queen Elizabeth II.

Mr GUY (Bulleen—Leader of the Opposition) (12:42): In beginning my remarks can I offer my and the opposition’s sincerest and deepest sympathies to King Charles III and his family on the passing of their mother, their grandmother and their great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

The monarchy of the United Kingdom is certainly one of history’s most enduring institutions. Tracing its history back as far as the petty kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England and early medieval Scotland, it is an institution that can draw on centuries of history, in fact over 1000 years, back to the house of Wessex. In all those times, among all those monarchs, from figures well known—King Alfred, Henry VIII and so on—the longest reigning of them all was Queen Elizabeth II. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days was the longest of any British monarch and the longest of any female head of state in history. It is hard to quantify in a historical sense because to many, many people Queen Elizabeth II was a constant, someone who endured and seemed to remain through good times, troubling times, happy times and the sad times as a figure in our lives that was hard to imagine not being there for people in Great Britain, the Commonwealth and indeed across the world. For Australians, in the life of this nation from 1901, 121 years since Federation, 70 of them have been with the same person as the head of state, Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen Elizabeth II succeeded to the throne when Winston Churchill was Prime Minister of Great Britain, when Robert Menzies was just a new second-time Prime Minister of Australia and when Dwight Eisenhower was just 18 months into his eight-year reign as President of the United States. The Second World War was just seven years concluded. Almost all of us in this chamber were not even born. The world at the time of the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II was a very, very different place—so was Great Britain, so was Australia—so I find it difficult to know where to reflect to honour and recognise a figure so well known, so admired and so profound as Queen Elizabeth II. She has touched in one way or another the lives of a vast portion of the population of the Commonwealth.

She was never born to be Queen. Her father was not the heir to the throne, her uncle was. Through circumstance in the 1930s this changed. Then Princess Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret, assumed a more public role, the human face of the 1930s and 40s monarchy, helping with the war effort in particular and working regular jobs in the British Armed Forces at a time when the country needed the whole population to contribute. It has always been rumoured that at the end of the war the two princesses joined the crowds in London to dance in the street just as faces in the crowd, jubilant at the conclusion of Britain’s darkest chapter. When her father died in 1952, the princess, married and a mother of two, was in Kenya. She returned home as monarch aged just 25.

Rather than attempt to catalogue the life of one of history’s most significant figures, I would instead like to, as I hope we all do, offer some thoughts on what I believe every Victorian thought of our head of state. I never met the Queen; most of us never did. I saw her a few times, in East Melbourne and at Government House, but I never had the chance to be part of one of the thousands of community groups that welcomed her or among the heart-wrenching scenes of hospitalised children here in Melbourne that she saw to offer love and support. Nor was I one of the many, many children who had the chance to give her flowers as she might have walked down Bourke Street and Swanston Street in the 1980s.

But what I and I think most Victorians have always observed is a person who knew and understood and respected the role that as a hereditary monarch she found herself in. Being in public life, as we all are in this chamber, is but a tiny fragment of an insight into the public pressure, the judgement and the expectation that a role like hers would have carried for her whole life, and not just her but her family, everyone around her and everybody she had a personal friendship with or relationship with. But to all of us it is clear that Queen Elizabeth II never flinched. She always seemed to hold herself with grace and with that very British stoicism, and we all thought she would endure seemingly forever.

Her passing is an immensely sad one. She was an extraordinary person with an extraordinary life, a life that was played out from the very start in public, but a person who became such a symbol of stability to many nations, including ours. And she was warmly loved by this nation too. Many communities have stories of the Queen visiting them—of painting their halls, tending gardens and making sure everything looked its best for the Queen when she came. Her presence gave her own communities, our own communities, a reason to be proud as well. I am sure there are many members from all sides who will rightly share some of those stories today.

She obviously cared for this nation and for our state as well. Queen Elizabeth II was not a stranger to us. Sixteen times she was in Australia, including 11 times in Victoria. I am sure we have all seen the pictures around this Parliament of over 300 people crammed into the Legislative Council to see the Queen in 1954. She reached out to Victoria after Ash Wednesday and Black Saturday and to our nation following the Newcastle earthquake and the Port Arthur massacre. In happier times Australians remember the Queen here at the opening of the Sydney Opera House, at the Brisbane and Melbourne Commonwealth Games and at memorable scenes such as the Tjapukai people’s ceremonial fire lighting near Cairns. And how could we forget her boarding a royal tram in 2011? It was the best a Z-class tram has ever looked.

We knew she loved horses and horse racing—and corgis. None of us can look at a corgi without thinking of the Queen. There is just so much we know about a person we have mostly never met. But despite all of this, she was a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother. She does leave a big family behind after her 96 years, and in remembering Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II we should not forget that she had a family, like all of us, who no doubt hurt and feel, like the rest of us, the loss of a family matriarch.

Without doubt Queen Elizabeth II is one of history’s most significant recent figures, such was the magnitude of her service and the longevity of it. And now, like the institution that is the monarchy of the United Kingdom, we welcome and we acknowledge King Charles III as our head of state. I hope and am sure he will also display an active interest in our state and in our nation, having spent some of his school years here in Victoria, in Geelong. No doubt he will. I am also sure that Victorians will, given the generous people that we are, open our halls, our schools, our towns and our lives to King Charles in the same way we did his mother.

Queen Elizabeth II, our head of state for 70 years, a symbol of stability for our nation and for the Commonwealth—we mourn her loss. We welcome our new king.

Ms ALLAN (Bendigo East—Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery) (12:49): I rise today to join the condolence for the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Since her passing on 8 September tributes have been spoken and written around the globe, all with an emphasis on Her Majesty’s life of service. That life of service, as we all know too well, started at a very young age. We have seen so many photographs, particularly over the last few days, of Queen Elizabeth during her reign on overseas visits, meeting with leaders from around the world and performing her official functions as head of state.

Particularly in the last few days with those photographs from Queen Elizabeth’s early years on the throne I was struck that in many of them the Queen was indeed the only woman in the room. When her reign began the only other female leader in the Commonwealth was Queen Salote of Tonga, and for many years Queen Elizabeth remained as the only woman, or one of only a very few women, in the room. But as our society has changed and progressed over the past 70 years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign so too has the representation of women as leaders of their jurisdictions, led in many ways by members and former members of her Commonwealth. Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the world’s first female Prime Minister when she rose to power in the then Dominion of Ceylon in 1960. The likes of Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher and Jenny Shipley followed. Our own first female Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, said of Her Majesty this week:

She was a remarkable role model; responsibility for service thrust onto her as a young woman, and taken up with grace, devotion and dignity during her reign.

All of these characteristics were firmly on display when Her Majesty made that famous first visit by a reigning monarch to Australia in 1954, less than a year after her becoming Queen. So vast was the visit in its length and breadth that it is estimated that 70 per cent of our population at the time came out to see her; such was the connection that she had forged already with Australians. That tour, as has been reported, included our own community of Bendigo. As reported by the Bendigo Advertiser and repeated yesterday by the Governor at the proclamation ceremony for King Charles III, the young Queen arrived in Bendigo by royal train. There is no truth to the rumour that that train is still in service, but she arrived on that royal train and was taken throughout Bendigo via a Land Rover observation car, where an estimated 100 000 people lined the streets of Bendigo. This was a moment in Bendigo’s history that was recorded by the Bendigo Advertiser as the ‘proudest, supremist moment this city has known’. By the time the Queen and her entourage reached the Upper Reserve—and of course the Upper Reserve following the visit was renamed the Queen Elizabeth Oval—there were 9000 children assembled to greet them with flag-waving and loud cheers, and the Queen was presented with two specimens of Bendigo gold.

My mum and dad, like so many schoolchildren around the country on that 1954 royal tour, were assembled with thousands of others at the Upper Reserve to see the new Queen. Mum was seven years old, Dad was 10 years old, both not knowing that one day they in turn would meet, marry and raise their own family. Mum recalls it being a very hot day. None of the students had a hat on and the Queen was wearing a light-coloured, perhaps white, gown. Dad’s memory was of students assembled in a way that the Queen’s black car could drive repeatedly around a circuit formed by the students while the students and children stood on side cheering the Queen, who was standing in the open car waving to the children assembled.

Almost 60 years later amongst many of us in the chamber today I was part of the group that visited Government House for a reception during Her Majesty’s 2011 visit, which included, as the Premier has mentioned, the opening of the new Royal Children’s Hospital and that famous ride on a Melbourne tram. Even for those of us who were perhaps more of a Republican flavour she was a disarming presence. Certainly over recent days so many people have been heard to recount, ‘She reminded me of my nan’, ‘She reminded me of family members’. She was entirely relatable, a woman who by all accounts treated people equally, from prime ministers to primary school children. With nary a cross word or public display of impatience, it was a life of duty and service. Perhaps as a consequence of her quiet stoicism and her own very Queen Elizabeth way of performing the role and despite her being born into royalty, we could feel that she was a bit like us, she was a bit like our nan. On behalf of my community and my family, my condolence goes to the British royal family on the loss of a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother and their Queen.

Mr WALSH (Murray Plains) (12:54): I rise to support the motion to His Majesty King Charles III to express sympathy at the death of the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I can still recall at Fernihurst Primary School the Monday morning assembly, the Australian flag being raised by whoever was on flag duty—the same routine, the same words every week. All the students were in line, saluting the flag, singing God Save the Queen and then giving the oath, ‘I love God and my country. I will faithfully serve the Queen and cheerfully obey my parents, teachers and the laws’—a maybe on the teachers! As best as I can recall the classes of those years, I am pretty sure that by the end of my primary school years, even well into my high school time, I had been taught more about British history than Australian. A history of connection with England and with the monarchy was reinforced at every turn.

One of my fellow students could rattle off every British king from Alfred on, but none of us could tell you who had been Prime Minister of Australia before Robert Menzies. Mind you, he held that position from 1949 to 1966, so that was all many people had known. On 5 March 1954 Echuca, the biggest town in my electorate of Murray Plains, was home to barely 5000 people. Moama, across the river, may have had close to 3000 people. Yet at 2.00 pm that day, when the royal train arrived carrying Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, on their whirlwind tour of the region, it was greeted by—and these are the official figures, not the enthusiastic counts of locals—by 25 000 cheering and adoring well-wishers, all bursting to see the first British monarch to visit Australia. That afternoon the royal train carried the royal couple through Mooroopna, Tatura, Echuca, Rochester, Bendigo, Castlemaine and Maryborough.

When the train pulled into the special rail platform built adjacent to the Echuca civic centre for the occasion the driver overshot the station and there was a delay while the train was backed up to where Her Majesty and His Royal Highness could alight from the carriage to be met by the then Victorian Premier, John Cain Sr. The royal couple had a short walk to the civic offices where, the Riverine Herald would report next day, they attended an address of welcome to the Borough of Echuca by the mayor, LJ Lord. One wonders how many of these scintillating speeches Her Majesty must have endured across her extraordinary reign.

To make the young couple feel at home the Royal Standard was flown above the civic centre and the Echuca Federal Band played the national anthem. The royals then travelled a set route around Echuca before departing at 2.20. Twenty minutes, minus the time lost for that platform mishap, and Her Majesty was ready to get back on the train and head for Rochester, on her way back to Melbourne. Twenty minutes was the culmination of months of planning, coordinating, rehearsing, cooking, refreshing, making sure the Sunday best was spotless and laid out for the occasion. That does not even consider how much time was taken agonising over selecting the right gloves, hat and handbag to complete an outfit that the Queen most certainly would never see, but that did not matter. It never entered anyone’s mind. Every one of those 25 000 people was there not to be seen. Even a fleeting glimpse of the top of the Queen’s chic little hat would leave a treasured memory, wrapped up and nurtured for years and decades ahead.

‘The reception and progress was a triumph of organisation and matters went like clockwork’, the Riverine would say at the time. However, in the final 5 minutes, which made the visit a memorable one for several thousand who clustered around the royal train, as the Queen ascended from the platform to enter the train hundreds of children broke from their reserves and dashed towards the platform, eluding a police barrier, the paper recorded. The Queen and Duke appeared to enjoy this greatly, for she favoured cheering children with a wealth of smiles as the train remained at the platform for several minutes. The Riverine also reported that not only had the royal train overshot the platform on arrival, delaying the royal couple alighting, but when they were ready to leave there was another problem with the train’s departure and it was further delayed—some say by a local who was making sure that the town got their full 20 minutes worth. While this latest embarrassment was dealt with, the paper says, the Duke, chatting informally with the mayor, made light of the earlier hitch, saying:

“They apparently didn’t want us to land at your platform, and now they don’t want to take us away. We are sorry to be going.” the Duke told Cr Lord.

Then, with whistles drowned out by cheering locals, the train disappeared from view and the page turned on Echuca’s 20-minute chapter in royal history, a royal love affair which extended 68 years.

This week, as the world came to terms with the loss of this most remarkable woman who in so many ways transcended the routines of royalty, Murray Plains again had a bit of local drama and despair when a local resident received 100th birthday congratulations signed by Her Majesty, obviously before her passing. Requests for those royal acknowledgements go through the local MP’s office, and now with King Charles on the throne we will continue without missing a beat—continuing is and always has been one of the strengths of our monarchy. But even something as simple as requesting this correspondence from the King will for some time, I imagine, seem strange as we are all so used to requesting a letter from the Queen for those special birthdays or anniversaries. For everyone in Australia under the age of 80 or thereabouts this will be the first, because Queen Elizabeth has always been there. This was a Queen who went through World War II and whose first UK Prime Minister was Winston Churchill, a towering figure in world history. He was born in 1874, 101 years before Liz Truss, her last Prime Minister, who was born in 1975.

Queen Elizabeth clearly had a thing about Australia. She would visit us 16 times, second only to Canada; she would send the Prince of Wales here for two terms of school at Geelong Grammar; and her children and grandchildren would make regular trips Down Under, cementing those links. But mostly I have enjoyed the stories from locals, for whom the Queen brought special memories, such as a former Rochester resident in my electorate who, like most residents in that town, went under in the 2011 floods that devastated so much of northern Victoria. Georgina Roberts still remembers the day she and her husband, Steve, were some of the chosen few invited to the Melbourne reception with Her Majesty in what would turn out to be the Queen’s last visit to Melbourne. It was late October, and earlier that year the couple’s home and business in Rochester had both been flooded by the inundation that hit 80 per cent of the town’s homes. Georgina still says she has no idea how she and her husband were plucked from, as she calls it, ‘soggy obscurity’ to the vice-regal surrounds of Government House for tea and cakes with the Queen. But flood or not, there is always a silver lining somewhere. Georgina told a paper, ‘We were chosen because we were flood victims’. The invitation just turned up in the mail without any warning or any foreknowledge. As Georgina recalled, ‘I was quite chuffed’. She was also amazed at the way the courtiers orchestrated the whole day in Melbourne, right down to the exact spot where everyone was to stand to meet the Queen. Slowly being shuffled forward, Georgina and Steve got to within 1 metre of the Queen, only three people away, when the Queen’s minders turned her around and headed her in a different direction. ‘She was talking to the people in front of me’, Georgina said—so close and yet so tantalisingly out of reach. No pictures were allowed during the reception. All Georgina has today are the invitations, now framed, and the memory of receiving them, of making the trip to Melbourne and of being able to say she had been to afternoon tea with Her Majesty.

In 1970 the Queen also visited my electorate, this time in Swan Hill. In a masterpiece of planning Her Majesty visited the town on 7 April after travelling up from Melbourne that morning. This time not only was she accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, she was also accompanied by the Prince of Wales and Anne, the Princess Royal. And yes, for something completely different, they were treated to yet another civic reception, this time hosted by the mayor, Ken Harrison. But at least this one was held at the racecourse, somewhere Her Majesty could feel at home, even if there were no horses actually racing. The Swan Hill Guardian covered the royal visit, recording how the Queen and now King Charles met with locals for what was said to be a ‘brief, hectic hour’. The Queen applauded the Pioneer Settlement, and today there is a memorial plaque near the tourist attraction of the paddle steamer wharf marking the monarch’s only visit to the region. After the largesse of 60 minutes, not just 20 minutes, Her Majesty and her group were whisked away for the next stop, in Portland, where no doubt they were treated to another civic reception.

Queen Elizabeth has been part of my life from the day I was born, and judging by the feedback in my office and in my social media since her death, she has had the same effect on many, many people. As I said in my initial post, just moments after Buckingham Palace released its formal statement, it was with a profound personal sadness that I read the official notice from Buckingham Palace announcing the death of Queen Elizabeth II. This monarch, this woman, has been much more than the longest serving ruler of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth; she has been a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother and, possibly above all else, an inspiration to and an unfaltering servant of her people. When she took the throne she made the commitment to serve her people for every day of the rest of her life, and she did that. Even as her family was being summoned to her bedside at Balmoral, the Queen had, only days before, played a role in the change of prime minister, receiving Liz Truss, the 15th Prime Minster of her reign. As I said earlier, when you consider her first British Prime Minister was Sir Winston Churchill, you begin to grasp the times through which Her Majesty lived and served. I doubt we will see her like again. May her soul rest in peace.

Ms BLANDTHORN (Pascoe Vale—Leader of the House, Minister for Planning) (01:04): On behalf of my constituency and in this role as Leader of the House I feel compelled to pay my condolences to Queen Elizabeth II and acknowledge the proclamation of King Charles III. In paying my condolences to Queen Elizabeth II, I first acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet and pay my respects to them, their elders past and present, and I acknowledge that they are the First People of Australia and that their connection to this country is tens of thousands of years old. I acknowledge that their land was never ceded, and I am proud that it is our government that is working towards treaty. I also want to record my appreciation for the generous welcome and gracious contribution of Aunty Joy Murphy at Government House yesterday. Given the difficult history, indeed the tragic and confronting history, of Indigenous people in this constitutional monarchy, it must have been a challenging speech to give, yet Aunty Joy’s contribution was, as always, full of grace.

Growing up in a family of opinionated Scottish and Irish Catholics, it is fair to say that republican sentiment runs deep. As a child I was not allowed to go to Brownies lest I swear allegiance to the Queen, and as a young adult I developed a deep appreciation of A Man for All Seasons: ‘It’s not what I believe, but what I believe’. The Queen herself indicated that the question of whether Australia should remain a constitutional monarchy is a question that should be determined by Australians by democratic means. Yet one does not have to be a constitutional monarchist to appreciate that Queen Elizabeth II has had a profound and lasting influence across Victoria, Australia, the Commonwealth and the world.

Queen Elizabeth II was only 21 when as a princess she dedicated her life to the service of this Commonwealth. She said:

I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.

And that she did, serving the Commonwealth as sovereign for 70 years. She will be remembered for her strong sense of duty. Her determination to dedicate her life to the throne and to the people of this Commonwealth was remarkable. Through her seven-decade reign she met 15 British prime ministers, as we just heard, beginning with Winston Churchill and ending only a few days before her death with Liz Truss, whom she remarkably swore in only a couple of days before she passed away. As former Prime Minister Paul Keating wrote this week:

In a seventy-year reign, she was required to meet literally hundreds of thousands of officials—presidents, prime ministers, ministers, premiers, mayors and municipal personalities.

It was more than one person should ever have been asked to do.

The Queen was a constant in a changing world. Most of us have known nothing different. She brought the Commonwealth through the darkest of times to today. She showed leadership in times of global crisis and strength in times of personal ones. Charles Dickens’s ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’ comes to mind. In her 2002 Christmas broadcast she said:

Our modern world places such heavy demands on our time and attention that the need to remember our responsibilities to others is greater than ever.

I am sure many of us can recall her annual Christmas messages, watching from the couch following too much Christmas lunch and in great anticipation of Christmas pudding. Yesterday at Government House the Governor spoke of the various people she had met this week who told her of their recollections of the Queen. I was struck by one story the Governor told of a woman who had mentioned to her that the Queen, despite the public persona, must have felt emotions just like everyone else, and we often forget this about people in public life.

Personally I think the Queen’s relationship with her animals provides us with a little insight into the private Queen in a way that fellow animal lovers can relate to. Throughout her life she demonstrated her love of animals. She was often pictured riding horses and was well known for the love of her corgis. From the early images of the Queen as a child she is pictured with her corgis, and in her lifetime she reportedly homed more than 30 of them. It should be noted that the Queen was the patron of many causes, including one dear to my own heart, being the RSPCA.

The Queen made 16 royal tours to Australia and visited Victoria 11 times, each visit just as special as the first, touching hearts and leaving her mark everywhere she visited. She opened our Commonwealth Games, the Sydney Opera House, the new Parliament House in Canberra and the Royal Children’s Hospital here in Melbourne. She visited Melbourne and travelled throughout regional Victoria. I am often struck on meeting people from the United Kingdom that they comment on the vast distances travelled by Australians. They often see them as remarkable, but the Queen was remarkable, and under gruelling schedules she traversed many aspects of our great countryside. She was a passenger on our trams, watched a show at the Princess Theatre, visited our Parliament House and, my personal favourite, watched Richmond win at the MCG. It cannot get better than that.

Victoria has a deep respect for Queen Elizabeth II and the devotion and the dedication with which she served the whole Commonwealth. It is indeed a privilege to be standing in this place today marking our respect for a world leader who dutifully and relentlessly gave of herself to serve the Commonwealth for more than seven decades. The Queen’s tireless efforts, her unrivalled public service, built a legacy. We all, I am sure, pass on our condolences to her whole extended family and those who loved her. May she now rest in peace.

Mr SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (13:10): It is a privilege to rise on behalf of my constituents of Caulfield and pay my respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on her passing. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was admired by all, even those that were not monarchists. Hers was a life of duty, a life of service. She was somebody that treated everybody equally, no matter who they were. The Leader of the Opposition mentioned earlier that many people did not get the opportunity to actually meet her, but you felt as if you knew her. Many have recounted over the last few days, upon talking to her and having had the good fortune to actually meet her, the conversations and the chats that they had and the fact that she approached everything and everyone with such authenticity. Her interest in their lives really symbolised the kind of person that Queen Elizabeth was. Queen Elizabeth II appeared 52 times in the Gallup top 10 most admired women of the world poll, far more than any other woman. I think that pretty much says it all in terms of the fact that everyone loved her, everybody admired her.

Before she became Queen, a 21-year-old Princess Elizabeth declared:

… my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.

I think pretty much that sums it up in terms of the work ethic that Queen Elizabeth had. She was a tireless worker. She worked morning, noon and night. It started at a very early age, back in the early war years, as a teenager rolling bandages and knitting socks for the war effort and later, just before her 19th birthday, joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service to contribute to the war effort, learning how to service and maintain military vehicles—a skill that she kept for the remainder of her life. She became Queen at only 26 years of age and spent 70 of her 96 years fulfilling the promise she made to the people on her 25th birthday. She was joined in the journey of her service with the one and only love of her life, her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, the man that she fell in love with at only 13 years of age.

Her Majesty’s service brought her to Victoria 11 times. Each visit was met with excitement and enthusiasm. We have heard of people lining the streets just waiting for that glimpse of Her Majesty. No greater example in terms of the excitement and the preparation was something that I researched called Operation Facelift. When we do tours of this Parliament we often talk about the fact that the gold, for Queen Elizabeth’s visit to the Parliament, was peeled off and reapplied to the building to give it that shine, and that was specifically for that 1954 visit. But looking further, with Operation Facelift Premier John Cain Sr wanted Her Majesty to see the city at its best, so he undertook the painting, sandblasting, washing, scraping, furbishing and refurbishing of department stores, banks, hotels, pubs, large shops, small shops—every single establishment. It must have been a handsome budget. These public works were reported to be the biggest boon the Victorian paint industry had seen in decades. We could probably do with another bit of paintwork and another Operation Facelift. Our city certainly revered the Queen and loved the Queen, and these gestures were just examples of that. The 1954 trip also saw 600 women, representing 175 women’s organisations, gathering for a lunch in my electorate at the St Kilda town hall. It was part of her legacy, the way that she supported strong female leadership in local communities.

The silver jubilee was something certainly that my parents, who were very passionate Queen lovers, made us sit through: just about every feature and ceremonial activity on the TV. The silver jubilee, which I did sit through at nine years of age, I saw as a potential entrepreneurial endeavour, and I rushed out to get the silver jubilee 50 cent pieces. I bought as many as I possibly could and as my pocket money could stand, and they actually provided a bit of a return. They are now worth $5 each—on inflation they would be worth only $2.94—so a good return, thank you very much, Your Majesty.

The Queen’s love of horses brought her to the landmark of my local area, Caulfield Racecourse. She opened the Victorian Racing Museum, then located at Caulfield Racecourse, during 1981. She stayed on to watch the races after. She was a patron of the Victorian Racing Museum for 45 years until her passing. So much of her history contained in the museum was made in Caulfield. One of the things that was interesting was we heard about her tram ride in 2011. She was scheduled for a secret visit to see Black Caviar’s stables at Caulfield; however, the tram ride got in the way and she did not get the chance to actually see those stables. But she absolutely had a love of horses. I am also told that she did not touch on during that tram ride, but I am sure the inspectors were more than happy to let that one slide.

She did have a sense of humour, and we saw that with many of the appearances that she made, particularly more recently during the jubilee video with Paddington Bear, showing how she kept a marmalade sandwich in case of emergency in her bag. Also in the 2012 Olympic Games there was her star appearance with Daniel Craig as James Bond, jumping out of a plane. She had a sense of humour, she identified with people and she connected with people. As I said, the thing that I admired the most about Her Majesty was her work ethic. She was somebody that showed true leadership, even working into her final days, swearing in Prime Minister Truss before her passing.

As we joyfully recount the memories of the Queen, we must also look with great optimism to our new monarch, His Majesty King Charles III. A loving son to Her Majesty, he spent many years embodying the model of service that his mother set, and we wish him well in his leadership. She was a truly amazing woman who gave a life of service to her country and to the Commonwealth. Thank you for your service, Your Majesty. May you rest in peace.

Mr CARBINES (Ivanhoe—Minister for Police, Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Racing) (13:17): I rise to contribute to the condolence motion acknowledging the death of the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and as a consequence the accession of His Majesty King Charles III.

It is a privilege to serve as Minister for Police and Minister for Crime Prevention in our state. For 70 years Victoria Police have sworn to serve our Sovereign Lady the Queen well and truly, to keep and preserve Her Majesty’s peace and to prevent offences to the best of their ability. Victoria Police have some 16 000 police officers and over 1400 protective services officers, all of whom have sworn their allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II. Of course there are many more past police officers and PSOs who have also sworn allegiance to the Queen, and it is hard to fathom perhaps just how many officers have taken this oath over the past 70 years. Many serving officers over those seven decades gave their lives to preserve Her Majesty’s peace and prevent offences to the best of their ability, as the oath says.

What stands out is the commitment to service, community and duty shared by Her Majesty and every member, past and present, of Victoria Police. Each and every day our police officers put their lives on the line to serve and protect our community. They see Victorians on some of the worst days of their lives in some of their most vulnerable moments, offering assistance, comfort and stability in a time of crisis. This service is deeply respected and valued by all Victorians, who are grateful to each and every police officer for the work that they do to keep our community safe. It is a task that will fall to them again on the memorial day. While many Victorians may not be at work on Thursday, 22 September, Victoria Police are always on duty.

The Queen’s love of horses was widely known, and it was therefore fitting that she visited the mounted police with then Chief Commissioner Alexander Duncan on her first visit to Australia in 1954. It is also fitting that she visited the mounted police in their often unsung role in providing security at numerous parades and events attended by Her Majesty and other dignitaries, an important role our police continue to play and one which will soon be on display at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Victoria in 2026. As Minister for Racing I was present at Flemington on Saturday for a fitting minute’s silence to acknowledge the late Queen, presided over by the Victoria Racing Club. There was unique film footage shown of Her Majesty’s past visits to headquarters. She visited Flemington on three occasions: in 1954, 1963 and 1977. The Queen’s horse Arabian Story finished sixth in the 1997 Melbourne Cup. The late Queen’s lifelong love of horseracing provided a significant connection to people worldwide.

On behalf of my constituents in the Ivanhoe district I convey deepest condolences to the royal family. In 1954 the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, then a 1500-bed military hospital providing care to so many Australian service men and women who did their duty for their country and the Commonwealth in two world wars. I also reflect on the service of Australian Defence Force personnel based at the Simpson army barracks in my electorate. With those reflections, we pay grateful thanks to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s service above self and express our condolences to His Majesty King Charles III. I commend the motion to the house.

Ms KEALY (Lowan) (13:21): In recent days the world has joined in grief to acknowledge arguably the greatest leader of our time, Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. There is no doubt that Her late Majesty will be remembered as an extraordinary woman who led an extraordinary life. Throughout the turmoils that the world and her family faced over her reign, her commitment to duty, family, faith and service to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth was steady and unwavering in its strength, commitment, care and kindness.

Her late Majesty has always been with us as a constant reminder of stability. The majority of Australians have not known any other head of state. When events in the world seemed only to bring uncertainty, it was Her late Majesty that would deliver words of hope, kindness and reassurance that all would eventually right itself. Her late Majesty was not only a voice of stability but the symbol for stability in the world. Perhaps this is why her death has been felt so deeply by so many people. It has been astonishing to see how many millions of people across the world have expressed cherished moments where they have been impacted in their lives, have met the Queen, have seen the Queen in a parade, perhaps have been honoured by the Queen or have just seen her in a hospital or on a visit to a school. It really is remarkable, the number of lives that she touched and the sorrow that is felt by so many people across the world.

It was only last week that I saw the beautiful image of Her late Majesty receiving the now Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Liz Truss. While she appeared to be so small in a room of such grand proportions, the Queen also appeared as bright as ever and strong of mind, with her eyes sharp and wide smile beaming. She was a true leader and an inspiring light right to the end. Her late Majesty’s contribution to a world where women, including those with children, make truly great leaders can never be underestimated. Even in modern Australia today, to imagine a 25-year-old woman with two children, aged one and three, could be elevated to Prime Minister, Premier or even CEO of an ASX-listed company seems almost like an impossibility, and yet this is how Australia’s head of state for the past 70 years entered the role. No doubt those were different times, perhaps far more challenging times, with fewer women in positions of authority and peers in leadership roles. It is inspiring that many generations of young girls have aspired to be more than just a pretty princess and to emulate the Queen in being a true leader in the community and in the world.

While there is continued debate on the merits of having our head of state inherited rather than elected to the role, in my view there was no-one other than Her late Majesty that could have done a better job of leading our nation and the Commonwealth over the past 70 years. We are so lucky to have lived under her reign. We all mourn her loss. On behalf of the people of Lowan I convey our deepest sympathies to His Majesty King Charles III on the passing of his beloved mother and our Queen, Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We also extend our deepest condolences to the royal family, who have lost a beloved family member. God bless the Queen. May she rest in peace.

Mr PEARSON (Essendon—Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Regulatory Reform, Minister for Government Services, Minister for Housing) (13:24): I join the condolence motion to give my thanks to the late Queen for her life of service. The Queen when she arrived in 1954 arrived at Essendon Airport, and I understand that she spoke at what is now called the Clocktower Centre, which was then the Essendon town hall. I note that at this time particularly for those who live in the state district of Essendon who were born in the United Kingdom or have spent a significant amount of time there this moment in time represents a profound sense of loss.

If you think about the trajectory Queen Elizabeth lived on, she traversed the rubble and the ruins of England after the Second World War right through the swinging sixties, through Cool Britannia to where we are now. So much of her lived life covered some of the big events over the last 70 years. If you think about her reign, she is the longest serving English monarch, Queen Victoria is second, George III is third and James IV is fourth. When you think about that length, that tenure of her service, it is immense. The contribution she made through a life of service is something that should not be underestimated. The notion that she would commit herself to 70 years on the throne, being active, being visible, engaging with her own community, engaging with communities throughout the Commonwealth and indeed the globe, I think symbolises her commitment to public service, which is commendable.

Clearly her passing is going to have a profound impact upon the United Kingdom. It is a terrible loss for her children, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. But I think it is important to recognise that she gave a life of service. She reigned for 70 years, and her contribution to the Commonwealth in that time was profound. Vale, Queen Elizabeth.

Ms STALEY (Ripon) (13:26): I rise to address His Majesty King Charles III and to express sympathy at the death of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on behalf of my Ripon constituents. The poet Philip Larkin penned these words 45 years ago for Her late Majesty’s silver jubilee celebrations:

In times when nothing stood

but worsened, or grew strange,

there was one constant good:

she did not change.

It is with great sadness that I make these brief remarks today. Her late Majesty was the only monarch I have ever known, a constant in the often brutal maelstrom of the world. Perhaps like many I have been surprised at how personally I am feeling her loss. I extend my deepest condolences to His Majesty King Charles III and the Queen Consort, Camilla, and to the late Queen’s family: the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and all other descendants and their spouses.

Queen Elizabeth II visited Ripon in 1954. The itinerary for the royal train on 5 March saw the royal couple visit Benalla, Shepparton, Tatura, Echuca, Rochester, Bendigo, Castlemaine and Maryborough. The Programme for the Visit to Australia of Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh records that at 7.20 pm at Maryborough railway station there was a presentation of the mayor and mayoress of the Borough of Maryborough and the president of the Shire of Tullaroop and his wife, and there was a joint address of loyalty. The Maryborough Advertiser records that the royal couple were met by nearly 9000 adults and children waiting for them at the platform. The occasion was heralded as ‘probably the most momentous occasion in Maryborough’s 100 years of history’. The royal couple stayed overnight in Ballarat and then spent the morning of 6 March there. In March 2000 the Queen returned to Ballarat, visiting Sovereign Hill and disability provider Ballarat Regional Industries, and did a meet-and-greet walk along Wendouree Parade. Tens of thousands turned out to greet her and Prince Philip.

One aspect of the Queen’s life and legacy I want to highlight is that of a constitutional monarch. In 2012, addressing the House of Commons, the Queen said:

Parliament has survived as an unchangeable cornerstone of our constitution and our way of life.

History links monarchs and Parliament, a connecting thread from one period to the next.

Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the only reigning monarch to have opened the Victorian Parliament. She did so on 25 February 1954. I note that the dispatch box on which I have my notes in this chamber bears her royal cipher—ER II. On that occasion Her Majesty said:

It is but seldom that the Sovereign is able to open Parliament outside the United Kingdom, and I welcome the opportunity to exercise this historic privilege in Victoria.

When I first opened Parliament at Westminster late in 1952, I said that I looked forward with deep pleasure to fulfilling my long-cherished hopes of visiting with my husband my peoples in Australia, New Zealand and Ceylon.

These hopes are now being fulfilled.

I was surprised to read that the Queen then proceeded to give a shortened version of the traditional Queen’s speech, laying out her government’s plan. This included noting:

It is estimated that the wheat crop will yield more than 50 million bushels.

In today’s terminology that is 1.4 million tonnes. By way of comparison, this coming harvest is expected to be 9.3 million tonnes. The Queen also noted:

A programme of important legislation will be brought forward later in the Session.

This will include a Bill relating to child welfare.

I note these problems are still with us, as evidenced by the Children, Youth and Families Amendment (Child Protection) Bill 2021, which is currently before the Parliament, with strikingly similar aims to those of the bill of 1954.

Former British Prime Minister the Right Honourable Theresa May MP captured perfectly how I feel about Her late Majesty. I conclude with words she spoke in the Commons last week:

She gave an example to us all of faith, of service, of duty, of dignity and of decency. She was remarkable, and I doubt we will ever see her like again. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

Mr CARROLL (Niddrie—Minister for Public Transport, Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Minister for Industry Support and Recovery, Minister for Business Precincts) (13:32): I rise to make some brief remarks on the condolence motion. I also want to begin my remarks by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which Parliament House is seated and the Niddrie electorate is located as well, the people of the Kulin nation, and paying my respects to elders past, present and emerging.

On the day I heard of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II I did not quite believe it. I was certain she would get to 100 and beyond, like her own mother. In fact also seeing her swearing in the new British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, only reinforced my belief that the Queen would certainly live a lot more years than she did. She always to me seemed to be stable; there was a permanency about her. And with forebears that come from Tipperary, Ireland, there is no doubt that for me there was a distance and a curiosity about the Queen and the royal family. In fact with my father’s strong interest in the troubles in Northern Ireland and growing up around the kitchen table, learning more about the coalminers strike, Margaret Thatcher and the plight of Bobby Sands, recent times have made for quite an intellectual grappling with the role of the monarch and the Queen as a person. Whilst I am not a natural-born monarchist and I do support Australia becoming a republic, I sincerely admire the qualities of the late Queen. She was strong, loyal, determined and stoic. She was a leader. She was a model public servant for all of us.

I will also freely admit I probably got to know Queen Elizabeth II—and probably you could add to that Prince Philip and King Charles—best through the Netflix series The Crown. Although her character in the series was certainly based on a mix of factual record and fictional storytelling, I did gain great context about her life. Through the abdication of her uncle, King Edward VIII, followed by the premature death of her father, King George VI, she was thrust into the monarchy at the very top at the tender age of 25 in 1952. Her commitment to public service was shown right throughout that series. Amazingly she held it all together. There were upheavals in her family life, but she held it all together. As has already been touched on, from Winston Churchill to Liz Truss, there were some 15 British prime ministers all up, some 16 prime ministers in Australia and 16 in New Zealand.

It was British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan who, when asked what kept him up at night, coined the phrase ‘Events, my dear boy, events’—and the Queen certainly had her fair share of good events and bad events. She was there for the moon landing. She was there for the Suez crisis and the oil crisis. She was there for Brexit. She was there for so much more, and right throughout she was very much a deft hand.

Closer to home, no doubt the 1975 dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam’s government by her representative as the constitutional head of state in Australia, Governor-General Sir John Kerr, was another moment she was there for, but right throughout she was a model public servant. She would always face those heart-wrenching challenges of balancing the personal and the professional and of remembering her oath to serve others to her very last day. She was also very well researched. Indeed she also learned from her mistakes.

One of the things I got out of the series was the tragedy that occurred at a place called Aberfan in Wales. I think that is one of the places the Queen visited the most. It is where more than 100 schoolchildren died and many adults, when there was essentially at the bottom of a valley a tip that fell. These young children, who were there on their last day of school and were only to do a half day, all perished. The Queen did not visit at the time because she did not want it to be a distraction. She did visit, and all the history shows the values that she brought and the integrity that she brought. Her comforting and empathy showed that she was very much a leader for the times.

There is no doubt that for Victoria and indeed the rest of Australia the history of the British monarchy is complex, from terra nullius to the Mabo judgement which overturned it. We are very much in this place about truth telling, reconciliation, treaty and a Voice to Parliament. There are other issues too, as Paul Keating touched on—alcohol, Aboriginal deaths in custody, life expectancy. We have so much more to do. But throughout her time as the head of the monarchy she has been an exemplar of public service.

I do want to in the time I have remaining just highlight if I could and read into Hansard a quote from former Prime Minister Paul Keating. He said:

In the 20th century, the self became privatised, while the public realm, the realm of the public good, was broadly neglected.

Queen Elizabeth understood this and instinctively attached herself to the public good against what she recognised as a tidal wave of private interest and private reward. And she did this for a lifetime. Never deviating.

She was an exemplar of public leadership, married for a lifetime to political restraint, remaining always, the constitutional monarch.

To the extent that an hereditary monarch can ever reflect the will or conscience of a people, in the case of Britain, Queen Elizabeth assimilated a national consciousness reflecting every good instinct and custom the British people possessed and held to their heart.

In a seventy-year reign, she was required to meet literally hundreds of thousands of officials—presidents, prime ministers, ministers, premiers, mayors and municipal personalities.

It was more than one person should ever have been asked to do.

But Elizabeth the Second’s stoicism and moralism welded her to the task and with it, the idea of monarchy.

Her exceptionally long, dedicated reign is unlikely to be repeated; not only in Britain, but in the world generally.

With her passing her example of public service remains with us as a lesson in dedication to a lifelong mission in what she saw as the value of what is both enduringly good and right.

I offer my condolences on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and I acknowledge the accession of His Majesty King Charles III. I wish them all the very best, the royal family, for the future.

Mr HODGETT (Croydon) (13:38): I rise to offer my sincere condolences to His Majesty King Charles III and to the royal family on behalf of the electors of Croydon district and to express sympathy on the death of the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I extend my condolences on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. As we all know, Queen Elizabeth was not raised as the monarch-in-waiting, unlike King Charles III or Prince William. Already being third in line to the throne, the expectation at the time was that her uncle would have children who would surpass her. However, just shy of her 11th birthday her life and the lives of those in the Commonwealth changed forever with her uncle’s abdication and her father becoming the king.

As a teenager during the Second World War the young princess remained in England, not leaving for safer countries overseas, and at the age of 14 she demonstrated her now renowned ability to connect with everyone by making her first radio broadcast during BBC’s Children’s Hour, addressing other children to reassure them. At 21 years of age during her first overseas tour, accompanying her parents through southern Africa, she made her famous pledge:

I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and to the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.

I find it extraordinary that a pledge at the tender age of 21 could become a mantra for someone’s whole life, but Queen Elizabeth was indeed a woman of her word. Upon becoming Queen at just 25 years of age, she then dedicated the next 70-plus years to service with dignity, grace and dedication. Impressively, just two days before her death she met her 15th Prime Minister and bade farewell to her 14th. I cannot recall anyone who has had so much responsibility and expectation thrust upon them so publicly at such a young age for such a lengthy time and who has risen to the challenge so spectacularly. Her life was a masterclass in what happens when duty is the cornerstone of one’s purpose. Everything about the Queen was enriched with the notion that her role was to serve people and that her personal needs were to come second. I still recall the image of Her Majesty grieving alone at the passing of her late husband, Prince Philip, because the COVID protocols at the time prevented additional mourners. Consider also that when the Queen acceded to the Crown, she only did so in the absence of a brother. She trailblazed what a strong female leader could be, with a mix of compassion, steely determination to do what was right and the ability to provide a blanket of security in difficult times.

For my entire life I have only ever known Queen Elizabeth, and as the portrait on our coins change, QCs become KCs and the Queen’s Birthday weekend becomes the King’s Birthday weekend, I will never forget and will always be grateful for the devoted service of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I also swear by almighty God that I and the electors of the Croydon district will be faithful and bear true allegiance to you, our sovereign, Charles III, King of Australia.

Ms SULEYMAN (St Albans) (13:42): I rise to also contribute today and remember the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen has spent 70 years as head of the Commonwealth. As we have heard, she dedicated herself to serving with grace, dignity and loyalty to her family and country. There is no doubt that her passing marks the end of an era for Australia and also globally. The Queen visited Australia 16 times, travelling to every single state and territory across Australia. Of those 16 times she visited Victoria 11 times. She had a special place at the Royal Children’s Hospital, speaking to patients and families. She also opened the Commonwealth Games and did so much more. She even got to experience a tram ride, watch an AFL game at the MCG and catch a show at the Princess Theatre. The Queen clearly had a deep connection to Australia and its people, and during times of hardship, like the Black Summer bushfires, she sent her well wishes and kindness to those affected by these difficult times, and recently with the pandemic. She was always on the side of the people, including Australia.

I had the opportunity, like many others in this house, to attend Government House yesterday. I took the opportunity to record my condolence on behalf of my electorate of St Albans to the royal family, and I also attended the ceremony later on for His Majesty King Charles III. I take this opportunity to wish him the very best as he begins his time to mark another set of history. On behalf of my constituents, again I would like to pay my respects and send my condolences to the royal family. The loss of Queen Elizabeth is an enormous loss to so many, and her legacy will be deeply remembered. May she rest in peace.

Ms BRITNELL (South-West Coast) (13:44): I rise today to join the condolence motion on the death of Queen Elizabeth II and extend my sympathy and that of the people of South-West Coast to His Majesty King Charles III and his family. Her Majesty’s connection to South-West Coast extends beyond her 70-year reign. In 1952 a young Princess Elizabeth, as she was then, was due to visit Portland. Unfortunately for the people of the south-west this visit was cancelled due to the sudden death of her father, King George VI. All was not lost for the people of South-West Coast as Her Majesty visited us twice, first in 1954 and again in 1970. Although the 1954 visit was not a real visit, Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh transited through Warrnambool en route to events at Hamilton, in the neighbouring seat of Lowan. Warrnambool did not miss out on the royal treatment during that royal tour, as the band from Her Majesty’s ship, the SS Gothic, played a concert at the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens.

On 7 April 1970 it was Portland’s time to shine, with the royal visit drawing crowds of up to 30 000 people. Whilst in Portland Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Hanlon Park, where they were greeted by 10 000 schoolchildren. The royal couple also visited a Portland woolstore and viewed the port as they made their way to the airport to continue on their tour. The Warrnambool Standard reported that the crowd could not contain their excitement and broke through the barriers at the corner of Bentinck Street and Gawler Street.

The people of South-West Coast were again in the thoughts of Her Majesty in the aftermath of the catastrophic 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires. On 16 February 1983 Victoria and large parts of South-West Coast were decimated by bushfires. Forty-seven Victorian lives were lost, and it remains one of the worst natural disasters in Australia’s history. I was at school in Warrnambool at the time, and my memories of Ash Wednesday are vivid. I remember the fires, their aftermath and the long-term impact they had on my community. It was in this grief and confusion that we, the people of South-West Coast, were comforted by Her Majesty’s words of support and sympathy. In a telegram to Governor-General Sir Ninian Stephen, Her Majesty expressed her shock and distress at the loss of lives and destruction of property. Her Majesty requested Sir Ninian to:

… convey deepest sympathy from Prince Philip and myself to the relatives of those who have died, to the injured and to those who have suffered the grievous loss of homes and possessions.

On a personal level, Her Majesty has been a source of great inspiration for me. She genuinely was a strong female role model. Like many of us in this house, Her Majesty was a working mother, and although she had a few extra helpers, Her Majesty was required to balance a very full calendar and the rigours of public office with her family life. Her Majesty was an example of professionalism under constant scrutiny, and I am grateful for her legacy. Thank you for your service, ma’am. May you rest in peace.

Mr McGUIRE (Broadmeadows) (01:48): Queen Elizabeth II served as Australia’s head of state and leader of the Commonwealth of Nations for a record 70 years. I acknowledge the Queen’s public service and constancy of purpose, and I want to separate the individual from the institution in doing this. This distinction reflects my previous roles as convener of the Australian Republican Movement in Victoria and director of the campaign for constitutional change to elect an Australian as our head of state. As the most avowed republicans understood, Australia’s affection for Queen Elizabeth was a defining influence in the 1999 referendum. Reasons evolved during the unequalled reign of Queen Elizabeth—from her early visits to Australia in the golden days of empire to becoming the most famous woman in the world, rising above celebrity and politics, understanding public duty is public trust and taking her role but not herself seriously, expressed recently by playing for laughs alongside other British icons, James Bond and Paddington Bear.

The Queen defined the aim of her quiet influence while reigning over more than 135 million people, a third of the world’s population, in black-and-white television coverage. She said:

Today we need a special kind of courage, not the kind needed in battle but a kind which makes us stand up for everything that we know is right … the kind of coverage that can withstand the subtle corruption of the cynics so that we can show the world that we are not afraid of the future.

Premier Lindsay Thompson introduced me to the Queen on her 1981 visit to Victoria, as a journalist on the metropolitan daily newspaper, the Herald. I cannot recall who was more surprised, the monarch or the young state political reporter. It was noteworthy at a time when facts were stubborn and cherished, not alternate. Broadsheet newspapers set agendas and narrated events in a sequential flow before the disruption of digital media was an increasing menace, changing public opinions in the blink of a tweet. What I can report is the Queen was curious and engaged in the affairs of state. The timing was awkward for the Premier. The looming Victorian election delivered the first Labor government in a generation. Lindsay Thompson remained undaunted, never breaking his good-natured character. Improving the social determinants of health led to a meeting with Australia’s future king on his visit to Melbourne in 2005. He was keen to find out remedies to address childhood obesity, an initiative under the Victorian government’s Go for Your Life campaign. Improving the social determinants of life remains a universal cause that has been exposed by the pandemic as something that we still need to pursue. Discretion ruled when it came to politics.

Australia will one day decide how the constitution reflects our history, heritage and evolving identity. This will be resolved democratically. Today we commemorate the ebb and flow of history and Queen Elizabeth II’s life and times of duty. Vale, Queen Elizabeth II.

Mr T BULL (Gippsland East) (13:51): I rise to contribute to this condolence motion for Queen Elizabeth II, and in doing so, given I never met the Queen, I want to take a few moments to provide to the house and also have recorded in Hansard the comments of a man who got to know Her Majesty quite well. Air Commodore Allan Pappin CVO, AM, who lives in Bairnsdale, flew the Queen and the royal family through numerous royal tours from 1954 through to 1981. She personally invested him as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for distinguished service to the royal family on board the aircraft on his last flight with her—what an amazing experience that would have been for Allan. He said he often shared the cockpit with Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, in the 30-odd flights he flew the Queen over that 27-year period, and the standard little joke that they had there was that he was keeping the Prince out of mischief during those flight periods.

I managed to catch up with Allan on Sunday for a chat, and he has since provided me with a few insights. Here is what he had to say on reflection about the death of the Queen. He said the death of Her Majesty:

… saddened me for many reasons.

It was like the death of your mother, you know it is inevitable that it will occur one day, but when it does the impact on your emotions is profound.

Seeing her in person in 1954 when she visited our school, she embodied all the nationalistic reasons that were inculcated in us when we raised the flag and sang the national anthem each day before school.

She was a focal point of hope and inspiration during my active service overseas in the 1960’s.

On a professional basis, as the commander of her Australian International and domestic flights … I was privileged to converse and dine with her on the aircraft …

I was summoned from the cockpit and told it was a tradition for the pilot to dine with the Queen. There were just the four of us at that dinner: Her Majesty, the Duke, her personal secretary and myself.

She was warm, gracious and commanded reverence.

The Queen always inquired about the welfare of my family, showing a genuine interest in their wellbeing, and at times when she would relax would talk about her own children and family as well. After one of our initial discussions, having ascertained that I was married, she personally organised for my wife and I to be guests at a function on the royal yacht.

That would have been another extraordinary experience. Queen Elizabeth II was a wonderful leader, always showing dignity, grace and reverence. May she rest in peace.

Mr HAMER (Box Hill) (13:55): I too rise to speak briefly on the condolence motion for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I begin by passing on the condolence of all of those in the Box Hill district to King Charles III and all of the royal family on the passing of their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her Majesty will be missed by many in the Box Hill community, and her strength, grace and leadership as our head of state over seven decades will never be forgotten. During a period of enormous social and political change, Her Majesty provided stability and certainty for many people across the world. Many other speakers before me have reflected on the Queen’s legacy over her long reign and the esteem in which she was held by so many Victorians. For the purpose of this motion, I would like to briefly place on the record Her Majesty’s visit, albeit fleeting, to Box Hill during the 1954 royal tour, the same tour during which she opened a session of this very Parliament.

The 1954 royal tour was a two-month trip that took Her Majesty to many cities and towns right across Australia. The then City of Box Hill had started planning for what they initially hoped would be a visit by the royals to Box Hill. While unfortunately this did not come to pass, on Saturday, 6 March 1954, as the royal train made its way from Melbourne to Warburton, where Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness Prince Philip were scheduled to enjoy some much-needed respite from their hectic schedule, organisers of the itinerary agreed that the train would slow down and travel slowly from Box Hill station until it reached Linsley Street, a distance of some 600 metres.

Many residents crowded the rail corridor to catch a glimpse of Her Majesty, with the owner of one house opposite the rail track reportedly constructing a tiered platform to accommodate viewers. As part of the weekend of celebrations, council planned a garden competition, encouraging residents to incorporate in their garden displays either the British colours of red, white and blue or the royal colours of purple and gold. Local businesses were asked to decorate their premises with flags and bunting, and on the Thursday preceding the visit a pageant was held on City Oval entitled ‘Cavalcade of the Southern Cross’, which depicted Australia’s history and featured a cast of about 500 locals drawn from community groups. A well-known actor at the time, Chips Rafferty, led the show, while a beauty competition was arranged to find a woman to play the part of the spirit of freedom. Times have certainly changed since that 1954 royal visit, but Her Majesty’s legacy and the affection with which she was held by many people in the Box Hill community will live on. Vale, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Mr NEWBURY (Brighton) (13:57): To our new King and his family, it is with a heavy heart that this Parliament and we members, the voices of our communities, mourn the passing of our great sovereign and head of state. We feel the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II personally and deeply right around the world. On behalf of the people of Brighton, Brighton East, Elwood and Hampton, I wish to express my community’s profound condolences.

In the Shakespearean words King Charles III used to describe her reign only hours ago on the floor of Westminster Hall, the reign of his mother has been ‘a pattern to all princes living’. Never before has the world witnessed a monarch so enduring, so steadfast, so resolute and so committed to duty, a Queen who was served by 15 British Prime Ministers, who welcomed over 110 presidents and prime ministers to the United Kingdom and who had links with over 500 charities. But as an Australian speaking on behalf of my community, I take the opportunity to recognise the Queen’s unparalleled relationship with our country and the Commonwealth.

The Queen’s relationship with Australia was unique, being the only reigning monarch to visit our shores. As our great Prime Minister Robert Menzies said of the Queen in his immortal words, ‘I did but see her passing by. And yet I love her till I die’. His words were spoken on behalf of his generation. As we look back on her first visit and the words spoken by our then Prime Minister, we can see that the Queen’s bond with Australia was ignited then but remained enduring. It was a bond of affection that spanned the seven decades of her reign. Her Majesty built and maintained her connection to our land across her 16 visits to our country, to Victoria 11 times. I recall witnessing the Queen speaking fondly of how Australia had grown as a country and a people when she last visited in 2011. As she spoke in our Great Hall in Canberra she said, ‘Australia has flourished and achieved excellence on the world stage’. For those who saw her deliver those words, we knew that they were delivered with great fondness and, if I might be so bold as to say, a sense of pride.

Perhaps at its simplest, the explanation for the depth of mutual feeling between our sovereign and this country was the Queen’s genuine fondness for our Commonwealth nation, a fondness that extended and endured across 70 years just as it has across the whole Commonwealth, where she visited every nation and realm as their sovereign. But before being crowned monarch, she said:

… there is none of my father’s subjects from the oldest to the youngest whom I do not wish to greet.

Those were not simply words but a lifelong commitment borne out in deed. As Australians we returned her warmth and commitment to our nation when we used the democratic instrument available to us in 1999 to confirm our ongoing link to a constitutional monarchy, a link that I supported personally without hesitation and still do. Shortly after the referendum the Queen spoke of her lifelong warmth for our country on the steps of the great Sydney Opera House, saying:

… since I first stepped ashore here in Sydney in February 1954 I have felt part of this rugged, honest, creative land. I have shared in the joys and the sorrows, the challenges and the changes that have shaped this country’s history …

And further:

… my lasting respect and deep affection for Australia and Australians everywhere will remain as strong as ever. That is what I have come here to say …

Across seven decades we have been assured of that strength of affection—an affection that has always been reciprocated. The world we live in now is unrecognisable from that of 70 years ago when Queen Elizabeth II took the throne, and yet over that time, despite a changing world, our constitutional monarchy has endured. It is a relationship forged into law but one now that is as deeply held together through affection as it is in constitutional formality. Ours is now a relationship that continues by want and by choice.

We mourn the passing of the great Queen Elizabeth II as both our monarch and our friend, and we affirm ourselves to our new King, our head of state, a King who has already proven over his lifetime an affinity with our country as deeply held as that of his mother. May Queen Elizabeth II now rest in peace with her love, her strength and stay.

Ms GREEN (Yan Yean) (14:02:472:): I too rise in solemnity to offer my condolences on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. I offer my sincere condolences to King Charles III and their very large extended family. Like many others, I did not meet Queen Elizabeth, but I was with many others in this place at the 2006 Commonwealth Games luncheon at the Royal Exhibition Building, where I was seated a mere two tables away. It was a lovely piece of symmetry yesterday to be at the proclamation of King Charles III’s accession to the throne at Government House and to have the welcome by Aunty Joy Murphy. But in 2006, when I was queueing to enter the Royal Exhibition Building, I was queued there with Aunty Joy Murphy and with Sister Adele Howard, another Warrnambool girl like myself but a descendant of Eureka. Aunty Joy is a Wurundjeri elder with an Irish surname. It seems an uncommon thing that any of us would be condoling the regent, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. I thought of the generosity that came from Aunty Joy Murphy’s welcome to country yesterday, and there was certainly that respect for another female leader.

I had my mother with me yesterday, and it is indeed through her eyes that I wanted to retell some of the visits that Queen Elizabeth had to Victoria but also the way my 82-year-old mother saw the proclamation yesterday. She said that she feels a little sad that we no longer have a woman leading the Commonwealth, but she felt somewhat better seeing that the Governor, Linda Dessau, is a woman, as is almost every minister that I introduced her to yesterday. And on seeing the photo of the executive council, Mum thought that it was a good development and that the Queen would have quite liked it.

Others have talked about their Irish republican history, and certainly that is my family background—and the Leader of the House referred to her father’s family background and how she was certainly precluded from becoming a Brownie or a Guide. I never quite understood why that was, but my father was certainly not going to have me swearing allegiance to the Queen before God.

I think that it is important that we celebrate our shared history but also acknowledge the past and look to the future. I am very privileged to be standing here on Wurundjeri land, and I want to pay my respects to elders past and present. And as I have said many times in this place, I am very privileged to represent one of the few electorates that is in traditional language, Yan Yean, meaning ‘boy’.

I think that Her Majesty in her more than 70-year reign was certainly able to evolve and change in her model of leadership, although always staying strong and with that strong, strong work ethic. And for any of those that have sat on the front bench in this government or any other government, there are those scary red or green boxes coming home each night—and I think I see the member for Keysborough having a little shiver there recalling the many boxes that he has had to take home in the evening—but it is quite remarkable to think that for seven-plus decades Queen Elizabeth was going through those similar boxes every single night. That vow she made as a 21-year-old woman was something that she kept right to the end.

It is really fitting at the end that the last Prime Minister that she was able to greet was another female, Liz Truss. I think that she has presided over a time of enormous change in the Commonwealth, indeed the world, and in this Parliament. As the Premier said at the outset in his contribution, at the Parliament that the Queen opened in 1954 she was the only woman that had any role or any position. There were no women in the Parliament at that time, and it is just remarkable that we now have such a different place—and that has occurred during the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

I did want to mention a few little remarks. A number of others have mentioned her regional tour of 1954, and the tour lasted 10 days. On 26 February she visited Melville Oval, Hamilton—an estimated 70 000 people, including 13 000 children, who had been waiting since 8.00 am, and they were fed by members of the mothers clubs and parents association with 400 loaves of bread, two dozen ice creams and drinks. On 3 March they visited Sale and then Traralgon. Traralgon and district residents donated 1 million flowers, which were made into a royal carpet by 100 local women, designed by local high school student Bruce Mathison and arts master Mr R Montgomery, and included details like symbols of the Crown, a royal monogram and a Saint George’s Cross. Unfortunately the Queen did not actually get to see it. Yallourn had a flora and fauna archway decorated with nearly every native Australian plant and sketches depicting native fauna. In Warragul 50 000 people were at the showgrounds, and that evening the train merely slowed down as it went through Seymour. On 5 March, as others have said, the royal couple visited Benalla, Shepparton, Tatura, Echuca, Rochester and Bendigo. My father was a school student in Bendigo at that time. I cannot be certain that he was one of the children there, being a senior student at the time, but I feel very certain that my great-grandfather Arthur Green, who was then into his second decade as a councillor in the Shire of Bet Bet, would most certainly have been there. At Castlemaine and Maryborough they did not get off the train. In Ballarat they viewed begonias at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.

As others have said, they visited Geelong and had an overnight stay in Warburton. That was on 6 March. On 25 March they visited Mildura, well before I lived there and before I was born. An estimated 80 000 people turned out to glimpse the royal couple. The largest crowds were at Mildura, 40 000 people; Red Cliffs, 33 000 people; and 5000 at the Mildura Airport, with people fainting as they waited. Among those presented to the Queen was the first—and only, up till then—female councillor, Kathleen Richardson, a mum of 10 and grandmother to 10. At Quandong Park in Red Cliffs the speech podium was surrounded by 5000 kilograms of boxed sultanas, which was gifted to the Queen by the Australian Dried Fruits Association on behalf of the region—and I do declare I was a Sultana Sam girl for the ADFA in the 1980s. These sultanas were shipped back and donated to orphanages and children’s charities, which were still struggling with the deprivations following World War II. The Queen visited the vine property of Cr Nat Barclay, which was the first visit to a soldier settlement during their Australian tour, where a special toilet had been built for her as they did not yet have indoor plumbing. The toilet is there still today, and at one stage they even had a photo from the royal visit on the wall outside.

The tour was farewelled in Mildura by the Governor, Sir Dallas Brooks, and Lady Brooks, Premier Cain and Mrs Cain and Victorian royal tour officials. In an accident of history, in 1988 on 28 April, when the Queen visited Geelong while in Australia to open the new Parliament House in Canberra, there was again a Labor Premier named John Cain. I am sure Nancye Cain was there too, and I would like to note the recent passing of Mrs Nancye Cain, a wonderful Victorian. There has been so much grief and loss in recent months. One of the most memorable photos of the Queen was taken in Geelong on this tour, her head thrown back laughing whilst hearing stories of the antics of a sheepdog named Spud and his sidekick, actor and stockman Peter Sharp. In their 2000 visit they visited Ballarat and Sovereign Hill.

The Queen loved every part of the Commonwealth of Nations that she represented, and I think during the time of her reign the Commonwealth of Nations stopped being called an empire and became more a league of nations with democracy at its heart. I want to pay tribute particularly to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for acknowledging that Australia would at some point make a decision to move to become a republic and that democracy would be at the heart of this. I again offer my sincerest condolences to King Charles III, his extended family and the extended family of Queen Elizabeth II, and I thank her for her amazing leadership over her period of time. Vale, Queen Elizabeth II.

Mr BATTIN (Gembrook) (14:13): I rise on behalf of the Gembrook electorate for the address to His Majesty King Charles III to express sympathy at the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as moved by this Parliament. Whilst I do not have any direct stories about dealings with the Queen, we all understand and know that the impact of the Queen here in Victoria and Australia was probably most profound after the tragedies we have had here in our state and our country when the Queen would reach out and send messages of support. It could be those small messages that come through to people at a time they most need it, and they could look to see that the Queen, the head of our state, was acknowledging and expressing her sympathy with the families that had lost loved ones at the time. I know in my electorate, and I know the member for Monbulk would also agree, that one of the highlights after Ash Wednesday was when Charles came out with Diana at the time and planted a tree, which the community still speaks very fondly of throughout the electorate of Gembrook and I know up through the Dandenong Ranges. After the Ash Wednesday fires obviously many lives were lost throughout the whole of Victoria, but the impact through the Dandenong Ranges was prolific, with not just loss of life but the stories of survival, the stories of loss of buildings, houses, homes and infrastructure through the area, and to have that hope that came through when Prince Charles and Princess Diana showed up for that community was just so important.

In our house my wife, being from England, is someone who follows the royal family and I would say nearly everything they do, and I heard the Premier speak about the changes in the way the royal family has been portrayed, with glossy magazines et cetera—fortunately, I would say, for my wife. She used to love reading those magazines, and she would follow the progress of the royal family very intently. I have to admit I was not one who followed it quite as much; however, I saw the positive impact it had on people when the Queen spoke out publicly. From the many times we saw her you could see the part that is missed sometimes in these discussions about the Queen: how normal she was. That is one of the things that is a highlight through what I saw of the Queen. I will say one of the best pictures or images of the Queen was the Queen laughing, excited, watching when one of her own horses came through to win at Royal Ascot in the past. I think that we do forget how important it is that she was someone who gave service before self but at the same time was still a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother.

On behalf of the Gembrook electorate I send my sympathies to King Charles III and the entire royal family. Obviously in the future when the King comes back out here we would love to see him come back out to the Gembrook electorate to that tree he planted to remind our community how important they are, that they will never be forgotten, post some of the tragedies that we have had here in this state. Vale, the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Mr FREGON (Mount Waverley) (14:17): I also rise to make a very brief contribution in support of the condolence motion on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and on behalf of the people of the district of Mount Waverley I would like to extend our condolences and sympathies to His Majesty King Charles III, the royal family and the people of Great Britain and our Commonwealth on this very sad and sombre occasion. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be remembered by all for a life of service, duty and dedication carried out with grace and poise at the best of times and at the worst of times. It is a rare achievement for anyone to continue in any role for seven decades or more, but to do so in such a prominent and public vocation that one does not choose but is born into with composure and stability is completely remarkable. To do so with the respect of millions of people around the world for a life of service is extraordinary. It is truly the end of an era and the start of a new one, and I acknowledge and congratulate our new King. But today the best thing to say is: vale, Queen Elizabeth II.

Mr D O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:18): I am pleased to rise on behalf of the people of Gippsland South to extend my condolences to His Royal Highness King Charles III and to reflect on the life of service of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen was a constant in our lives, a reassuring presence, a rock of stability and easily the most enduring public figure in most of our lives. For many of us she was like the grandmother that was living in a faraway place but was always there and always that stable, calm presence. There are many superlatives that have been bandied around in recent days since the Queen’s death, and they are appropriate—words like service, grace, humility, resilience, calm, wise counsel, charm, endurance, reassurance, stoicism, steadfastness and, above all, duty. I think that is what Queen Elizabeth II will be most remembered for: her duty, her life of service. What has been remarked on a number of times in recent days is the commitment she gave on her 21st birthday to actually serve her people, her Commonwealth, for the length of her life, and the length of her life was quite a remarkable one—what she saw in that time and what she did. Her life of service was exemplary, and I am sure that her son, our new King, will strive to emulate that life of service as he takes the throne.

Some, but not many, Gippslanders will remember the Queen’s 1954 visit. Some of the events that happened during that visit—and the way it was reported in the Weekly Times, which I will quote from shortly—perhaps remind us how long ago it was that her reign began. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh flew to Sale, I believe, from Melbourne and landed at East Sale RAAF base, where they boarded a train. There were 70 000 people reported to have gathered in Sale. That is hard to believe when you consider that even now the population of East Gippsland and Wellington shires is only around about 90 000 people. But you can read some of the stories that go with it. The Weekly Times reported at the time:

The first passenger train for nearly 20 years ran from Orbost to Sale …

carrying schoolchildren. It left at 4.30 am, and the:

… schoolchildren travelled by bus and car to Sale from Club Terrace, Cabbage Tree and Mallacoota to join …

the team in Sale. From my electorate:

Fishermen’s children from townships along the coast of Corner Inlet joined with farmers’ children in the Alberton and farther distant South Gippsland Shire strong‐posts and the school teacher from Glen Wills was helping with the Omeo Shire contingent. This included children from Benambra, others who had started from Reedy Flat at 3 a.m., and the entire “roll” of Ensay pupils—

Ensay being my father’s home town—

… the youngest aged 4½ years—who came in an open cattle truck.

It is hard to believe that that many people came. But likewise, the Weekly Times reported:

After receiving the presidents of Morwell, Mirboo, Rosedale and Woorayl Shires and their wives, the Queen was presented with a bouquet by Anne Fullerton, a 13‐year‐old Traralgon Legacy ward.

Likewise, children were involved in the welcoming—and I quote again from the Weekly Times:

… beginning with the Scouts and Guides outside the station and continuing with scholars from Morwell and Mirboo, Callignee and Carrajung, Woorayl and Willung South, Balook and Jumbuk.

An amazing visit it was as people lined the railway line from Sale to Traralgon, where it was so warm that apparently the tar started to melt on the Traralgon train platform, but according to the Weekly Times:

In the midday heat, the Queen looked cool and fresh in a frock and jacket of white corded silk patterned with old‐fashioned pinks.

Many people still remember those times, even those who were very small children, but that visit has stuck with Gippslanders for many years. The Queen of course will be fondly remembered for that visit but also for the reassuring part she has played in all of our lives for so long. On behalf of the people of Gippsland South, I extend our sincere condolences to His Royal Highness, our new King—King Charles III—and the extended family, and I express our heartfelt thanks to the late Queen for her life of service and duty. God bless the Queen. God save the King.

Mr RICHARDSON (Mordialloc) (14:24): The world comes together to mourn the very sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, one of the longest reigning monarchs in world history. I join with members of the Victorian Parliament to pay my profound respects and offer my condolences to the royal family at this time of great grief and heartache on the passing of Her Majesty the Queen, Elizabeth II, on behalf of my constituents in the Mordialloc electorate.

The Queen has been ever present and a source of great strength, stability and humility, her reign spanning more than seven decades. This is a deeply sad time for the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and people across the world. At the very young age of 25 the reign of Queen Elizabeth II commenced in 1952, when she would embark on a life of tireless service to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. This was at a time when female leadership across the world was a rarity. For world leaders, humanitarians, sporting greats, musical legends and everyone in between, Queen Elizabeth II was captivating. She had that presence and engaging manner and would host 50 000 people a year across a range of events.

One of those events touched my family, in particular my wife, Lauren. In 1997 her grandparents Harrison and Winifred Clegg were celebrating their golden wedding anniversary—some 50 years of marriage since 1947, which is the same year Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip married. Lauren’s mum, Hazel, saw a local advertisement in the paper asking couples who were married that year to write to the palace for the chance to attend a garden party with the Queen and the Prince at Buckingham Palace. At the time the news article said that 4000 lucky couples could share the increasingly rare achievement of being married for 50 years, and the Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, would invite couples from around the world to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. Hazel wrote and told their story of working in the cotton mills of Lancashire in working-class towns and of how her grandmother had lost a finger to a workplace injury. There were also war efforts in the royal ordnance factories in Darwen in the north-west. They were a proud unionist family, and at the time her grandfather was in the ships union. They did not tell Lauren’s grandparents they had applied at the time. They received the formal invitation to Buckingham Palace and secured a place to attend. While they were shocked that Hazel had not told them, they were absolutely over the moon to go along for this lucky occasion.

The garden party took place on Lauren’s birthday, 15 July, in 1997, and she fondly remembers the attire that was bought and the real feeling of celebration and joy at being able to go and see the Queen and Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace. She helped pick out her grandma’s dress and hat, helped them choose that beautiful display—only worn on that occasion and never to be worn again. They got to see the Queen, but they did not get to meet her on that occasion. They were so thrilled and proud. They had their photo taken in front of the Buckingham Palace gates and had it printed on canvas and framed, and it hung in their living room, above the fireplace, for their remaining years. That photo is a treasured family picture for all of their children, who now have it in their homes. And that outfit, as I said, was never worn in her lifetime again. It shows that the glancing moment of being in Her Majesty’s presence can have a lifelong impact on an individual and that contribution can live on for many decades to come.

When we think about the contributions Her Majesty made to a range of people across the world and the more than 500 charities and organisations she supported, she has left an incredible legacy and made an incredible mark on a range of people across the world—truly countless. It is remarkable to think that during the Queen’s service of seven decades she saw 15 British prime ministers and substantial global and societal change throughout the world.

Throughout her reign the Queen visited Australia on 16 occasions between 1954 and 2011. On the 1954 visit she was the first reigning monarch to visit Australia, and she also opened a session of the Victorian Parliament. In 1973 Queen Elizabeth II opened the Sydney Opera House. Four years later her trip coincided with her silver jubilee celebrations. Her trips included visits for the 2006 Commonwealth Games and, as we have heard, the opening of the Royal Children’s Hospital in October 2011. Yet despite these changes and events over time, the Queen has connected across multiple generations who have admired and respected her. The Queen’s humility, kindness, wit and grace endeared her to so many. For most of those years this was alongside her love, her rock and lifelong partner, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who she was married to for 74 years.

The world will come together today and in the coming days to reflect on the remarkable and tireless service of Queen Elizabeth II. We extend our deep appreciation and gratitude at this time and offer our deepest condolences and sympathies at this very sad moment to His Majesty King Charles III, to the royal family and to all that mourn and pay their respects. Vale, Queen Elizabeth II.

Ms SHEED (Shepparton) (14:29): I am pleased to take the opportunity on behalf of the Shepparton electorate to extend my deepest sympathies and condolences to King Charles III and his family on the death of his mother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on 8 September at 96 years of age. This is a particularly sad occasion for the royal family following the death of the Queen’s husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, in April last year.

Indeed it is a time of mourning for many of us across the world and especially here in Australia, where the Queen was held in such high regard and embraced on her many visits since she came here first of all at the age of 27 years. One occasion that is still talked about in the Shepparton electorate is when the Queen visited in 1954. On 4 March 1954, just two years into her reign, Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, visited the people in Shepparton in the heart of my electorate. The crowds reached tens of thousands, which is a testament to the love the community had for the Queen. People travelled from distant towns and farms to see her. During the visit she commented on the quality of the produce in the Goulburn Valley, which was well known throughout England. I am delighted that she was able to experience the wonders of our region as well as meeting many representatives from our community. They were certainly thrilled by her visit, and many reminiscences of this event have been made in recent days with stories of that time.

Queen Elizabeth has been a resilient and calm leader throughout wars, recessions, famines, floods, bushfires and indeed the pandemic. She sometimes took unconventional paths, becoming a military mechanic in the Second World War, a task not usually undertaken by women in that era. Her family suffered personal tragedies, such as the sudden death of Princess Diana in 1997, which devastated her grandchildren, and also the assassination of her cousin Lord Louis Mountbatten by the IRA in 1979.

The length of her reign meant that so many observed the seasons of her life, from being a daughter, a young wife and mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother, and the grace and devotion with which she fulfilled all those roles. She also had a sense of humour that we sometimes caught a glimpse of, but I am sure those closest to her enjoyed it fully. In our darkest days she offered inspiring and uplifting words, with her broadcasts during the peak of the pandemic recently being a stand-out for offering hope and comfort when she used the lyrics of a famous wartime song, ‘We will be with our families again. We will meet again’. I extend our condolences to King Charles III, his family and to the many people feeling such a sense of loss upon Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s passing. May she rest in peace.

Ms RICHARDS (Cranbourne) (14:32): I am also grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to the condolence motion on behalf of the community of Cranbourne that I serve. Like many people, we have spent the last few days reflecting on the journey of a family in grief. That was the moment, I suppose, when I reflected on my own family and the way that people come together and join together when there is mourning in a family. I do want to put on the record the importance of family and being able to be together at times. It is our connection to each other that is at the heart of the issues that we are facing.

I would also like to acknowledge the contributions that have been made and add that, like many people, my family tradition was probably one that did not see a lot of toasting to the Queen, but a more Irish republican tradition. But over the weekend and in the last few days I took the time to speak to my mother quite a lot, who is 90 herself. She reflected her own life through the life of Queen Elizabeth and was quick to send photos that she had of the Queen passing by when my mother was working at Victoria Barracks. It is those reflections of my mother’s life as mirrored in the coverage of the Queen’s long life that have probably given me the most pause over the last couple of days—to see a family saying goodbye to somebody that they have loved, a family that has had a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who has lived a long time and the importance of that. I do pass my condolences on to all those who have loved Queen Elizabeth. As somebody with an English husband and other members of my extended family who are English, I was surprised at the depth of feeling in so many households across Victoria and Australia and of course in Cranbourne as well. Vale, Queen Elizabeth, Her Majesty the Queen.

Mr RIORDAN (Polwarth) (14:35): For His Majesty King Charles III I too rise to acknowledge the great life of our long-reigning Queen Elizabeth II. Recent world history has recorded for all of us a rapidly changing world since guns fell silent in the European and Pacific war in 1945—the war that engulfed the world and changed everything in the years and decades that followed. Technology has shrunk the world; politics has continued to fracture and evolve; human and religious traditions have splintered, turning centuries of traditions upside down; communications have rapidly accelerated, ensuring there is no break in public discourse; empires have fallen and have been reinvented and maps have continually been redrawn; tyrants, dictators and ideologies have all come and gone—but one stoic, dependable, constant head of state remained, and that was of course our Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen Elizabeth II flawlessly discharged her obligations as a head of state across many nations and continents, variously described as ruling over a third of the world’s population. The value of this constant presence, the contribution of a safe and steady hand on our governments and parliaments, is not an outcome we readily understand until things change. Debate may be had over coming years and decades about how things in Australia can be, but as a people, as a state and as a Parliament we have all lived the benefits of the style of leadership Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has demonstrated to the world. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s style demonstrates a timeless conviction to the nations she has guided above herself. Those relying on her role in government never had to second-guess her motives. From the moment she was declared Queen to the day her reign ended, her service to the nations of the Commonwealth was impeccable. The stability her model of constitutional monarchy has brought to the world can never be underestimated or brought into question. In a world when internal conflict and political uncertainty are too often the norm and not the exception, the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been a magnet for those seeking refuge from countries around the world who have been less fortunate. Those Commonwealth countries stabilised by a predictable and constant head of state, like Australia, have been able to provide that much-sought-after security.

In the days since her death the world’s outpouring and acknowledgements have been extraordinary. Stories the world over have been common in theme—of how the Queen’s presence, her near visits, her replies to letters, her simple glances and her most famous of waves have meant so much to so many, countless, millions. Famously, western Victorian horse trainer and owner Colin McKenna and his wife, Janice, were trackside at Royal Ascot in 2018 when their horse Merchant Navywon the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, and Colin said:

It’s doesn’t get any bigger than winning one of England’s feature races and to have the Queen there makes it even …

better. The sad death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has provided us all an opportunity to contemplate what leadership means and what it means to be a leader. I have no doubt that in her wisdom and over her time the Queen has indeed laid the groundwork, passing her experiences on to the new King and his heirs and successors. Unlike so many other nations we can rest assured that the seamless transition to our new head of state will progress with fanfare and excitement, not fear and unrest.

Australia is indeed a lucky country, and that luck has in part been as a result of the selfless example of government and leadership shown by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On behalf of the people of Polwarth in the state of Victoria I thank the late Queen and I welcome our new King.

Mr KENNEDY (Hawthorn) (14:39): I remember a few years ago visiting Denmark and going into a shop looking for teacups and various other things with Princess Mary’s photograph and so on on them. Princess Mary, as you know, is formerly of Hobart. The people there in Denmark at the shops were horrified. You just do not do that sort of thing—put the face of royalty on a teacup, or anywhere else for that matter. I thought to myself then of the contrast with the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, where we could not get enough teacups with photos of royalty and what have you and the different sort of attitude that prevailed. That must be traced to, maybe, relationships of one kind or another between a royal family and citizens like us.

I want to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth. I think I would be amongst the eldest in the house. In fact I recall that I grew up under George VI until 1952. I cannot make comparisons, invidious or otherwise, between George VI and Elizabeth II. I can barely remember George VI. Let us be honest: I do not remember George VI at all. But I certainly remember, over many, many years, Elizabeth II in all sorts of arenas of life. I suppose what really came out of that for me was always that sense of duty that we have spoken about in this house today, of service and of simply turning up—maybe turning up when it was the last thing she wanted to do or even be at. I think of various expressions of that, such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which the Queen no doubt supported her husband in very much. I remember I had the opportunity of meeting Prince Edward in Pakenham when the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, under the leadership of Graham Menzies of Menzies fame, had a special occasion for the presentation of gold awards and so on. Just in a very small way it represented for me what Elizabeth and Philip had managed to contribute to—the sort of thing that encourages young people to strive and to have a sense of service to other people, not just their own selves. So the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme is a good example of the sorts of things that the royal family are prepared to promote and put their body into.

I would like to just also repeat what the Premier was saying about the opening of Parliament—that the Queen was the only woman in the room. That just seems extraordinary now, doesn’t it? But what a start, even just as a jog of the memory about that.

1973 was a big year. I grew up in Sydney, as some of you may know, and I was on the staff of Shore, the Sydney Church of England Grammar School, which is in North Sydney. It overlooked the whole harbour there at the opening of the opera house. It was quite an event that day. Although I have to say that probably the teenage boys at Shore were not that interested, I certainly was, and it was one of those great occasions that you can look back on.

I think there are lots of other things people can look back on with pleasure. My wife looks back on that football game of Richmond versus Fitzroy, and I need to correct a comment from a previous speaker: in fact it was the Fitzroy Lions who defeated the Richmond Tigers on that day, not the reverse. That was the famous occasion, wasn’t it, where they had a 40-minute half-time break so that the teams could all have a shower, put their teeth back in and do that sort of thing before meeting Her Royal Highness.

Members interjecting.

Mr KENNEDY: But given the sense of inquisition around me as I am speaking, just to finish the details, yes, it was Fitzroy by 20 points on that day against Richmond. My wife can tell you exactly what she wore on that day 52 years ago.

I just wanted to throw those few things in, but I particularly want to emphasise that sense of service and of being in many ways a unifier. We have had lots of discussion between monarchists and republicans and, years ago, papists—you name it—but I never saw the Queen as encouraging that sort of division. In fact the opposite—I saw more of a sense of unity in her rule, and I think that was a very enlightened approach that marked her life. I just want to have this opportunity then basically to finish by saying: may her soul rest in peace.

Ms McLEISH (Eildon) (14:45): I rise to pass on my sympathy to King Charles III on the loss of the monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On behalf of the people of the Eildon district, I pass on my deepest sympathy to the King and his family.

The Queen was indeed an extraordinary woman, and she held an extraordinary role on the world stage. She was in that position for 70 years and worked hard until her final days at the age of 96. For most people to imagine being in the workforce for 70 years is something that is pretty remarkable, but to continue working on a reasonably full-time basis into your 90s is really quite extraordinary. We note that Queen Elizabeth was the longest reigning monarch in the UK. She eclipsed another remarkable woman, Queen Victoria, as well. It is interesting to see that in the history of the UK the longest reigning monarchs were in fact both women.

I grew up singing God Save the Queen at school every Monday morning. It was something we sang. We all knew the words, but that was pretty well it. I had never given much thought to it beyond that. I found myself in 1986 in Edinburgh at the Commonwealth Games. Not only was I watching the swimming every day, but on one of those days the Queen came in. Every day the Games would kick off with the playing of God Save the Queen, and people would stand and sing. I found it most extraordinary that I was standing to sing God Save the Queen and I could see the Queen some 20 metres from where I was standing. I was surprised how moved I was by actually being in the presence of Her Majesty and singing God Save the Queen.

During that time at the Commonwealth Games there were a number of things that happened. The Mexican wave had started around about that time. It went around once, and everybody was watching the royal box. The Queen was there with Prince Edward and others. So it went around once, and everyone was watching to see what the Queen did, and she remained seated. It went around again, and she remained seated. It went around a third time, and Prince Edward could not help himself—he jumped up and did the wave, but the Queen smiled and remained seated for the whole time. Also during the Games the Canadians, after they won a race, would throw a frisbee into the crowd, and people were clamouring for the frisbees. Victor Davis, the late Victor Davis, who was a Canadian world champion breaststroker, pretended he was going to throw it and presented the frisbee to the Queen. That went down extremely well, and she took that with extraordinary grace and good humour as well.

Whilst I did not have the opportunity to get closer than 20 metres, my partner, Jeff, had the honour and the pleasure of meeting with her. He was presented to her with a delegation of World Cup cricketers at Buckingham Palace after the Cricket World Cup one year. It was not the year that Dennis Lillee asked the Queen for her autograph, to which I understand her reply was, ‘We don’t do that sort of thing’, but I also understand that later Dennis Lillee received something in the mail from her. Again, she took things with humour and good grace.

In 1954, as has been mentioned a number of times here, the Queen visited Australia, and she visited Warburton. She came in by train, and that was captured by local Lew Trask. You can still see that on Facebook now. Whilst the Queen was there she had an overnight stay for a bit of R and R. The Queen and Prince Philip stayed at the O’Shannassy chalet, which was a board of works property outside Warburton. It later became a drug rehabilitation centre, but at the time it was really quite a swish place to stay. This is where some of the most famous footage of the Queen and Prince Philip was recorded. One of the cameramen was waiting outside, and he sensed a little bit of movement. Prince Philip came out, and he started filming. Following Prince Philip was his tennis racket, which had been hurled out, and following the tennis racket were his runners. Then the Queen came out, and they were having a bit of a ding-dong, and it was caught on camera. It only became prominent in the last number of years. It was also included in The Crown on Netflix. But that was filmed at Warburton, and I believe it is stored tightly away at ACMI at the moment.

The Queen had a great connection to and fondness for Australia and Victoria, and that was evident. She visited 11 times, and her heart went out to us as we experienced some pretty horrendous situations such as the Black Saturday bushfires. Her response was something that I think people in my electorate and the wider community greatly appreciated. Of course we know she loved her horseracing and had quite a number of horses race in Victoria. We know that she had the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which is actually in New South Wales at Randwick, but it has been recognition of her strong connection.

My most recent memories of the Queen—the ones that stand out—are her grieving alone at the funeral of her beloved husband, Prince Philip, and then most recently, two days prior to her death, presenting with the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Liz Truss. The King also has strong connections to Victoria and to my electorate, having been schooled at Timbertop, and I know that everybody in the electorate would welcome a visit from the King now. I thank the late Queen for her tireless commitment and dedication to the service of her peoples and the Commonwealth countries. She did so at all times with grace and dignity, despite having some pretty horrendous situations that she needed to deal with. I pass on my deepest sympathy again to the new King and his family.

Mr WAKELING (Ferntree Gully) (14:51): I am pleased to rise to join with members of this house to express our deep sympathy to King Charles III and members of the royal family in their sorrow at the death of the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We do acknowledge and pay tribute to Her Majesty for her lifetime of dedicated service and honour the commitment she made to the people of the Commonwealth. Much has been said by many across Victoria and Australia, if not the world, about the service and dedication of the Queen in her role as the monarch. On behalf of the Knox community I wish to place on record our community’s grief at the loss of the monarch and also welcome the successor, King Charles III. Being a multicultural community, it is actually quite outstanding how much the Queen has been embraced by many Australians, many of whom come from countries that do not have a link to the Commonwealth. I think that is the appeal with which the Queen has been regarded. She has shown significant regard for Victoria, particularly in recent times with the impact of bushfires. Many have recounted her interest and the care and concern she showed for Victorians during that time.

I am always amazed when I take students on tours of Parliament and point out the photo that is located within this building of the Queen opening Parliament in 1954. Many are just amazed at how long ago that image was taken and the fact that the Queen served in that role for 70 years. Many Victorians did not have the opportunity to meet the Queen, to see the Queen. Some in this house did. My first occasion was as a child at Rosewood Downs Primary School. We stood for many hours on the side of Dandenong Road with our Australian flags, and after a couple of hours we finally saw a black car drive past. My next encounter was on a backpack tour of England. I went to Buckingham Palace and saw a Range Rover driving in, thinking this was my chance to see the Queen, but all we could see were the two corgis in the back of the vehicle. My chance did, however, come in 2006. I scored tickets to go to the squash at the Commonwealth Games at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. As I was about to enter, a security guard in a hi-vis vest threw out an arm to stop me because the Queen was being whisked directly in front of me. So that was the closest that I came.

But I know that many greeted and met the Queen particularly in recognition of their community service, and that was the regard in which she was held. The monarch plays a very prominent role in constitutional monarchies like England and Australia, and she had to play that role in a way that showed great leadership but where she did not impose herself on the politics of the day. I am sure in her role she would have had very strong views that she may have wished to express publicly, but she performed her role diligently. And I know the new King, while he has had very prominent positions on a range of political matters, will clearly have to perform his role in a similar manner to the way his mother graciously performed.

One thing that should be noted is the Queen’s meeting with representatives in Ireland. I think not only did that show grace but it was certainly a significant event, where she met with members particularly linked to Sinn Féin. My own family includes Catholics and Protestants who emigrated from Ireland during the potato famine, and there was certainly great sectarianism that this state and this nation faced, with those strongly held views from Ireland. But it was certainly very gracious of the Queen to show a hand of friendship, and that has gone a long way to trying to break down those troubles of the past. She was an amazing woman, an amazing leader and an amazing role model. I am thankful for her service and welcome the new King.

Mr M O’BRIEN (Malvern) (14:57): I rise to join the address to His Majesty King Charles III to express our sorrow on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and to wish His Majesty well as the new sovereign. Since this Parliament was established in 1856, 166 years ago, there have only been seven sovereigns that Victoria has known, so there have been only six changes of sovereign in that period: Queen Victoria in 1901, Edward VII in 1910, George V in 1936, Edward VIII in December 1936—a relatively brief tenure—George VI in 1952 and of course Elizabeth II in 2022, and now we have King Charles III. It is noticeable I think that of the 166 years of this Parliament’s operation, 115 years have seen service by two female sovereigns, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II, which says something about the longevity and the good genes of our female sovereigns.

We were blessed with 11 visits by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during her tenure as our sovereign. You would think that somebody who had lived 96 years had really seen the span of much of modern history, but in Her Majesty’s case she was not simply an observer of modern history, as many senior citizens are; as an active participant in it, she actively shaped it and shaped it for the good. She saw the change from Empire to Commonwealth, a sovereign who before she took on that role served in World War II in the British women’s auxiliary and worked as a mechanic and a driver.

I think that all Australians have enormous respect for Her Majesty’s service, for her dedication to duty and for her sacrifice. When we talk about the monarch, the sovereign, and her duty we should not underestimate how much of a personal sacrifice she made. She was extremely hardworking. We heard from Her Excellency the Governor yesterday in her remarks at Government House just how the work ethic of Her Majesty was extraordinary. Whether it was her first visit to Victoria in 1954 or her most recent visit in 2011, Her Majesty kept up a very punishing schedule because she wanted to be accessible to the people of this state. She actually had a connection with us, and that is testament to her dedication to duty.

When I was listening to the radio a few days ago former Premier John Brumby mentioned that post the tragic Black Saturday bushfires Her Majesty had sought regular briefings from the state government as to how the recovery and the rebuilding was going. At a certain point—I think it was maybe six months after the fires—the Premier or the Premier’s department decided that Her Majesty really would not be that interested and discontinued those regular briefings, until the message came back from the palace that in fact Her Majesty would still be very interested in receiving the briefings because she wanted to know what was happening. It is that indication of personal interest and personal investment in the people of this state and this country which has made her such a revered and loved figure. I am not a monarchist myself, but I am a constitutionalist, and I cannot but admire the manner in which Her Majesty stepped above the political fray. As a sovereign in a constitutional parliamentary democracy Her Majesty’s conduct was impeccable—absolutely impeccable. In fact I believe that the endurance in Victoria and Australia of a constitutional monarchy in 2022 is in no small part due to the respect and the affection with which Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was held.

Many members have noted personal reflections on meetings or interactions with Her Majesty. I do not have quite the same personal reflection. I was fortunate to serve as a minister in 2011 when Her Majesty was in Victoria for what turned out to be her last official visit here. I was in the ballroom at Government House, as I was yesterday, and we were divided into two sections of the room. Her Majesty and his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh would walk the line, as they say, and meet and greet the various well-to-dos on either side of it. I happened to be on the side of the room where the Duke of Edinburgh was wandering through. I have previously recounted the story, so I will not repeat it, but I had the good fortune of standing next to Michael Burn, who at the time was the chairman of the Victoria Racing Club. He was wearing his Melbourne Cup lapel badge, which immediately attracted His Royal Highness’s eye and therein engaged a very lively conversation about the Melbourne Cup and horseracing and gambling and other sorts of things that go on with that. I did not actually have the chance to meet Her Majesty, but to paraphrase the words of the late great Sir Robert Menzies, I did but see her passing by.

We are very fortunate—we are blessed in fact—to have lived in the time of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, a life of grace, a life of character, a life of duty and a life of service. Vale, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and we wish our very best to His Majesty King Charles III.

Ms VALLENCE (Evelyn) (15:03): I rise on behalf of my local community, the residents of the Evelyn electorate, to pay tribute to Her Majesty the late Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of Australia. We have all been saddened by her death. She was an extraordinary and inspiring woman who set a tremendous example to all of us about duty and public service. Over the past 70 years during significant challenges and rapidly changing times that really tested the Commonwealth and the world, including wars, natural disasters and pandemics, Her Majesty well served the people of Australia and its institutions, including the law in whose name justice is carried out, with perfect dedication to service, fidelity, dignity and grace. Our Queen was loved, cherished, respected and admired for her deep devotion to public service and to her people—a young mother who became Queen at such a young age and at a time when there were few women in roles of significant leadership and public service, and the only female member of the royal family to have served in the armed forces in World War II. When the Queen was first crowned in 1953, at Lilydale the coronation was celebrated with a ball at the Athenaeum hall. Affection for the Queen across the Lilydale district and Yarra Ranges was immediate. At Monbulk the ladies of the CWA planted a memorial tree complete with a commemorative plaque in her name in the forecourt of the RSL clubrooms.

In contributions here in Parliament today we have heard many stories of the Queen’s visits to Victoria, and we all know she visited Victoria 11 times during her reign. For many, a royal visit was simply a joyous and momentous occasion to be celebrated. In 1954 on her first visit to Australia as Queen her visit to the Yarra Valley was unfortunately brief but, I am sure, was no doubt enjoyable. Her Majesty and Prince Philip passed through Lilydale and Mount Evelyn on the royal train en route to Warburton. Today we have heard much of the Queen’s phenomenal work ethic. However, this trip to Warburton was when she was allowed a rare rest day, as it was described, during a really, really hectic schedule, staying overnight at the board of works chalet near O’Shannassy Reservoir and later attending a service at the St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church the following morning.

Before this rare rest day for the Queen, residents of Lilydale were extremely excited to hear that the royal train would pass through Lilydale. Local historian Anthony McAleer, a resident in my electorate in Mount Evelyn, has recorded that the Lillydale Shire Council allocated £400 to be spent on decorations and the creation of 5000 souvenir flags. A golden cable factory facing the railway and back fences was painted a patriotic red, white and blue. The most impressive was the large floral display set up on a prominent embankment by the Lilydale Horticultural Society at what we all know now as the Lilydale agricultural showgrounds—a huge masterpiece of red flowers that spelt out ‘Lilydale’ on a white and blue background, whilst overhead prominence was given to a fragrant golden crown and the insignia ‘EIIR’. As they moved past the floral display it was reported that the floral masterpiece caught the eye of the Duke as the train crawled past. Many people saw the Duke touch the Queen on the arm and then point to the display. On the day just in Lilydale a crowd was reported of 20 000 local residents gathered along the line to welcome the royal train, most stationed where the Lilydale High School reserve is today. Some climbed trees or fences to get a good vantage point, as you would imagine, and others stood on car roofs or sat on cattle pens opposite the station. Lilydale has changed a lot these days—no cattle pens in Lilydale. Travelling through Mooroolbark first, one newspaper reported that the Queen and Duke laughed when seven people and a three-legged dog standing precariously on a pile of sleepers toppled backwards into a blackberry farm.

The late Queen Elizabeth’s life was of course dedicated to public service and was deeply inspiring. She was the patron of over 600 charities and community organisations across the world. She had the dignified presence, ability and charisma to lead us through dark periods but also some of the most joyous moments we have celebrated as a global community. During one of our community’s darkest times, in the aftermath of the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, the Queen demonstrated her deep concern for the Yarra Ranges communities by seeking and receiving regular briefings about how people and communities were recovering and rebuilding after this significant and severe disaster.

From the horrors of the world wars to the fears of the pandemic, she was one who never faulted in her duty. For many, when hope was thought lost, she was the rock. She was there as that model of assurance and that pillar to give us the strength and support we would need through our darkest times. In recent times, as we began to enter the early throes of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and into 2021, with international borders closing and then being closed for a long period and lockdowns across our community, Her Majesty yet again came to the fore to provide comfort, support and, most importantly, resilience in the face of great adversity and uncertainty. Her Majesty said:

… while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.

Those words resonated so truly with the communities here in Victoria as we endured our lockdowns. We did endure a great deal, but we did finally meet again. As we mourn the end of the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II we commemorate the great life that she lived and the long and distinguished service she gave. On behalf of my constituents in the Evelyn electorate and right across the Yarra Ranges I extend our deepest sympathies to His Majesty King Charles III and his family on the loss of a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Our thoughts and prayers are naturally with the family. Though she was a queen, she was human and she was a family member, and we offer our wholehearted support and commitment to His Majesty King Charles III in his new role as king and as Australia’s head of state. Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will always occupy a special and affectionate place in our hearts and in the hearts of the residents across Yarra Ranges. Simply a stellar example of duty, dignity and service above self, may she rest in eternal peace.

Mr ANGUS (Forest Hill) (15:11): I rise to make a brief contribution on this motion on behalf of the residents of the Forest Hill district. I start by offering my sincere condolences to His Majesty King Charles III and the royal family following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The loss of Queen Elizabeth II is being felt very keenly around the world, as she was a much loved and admired world leader for more than 70 years. I had the pleasure of seeing Her Majesty on a couple of occasions over the years, most recently in Federation Square here in Melbourne during her 2011 visit to Victoria. Like most public events she attended there was a huge crowd present, which reflected the awe in which she was held here in Victoria and elsewhere. This is continuing to be exhibited even now as huge crowds are lining up in the United Kingdom to pay their respects to Her Majesty.

I was honoured to attend the solemn choral Evensong to give thanks for the life of Her Majesty at St Paul’s Cathedral here in Melbourne last Sunday evening. It was a fitting tribute to her life of sacrifice and service. On the way home from that event I stopped in to see my parents, who are both now in their 90s, with my dad in fact being born just a couple of weeks after Her Majesty. It was interesting to hear their reflections on the early years of the then princesses Elizabeth and Margaret and their family. They can still remember singing the Australian national anthem, God Save the King, at school and elsewhere. They can also well remember the death of King George VI and Her Majesty’s subsequent coronation and what an extraordinary and surreal time it was in the world back then, as indeed it is now.

On my office wall in my electorate office I have an old black-and-white photograph of Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh during their 1954 trip to Australia. It originally belonged to my maternal grandfather, who as a commissioner of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works at the time received it following the royal visit to the Upper Yarra quarters of O’Shannassy Reservoir. It is always an interesting talking point.

Today I particularly wanted to comment on the very real faith lived out by Her Majesty during her life. As the head of the Church of England, Her Majesty had a vital role as defender of the faith. Having been raised in a Christian household where her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, ensured that their children, Elizabeth and Margaret, attended church weekly, read their Bibles and said their prayers, it was clear that this was a role that she took seriously. In her first Christmas address to her subjects in 1952 prior to her forthcoming coronation she said:

… I want to ask you all, whatever your religion may be, to pray for me on that day—to pray that God may give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making, and that I may faithfully serve Him and you, all the days of my life.

Less than six months later Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey. During this ceremony the Archbishop of Canterbury anointed her and said:

… be thou anointed, blessed, and consecrated Queen over the Peoples, whom the Lord thy God hath given thee to rule and govern.

This act and words are based on the Bible in the book of 1 Kings 1:38-48. This commenced the extraordinary life of service that lasted more than seven decades. In Her Majesty’s 2021 Christmas message, her last, she stated:

It is this simplicity of the Christmas story that makes it so universally appealing: simple happenings that formed the starting point of the life of Jesus—a man whose teachings have been handed down from generation to generation, and have been the bedrock of my faith.

Her Majesty was a woman who followed Christian principles and lived by the golden rule found in the Bible in Luke 6:31 of always treating others the way you want to be treated. This was clear in the way she treated each person she met, regardless of their standing in society or their station in life. She indeed defended the faith and provided a wonderful example of a Christian life. In conclusion I again express my own and the residents of the Forest Hill district’s condolences to His Majesty the King, the royal family and all people mourning at this sad time. God save the King.

Mr McCURDY (Ovens Valley) (15:16): I rise to make a contribution on the condolence motion to His Majesty King Charles III to express my sympathy at the death of the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The passing of Queen Elizabeth was a very sad day for not just Victoria but the entire world. She was not only the face of the monarchy, the head of the firm, but the leader of her family. Queen Elizabeth was outstanding. In a world where social media rules and where politicians worldwide fight for relevance, Queen Elizabeth II was the constant. She was stoic, she was respected, and I think was clearly the greatest leader of our time, an outstanding woman but, more importantly, a kind, thoughtful and majestic human being. Her love of horses and corgis was well known, but her love for family and her contribution to the community made her remarkable.

The Queen visited Victoria on many occasions, and I remember seeing Queen Elizabeth in 2011 in Melbourne as Parliament paused for the royal visit. She was an absolute beacon. She stood out in that very impressive bright pink dress, I recall. The world owes a massive debt to Queen Elizabeth, and on behalf of the people of the Ovens Valley I pay my respects and I pay their respects to a person who was a shining light for humanity. People need to realise for someone like the Queen, when you are on stage your entire life, there is no chance for slip-ups or for having a bad day. The Queen and Prince Philip travelled through the Ovens Valley on various occasions. Thousands of Victorians lined the streets. Many saw her; some met her. But all of us who did not meet her felt that we still got to know her.

Seventy years on the throne was a lifetime commitment. She was a woman of deep faith, which she drew strength from during her reign, dedicated to charities around the world and including here in Australia. The world has changed so much since 1952, but Queen Elizabeth remained. She remained staunch to the end. She never wavered. She never gave up. Thank you for your service. Vale, Queen Elizabeth II.

Mr WELLS (Rowville) (15:18): I rise to pay tribute to the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Being a proud constitutional monarchist I look around the world to see political systems and see the stability of the Westminster system. No matter where you are, in Africa or a Pacific island, the Westminster system is one of those great political systems that gives stability, and we pay tribute to the Queen for the stability that she brought to the Westminster system. She became Queen in February 1952 on the death of her father, George VI, and she was in Kenya at the time with Prince Philip. The coronation took place on 2 June 1953, and one of the great mysteries that I still do not understand today is: how were the British able to put someone at the top of Mount Everest on 29 May 1953, Tenzing Norgay and Hillary, and yet four days later were able to get that news from the top of Mount Everest down for the morning of the coronation?

Cynics would say that it is purely coincidental; others would argue that the British had it planned down to the last minute. But to be able to get that news from the top of Everest down to base camp, have a runner run through to Namche Bazaar and another runner run to Kathmandu to get that news to the Queen on the day of the Queen’s coronation to me is one of the most extraordinary things that could have happened. As I said, whether it be coincidence or whether it be incredibly good planning, I do not know. I guess it would be the last time a runner was used to break world news.

I am also proud as a Queen’s Scout that each year we gather together. We start off, ‘If you were a Queen’s Scout between 2010 and 2022, sit down’, ‘from 2000 to 2010, sit down’, and so on and so on. You get down to the 1960s —‘Sit down’. You get down to the 1950s, up to 1952 and people sit down. Then, of course, prior to 1952—

A member interjected.

Mr WELLS: No, I received mine in the 1970s, thanks very much. But those that received theirs prior to 1952 of course are King’s Scouts. We do not change from queen to king; I am a Queen’s Scout. But for those men in those days, in their 80s and 90s, a family member would stand them up and they would get a round of applause. But now it is all going to be different, because from now on anyone who receives that award in the Venturers will become King’s Scouts. So when we have our gatherings there will be that significant increase of young men and women becoming King’s Scouts, and I think that is going to be terrific and a hell of an incentive for the scouting movement.

I was fortunate, like many of my colleagues, in 2011 to be at the opening of the Royal Children’s Hospital. The Queen did that with such grace and dignity and was able to meet many of the children. She took a great interest in the kids that were very sick. She had the ride on a tram with Premier Ted Baillieu, and many of us had lunch at the Royal Exhibition Building. May she rest in peace. She served our country with grace and dignity, and on behalf of the Rowville electorate I send our condolences to the King and the royal family.

Ms RYAN (Euroa) (15:23): On behalf of the electorate of Euroa I too rise to convey my deepest condolences and those of the residents of Euroa to His Royal Highness King Charles III and the extended royal family, and indeed to the entirety of the British population. It is a privilege to follow the grandfather of the house in contributing to this condolence motion considering his long recollection of Her Majesty’s reign. As the longest reigning monarch on the British throne there can be no doubt that Queen Elizabeth’s death marks the end of an age. She spent almost every waking moment of her life in public service, and whilst we can never compute the pressures on her that existed, perhaps in our roles we have some small window into that. We can but reflect on the personal sacrifice and the toll that that must have taken on her over her 96 years. I think it is very extraordinary when you consider that the span of her reign stretched from Winston Churchill right through to in her last days the swearing in of Liz Truss as the new prime minister. That is quite extraordinary longevity.

Today I want to make a few brief reflections on the time when she visited my electorate, on her 1954 tour of Australia, when she became the first reigning British monarch to visit Australia. It was the nation’s first televised event. She commenced her tour of northern Victoria by travelling by train through Seymour up to Goorambat. She stayed in the tiny town of Goorambat overnight with Prince Philip aboard the royal train. There may not have been accommodation befitting her in the town of Goorambat, but I understand they chose that location because it was deemed to be secure. The following morning people gathered, hoping to catch a glimpse of her and Prince Philip. The Goorambat CWA decorated the station with bunting and greenery. They built an arch for her, and she and Prince Philip disembarked from the train that morning to inspect the work of the local CWA, which no doubt met with her approval. Local media reports talk about what she was wearing, her expressions and all the rest. But local children also gathered, and they were allowed into the station yard before the Queen and Prince departed for Benalla. They spent half an hour in Benalla. I do not believe they actually got out of the car, but they went through Benalla, and at the time the town had a population of about 6000 people. Many people have reflected on the huge crowds that turned out for that 1954 royal tour. There were 60 000, according to the newspaper in Benalla at that time, so 10 times the town’s population, which really is something quite extraordinary.

Over the years that I have spent as the member for Euroa, the story of her visit to Shepparton, which came after Benalla, later that day has also been recounted to me many times. People have told me how local Aboriginal people displaced from their homes were living on what is now the Peter Ross-Edwards Causeway, between Mooroopna and Shepparton. Hessian was put up along the stretch of that piece of road to screen her from seeing those camps, which were basically shanties. I think it will remain to our great shame that we attempted to shield her from the reality of what was happening to Aboriginal communities at that time. I am sure she would have been horrified when she discovered that she had not seen the truth of what was happening.

Many people have also reflected on and mentioned the royal train. I do have to pick the Deputy Premier up here. She said that the royal train is no longer in service. Indeed state cars 4 and 5 are now housed at the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre. I had the great privilege of going through those cars earlier in the year, or perhaps last year, and the volunteers there look after them exceedingly well. They are now brought out for heritage trips and for occasional events, and they are absolutely beautiful. They are quite an extraordinary piece of Victoria’s history and one that we should greatly treasure.

We have a wonderful man in Benalla named David Lowing, who is part of the Benalla Lions. He was reflecting earlier in the week on his encounter with the Queen on that 1954 tour in Echuca. He made the comment:

I’ll never ever forget that smile it was like her whole face shone and brightened the day.

I think that was the enduring legacy and the enduring impact that she had on many people, and many Victorians, when they had the privilege of meeting her. In Benalla the local Lions Club has now made the decision to rename part of the Moira Reserve the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Gardens. That is a very lovely and fitting tribute to her, and I am sure she would be very pleased.

No matter what one’s feelings are about the role of the monarchy in modern Australia, no-one can dispute the very extraordinary role that she has played in our nation and its history and the stability that she has provided in our lives over decades—to her own personal sacrifice, I might add, which I think simply cannot be overstated. On behalf of the Euroa electorate, I convey my very best wishes to His Royal Highness King Charles III on his accession to the throne. Vale, Queen Elizabeth II.

Mr T SMITH (Kew) (15:29): The Queen is dead. Long live the King. I rise to humbly offer my sincere condolences and the condolences of the electors of Kew to His Majesty the King of Australia and the royal family on the death of our late sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II, of blessed and glorious memory. The loyalty that Her late Majesty enjoyed from Australia, the United Kingdom and other parts of the Commonwealth will pass to His Majesty. I wish to make my contribution regarding the constitutional significance of the events of recent days and why the institution of our constitutional monarchy and our Crown are so important for the preservation of our traditions, our rights and our democracy.

I have lived all my life, as Churchill spoke of 70 years ago, in the tranquil glories of the second Elizabethan age. The Hanoverian Protestant succession has been kept safe for 70 years by the extraordinary work ethic, duty and judgement of Her late Majesty. That has rightly passed to King Charles III, as it was the will of Parliament and by extension the will of the people of the United Kingdom and the 14 realms where His Majesty is now sovereign that he should now lawfully accede to the throne.

In 1992, whilst opening the second session of the 50th Parliament of New South Wales, the late Queen told the joint sitting:

This is my second opportunity to address this Parliament—a Parliament which I described on the previous occasion, in 1954, as the Mother Parliament of Australia. It is interesting to reflect that that was the first time on which the Sovereign had opened a Session of an Australian Parliament.

She went on to say:

Events around the world in recent years—

remembering this was 1992—

have shown the strength of people’s desire for the freedom to shape their own futures. We have all been witnesses to remarkable change as the people of many nations, with immense courage and determination, have rejected authoritarian rule and embraced democracy.

The best guardian of freedom is democracy, and this Parliament, like all other Parliaments in Australia, stands in the proud tradition of democratic government. Each one of you, therefore, carries the heavy responsibility of representing the aspirations of your fellow Australians and of guarding their freedom.

When the late Queen opened the Commonwealth Parliament for the first time she said this:

The first section of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia provides that the legislative power of the Commonwealth shall be vested in “a Federal Parliament, which shall consist of the Queen, a Senate, and a House of Representatives”.

It is therefore a joy for me, to-day, to address you not as a Queen from far away, but as your Queen and a part of your Parliament. In a real sense, you are here as my colleagues, friends, and advisers.

In 1974, on the advice of the Whitlam government, Her late Majesty, when opening the federal Parliament, told the Senate chamber:

… I am particularly pleased that by opening this Australian Parliament I am able to perform personally an important constitutional duty as Queen of Australia.

Her late Majesty was not just a monarch living in London; she was one of us. This profoundly important constitutional process we have witnessed and participated in as Victorian MPs today predates our state’s constitution by 300 years. The House of Commons, during the dark days of January 1649, asserted its right:

The Commons of England, in Parliament assembled, do Declare, That the People are, under God, the Original of all just Power: And do also Declare, that the Commons of England, in Parliament assembled, being chosen by, and representing the People, have the Supreme Power in this Nation.

Why do I reflect upon that statement from the House of Commons at the end of the civil war? Because that comment, that statement, the glorious revolution, the Bill of Rights, the act of settlement and the recent Succession to The Crown Act 2013, as well as our constitutions, both state and federal, are the basis of our constitutional monarchy, our parliamentary democracy, the rule of law and this, our magnificent legal and cultural inheritance from England, which has guaranteed our peace and prosperity.

Sovereignty of at least the east coast of this continent was claimed for His Majesty’s great, great, great, great, great-uncle, King George III, in 1770. Sovereignty has clearly never been ceded, as it has been reaffirmed on this continent by the executive councils of every state of the Commonwealth and the federal government in days past, all serving by and with the confidence of the lower houses of their parliaments and by extension the people—all Australians across our Commonwealth.

Our state of Victoria was named after His Majesty’s great, great, great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. Our capital, Melbourne, is named after her favourite prime minister, William Lamb, the second Viscount Melbourne. In the 171 years since the act for the better government of Her Majesty’s Australian colonies came into effect, which formally established the colony of Victoria by separating it from the Port Phillip district of the colony of New South Wales, two great women have been sovereign for 120 years—Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. The stability these women provided us so that our democracy may flourish is often ignored. It should not be. As Lord Hannan wrote in the Telegraph this week:

It is striking to see how many of the world’s most liberal, tranquil, contented and egalitarian countries turn out to be constitutional monarchies: Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway. Even more striking is how many of these states share the same monarch …

now King Charles III.

I was privileged to attend the Queen’s final garden party with my mother at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh 2019. Her late Majesty was resplendent in pink, and as Menzies said all those years ago:

I did but see her passing by,

And yet I love her till I die.

The late Queen endured many trials and many tribulations, usually caused by members of her immediate family. I am sure at low points in recent times Her Majesty might possibly have privately wished for once again the ability to summarily confine Harry and Meghan, and Andrew too, to the Tower of London, or possibly worse. But despite being the fount of justice, those prerogative powers have been substantially reduced over the last few centuries.

I will end my final speech to this place as I concluded my first. I again swear by almighty God that I and the people of Kew will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, who has now, by the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory, Queen Elizabeth II, become our only lawful and rightful liege lord, Charles III, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Australia and of his other realms and territories, King, head of the Commonwealth, defender of the faith to whom we do acknowledge all faith and obedience with humble affection, beseeching God whom kings and queens do reign to bless His Majesty with long and happy years to reign over us. And may we recite again the hymn and anthem with enthusiasm and loyalty, God save the King.

Mr ROWSWELL (Sandringham) (15:38): On behalf of the community of the Sandringham district I rise to express my deepest sympathy to His Majesty King Charles III on the death of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. Her Majesty was indeed the epitome of service, faithfulness and grace. Many across our Victorian community feel a deep sense of loss at this time and understandably so. But despite this sadness, it will never compare to the immense sorrow of His Majesty King Charles III and members of the royal family, because we should all remember Her Majesty was both a monarch and a mother.

Her Majesty’s warmth radiated across our world at some of our darkest and most difficult times. Whether it be war, recession, natural disaster, terrorism, political upheaval or pandemic, Her Majesty provided a constant, stable and secure presence—an anchor and a rock. On her 21st birthday during a broadcast from South Africa, Her Majesty stated:

I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service …

and indeed it was a life of service well lived for the good of others. Her selfless service set an extraordinary example for all of us. This service was established in Her Majesty’s Christian faith, where the ideas and practice of service and leadership are one and the same. She was not just head of the Church of England, she was a proud Christian whose Christmas messages surpassed some of the best preachers the world over. For more than seven decades Her Majesty was in every way faithful to her vocation of service. Her Majesty’s love of Australia was also well known. In March 2000 Her Majesty paid her 13th visit to Australia following the 1999 referendum, where a majority of Australians voted to retain Her Majesty as our head of state. In the first speech of that tour, she said:

… since I first stepped ashore here in Sydney in February 1954 I have felt part of this rugged, honest, creative land. I have shared in the joys and the sorrows, the challenges and the changes that have shaped this country’s history over these past fifty years.

On a personal note, I fondly remember Her Majesty’s 2011 royal tour, which included a visit to our federal Parliament. On the day before her arrival in Canberra I placed an order with a Kingston florist for a bouquet of native flowers. After a reception in the Great Hall, I waited for Her Majesty to return to her waiting car and presented her with that bouquet. She remarked that the flowers were beautiful. The bouquet, however, was wrapped in netting, which got caught in Her Majesty’s lace shawl. As she was untangling the bouquet’s netting from her lace, she quipped, ‘But a little sticky’, to which I replied ‘You’re welcome, Your Majesty’. I was not sure what else to say. To borrow a line from Thomas Ford’s poem There is a Lady Sweet and Kind, famously referenced by Sir Robert Menzies, ‘I did but see her passing by’.

There is no praise or reflection I can offer which is not yet known. I join others to acknowledge Her Majesty’s sense of duty, her wit, her kindness, her generosity, her humility, her wisdom, her integrity and her service. Her Majesty will always be held in the highest regard for her unwavering sense of duty, dignity and dedication to the people of Australia. The late Queen’s dedication over a reign of more than 70 years of service is unmatched and I suspect forever unrivalled. Across Australia, the United Kingdom, the realms of the Commonwealth and in fact the entire world we feel a tremendous loss.

It is not for me, or for any of us for that matter, to judge if God has indeed saved the Queen, but I do pray that Her Majesty has been welcomed into the loving embrace of her creator, who she drew strength and comfort from. May she gladly hear the words of the Gospel writer Matthew: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord’. And now for us who remain, we say: God save the King.

The SPEAKER (15:42): With the indulgence of the house, I would like to make a brief contribution. Thank you to the members who have already spoken at length on the service of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the grace and dignity which she showed at all times during her 70-year reign. The warm and heartfelt messages of condolence that have been spoken in this chamber today are but an echo of the deep pain and sense of loss which King Charles III and the royal family will now be experiencing at the loss of their dearly loved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Our hearts go out to them today.

Soon after becoming Queen thousands of Victorians bore witness to the youthful monarch, who opened the second session of our 39th Parliament here in Victoria. The respect that was shown to our new sovereign then endured throughout her reign because she honoured her commitment of lifelong service to us. The continuity of her reign provided stability and security because she was a constant guardian of our Westminster system.

A visit to Bendigo, Castlemaine and my home town, Maryborough, by the Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, less than a year after her coronation remains one of the biggest events in the region’s history. I recall my mother fondly talking of the excitement the visit brought to the town and how the pubs were empty early because everyone wanted to get to the station or along the railway tracks to see the Queen—probably the one time the 6 o’clock swill was abandoned. The royal couple arrived in Bendigo by royal train and spent a short but eventful 80 minutes in the city. The Queen and Prince Philip were taken by a Land Rover observation car through the streets of Bendigo to a tumultuous greeting. They visited the railway station, Williamson Street and Pall Mall, where the brass band played God Save the Queen. The decorations included waterlilies, flags and a tram covered in red, white and blue lights. The only reigning monarch, as mentioned, to visit Bendigo, the Queen greeted over 9000 children at the Upper Reserve, which was renamed Queen Elizabeth Oval after her visit. Reports at the time mentioned that the crowds were so overcome by shock and awe that they forgot to cheer. In Castlemaine it was only a 20-minute stopover on the way to Maryborough, where the visit was only 10 minutes. Nevertheless, the train station platforms and the tracks into and out of these towns were lined with hundreds of locals hoping to catch a glimpse of the Queen aboard that regal royal train. It was indeed a whirlwind few days in central Victoria but a visit that locals still reminisce about.

Like many thousands of my generation, learning the recorder at school was compulsory. The first tune most of us learned was God Save the Queen. While most kids were not thrilled about the recorder, I loved it and was quite proud of myself when I could stand up at Monday morning assemblies and play God Save the Queen on the recorder. I still can. It is a bit like riding a bike, something you never forget.

With dignity and dedication, Queen Elizabeth II showed us time and again the honour that public service can bring. In a rapidly changing world, Her Majesty was an enduring symbol of continuity, stability, principle and purpose. Since her passing last Thursday, we have heard many heartfelt tributes from those who were closest to her and those who were inspired by her. On behalf of the Victorian Parliament, the President and I issued a message of mourning and condolence. Coming through in all the tributes from across the world is the immense appreciation that people feel for Her Majesty’s sense of duty that never wavered.

Her Majesty will be greatly missed by many people here in our state and across the Commonwealth. Most of all, she will be missed by the royal family, for whom she was a guiding light, and I offer my sincere condolences to them. Let us be thankful for Her Majesty’s achievements, in particular her lifelong efforts to encourage and strengthen our Commonwealth family. A long life well lived—vale, Queen Elizabeth II.

Motion agreed to in silence, members showing unanimous agreement by standing in their places.

Mr ANDREWS (Mulgrave—Premier) (15:47): I move:

That, as a further mark of respect to the memory of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the house now adjourns until Tuesday, 20 September 2022.

Motion agreed to.

House adjourned 3.47 pm until Tuesday, 20 September.