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Death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Published on: September 2022

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-127147

Death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Accession of His Majesty King Charles III

Mr DOMINIC PERROTTET (EppingPremier) (12:16:49):

— I move:

That this House takes note of the Addresses of Condolence to His Majesty King Charles III on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and of Congratulation to His Majesty King Charles III on his accession to the throne, agreed to by the House on 13 September 2022.

Just seven months ago members stood in this Chamber to celebrate a remarkable milestone: the platinum jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, an unprecedented 70-year reign devoted entirely to the service of her people. Having so recently reflected on that life of achievement, we feel even more deeply the sorrow of Her Majesty's passing. Much has been written and said about Her Late Majesty's life. Today I reflect on just three elements of that remarkable life that earned Her Late Majesty a very special place in the hearts of the people of New South Wales: her unique connection with our State, her affection for our people and her remarkable longevity as the only monarch many of us have ever known.

First, I reflect on her connection with New South Wales. Over the course of 12 royal visits to our State and correspondence with countless members of the public, Her Late Majesty developed a lifelong affinity with New South Wales and its people. In 1954 she was the first serving monarch to set foot in Australia and open an Australian Parliament—this Parliament. Some 35,000 people gathered outside. The crowds got so big that police had to call people down from the awnings on the other side of Macquarie Street. Not far from this very place she noted proudly:

Nowhere else has Parliamentary democracy demonstrated more effectively its soundness and its adaptability to changing times …

Her visit set the template for her entire reign, a lifetime building connections with the people that she served. As much as her role allowed, Her Late Majesty understood the importance of meeting people where they were. She inspected sheep in Dubbo. She admired the view from Echo Point. She narrowly missed flooding in Lismore and chatted across the airwaves from the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Broken Hill. She was warmly welcomed in Orange and Armidale, in Tamworth and Wagga Wagga. Her Late Majesty's legacy is bound up in the landmarks and skylines of our State. She cut the ribbon on the Parramatta football stadium—the old one—and opened Darling Harbour. Perhaps most memorably, she opened the Sydney Opera House, noting that the building had captured the imagination of the world. She said:

The human spirit must sometimes take wings or sails, and create something that is not just utilitarian or commonplace.

Her Majesty did not reign from afar. She worked to build a sense of closeness and familiarity. I think she captured that quite beautifully in the year 2000 when she said at the Opera House:

… 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.

She will forever remain a part of this land. Last week I was pleased to announce with the Prime Minister a new public square to be named in honour of Her Late Majesty on Macquarie Street East, located between the original Registrar‑General's building and the Hyde Park Barracks. In a move that I am sure the new King will approve and welcome, we will be knocking down that architectural eyesore from the 1970s to make way for the beautiful plaza in Her Late Majesty's name. Along with a statue in her honour, it will be a fitting tribute and memorial to our longest serving monarch, a Queen who many of us would be proud to call an honorary Australian.

In large part that was because she conducted herself so warmly and personably. From her earliest years in the public spotlight, Her Late Majesty opened her heart. In her famous 1957 Christmas address, she spoke frankly about the limitations of her role:

In the old days the monarch led his soldiers on the battlefield and his leadership at all times was close and personal.

Today things are very different. I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else, I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.

For the people of New South Wales, this is exactly what she did. It was evident in our rawest moments, often after a great tragedy or natural disaster. As recently as April this year, the Queen sent a message to flood‑affected communities in New South Wales. She praised their "resolute spirit and community mindedness". She thanked our emergency service workers. This was her practice throughout her 70‑year reign—a genuine concern born of deep empathy with people far in the distance but close to her heart. Of course, that affection was even more powerful in person. So many who met her recall a queen who listened and who, despite all the trappings of office, made people feel seen.

But perhaps what most endeared her to Australians was Her Late Majesty's secret weapon, a wry and mischievous sense of humour. She was self‑deprecating and dry. Once, mistaken for a private citizen in Scotland, she was told that she looked "just like the Queen". "How reassuring," she responded. Just a few months ago she joked with Australians of the year about Canberra's Parliament House, which she opened 34 years ago, wondering aloud how many people had fallen into the Pool of Reflection over that time. Her sense of humour put people at ease, stealing moments of real connection in the midst of formality and protocol—a humour of warmth and wit from a Queen of hearts, who gave us her affection and won ours in return. She did so as the world changed around her.

At the time of her first visit, around 3½ million people called New South Wales home. In the intervening decades, our population more than doubled, our society and our economy boomed, and technology transformed the world at breakneck pace. But through it all, the Queen remained constant, the embodiment of stability and endurance. It is hard to overstate how reassuring so many people found that. She did not stand still. Holding fast to all that is good in the traditions that she represented, Her Late Majesty was a queen for our times, adapting and modernising in a changing world.

It is no coincidence that while political regimes have come and gone, the Commonwealth nations which Her Majesty served remain among the most stable and prosperous in the world. As we grieve Her Majesty's passing, we treasure her connection with New South Wales and her deep affection for the people of our State. We also carry the lessons of an extraordinary life. At her golden jubilee Her Majesty said, "Young or old, we have as much to look forward to with confidence and hope as we have to look back on with pride." As the second Elizabethan age draws to a close, we can now look forward with confidence, hope and optimism as we welcome her son, King Charles III, to the throne.

On Sunday 11 September the Executive Council met at Government House and the Governor of New South Wales accepted the Government's recommendation to proclaim King Charles III as King of Australia. On behalf of the Government and the people of New South Wales, I once again congratulate the new sovereign on his accession to the throne. His Majesty is no stranger to Australian shores. Perhaps more than any other monarch, Australia has shaped his life and outlook. In 1963 the 17-year-old future King completed two terms at Timbertop in the Victorian Alps, a school program animated by the same ethos as the Outward Bound program of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Our native fauna features prominently in His Majesty's memories. He has reminisced about leaches and snakes, and enormous bull ants and funnel-web spiders. It was a unique primer for a king into the ecology, culture and history of our nation. His Majesty has returned many times, strengthening his connection with the Australian people. He has swum with the crowds in Bondi, opened the Anglo-American telescope at Siding Spring Observatory, met with defence personnel at Garden Island and visited residents in the Riverina. I seek a short extension of time.

The SPEAKER:Hansard

The Clerk will stop the clock. I will extend a courtesy to the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition, but there is no provision for granting an extension of time during this debate. If a member is close to concluding their contribution, they could seek the leave of the Speaker under Standing Order 271 to incorporate the remainder of their speech into . However, I reserve the granting of leave until after the Clerks and I have received and reviewed a copy of the words. We will advise the member of the outcome of the request at a later time.

Mr DOMINIC PERROTTET:

Thank you for your indulgence, Mr Speaker. Throughout it all, His Majesty's warmth and affection for the people of New South Wales have been clear. However, not all visits have gone to plan. In 1994 at an event in Sydney a member of the public fired two blank shots from a starting pistol. The future King calmly jiggled his cufflinks and was moved away by security. That calm response and his commitment to continuing his itinerary won him a great deal of respect and admiration from our people. It offered a glimpse of the same dedication and devotion to service that defined Her Late Majesty's reign. That dedication is also evident in His Majesty's longstanding support for Australian charitable causes. In 2013 he set up the Prince's Trust Australia, whose objectives offer a window into the passions of our new King. They include promoting sustainable urban development; supporting Indigenous cultural heritage, health and wellbeing; disaster preparedness for regional communities; helping ADF personnel transition into business; and assisting disadvantaged young people into employment.

As nearby as Glebe, the Prince's Trust Australia is currently delivering 75 new fit-for-purpose inner-city social housing dwellings. Our new monarch has also expressed a strong desire to contribute to the rebuilding of Lismore after this year's devastating floods.

In his first address as sovereign, King Charles III pledged to imitate the Queen's "unswerving devotion" and to uphold the constitutional principles that have been the bedrock of our system of government. By his actions, we already know this to be true. On behalf of the people of New South Wales, I once again offer King Charles III and the royal family our most sincere condolences for the passing of Her Late Majesty the Queen. But as a State, as a nation and as a Commonwealth, we look to the future with great hope and great optimism as we welcome and congratulate our new sovereign. God save the King.

Mr CHRIS MINNS (Kogarah) (12:30:05):

I join with the Premier and other members of the New South Wales Parliament in paying my respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Australia mourns the loss of the longest serving monarch. While few of us had the opportunity to meet Queen Elizabeth, her constant presence in our nation's affairs meant we all felt that we knew her. That is why, for many Australians, the sense of loss is both deep and personal. She was a member of a very special generation—the Greatest Generation, many call them—that uniquely stoic group who lived their childhoods against the backdrop of the Great Depression, who reached adolescence just as the world was plunged into war, and whose hard work and sacrifice put back together the pieces of a broken world. Like many others in those times, her future was determined by her circumstances, not by her personal choices.

The acts of others set her on the path to become monarch. What she did choose was to accept the duties set for her and to undertake them with faultless dedication. Nothing defines Queen Elizabeth II and her generation better than their commitment to public service. Her Majesty was witness to the tumultuous events that shaped the Commonwealth that she would one day lead. In 1940 she was among the millions of children evacuated from London to escape the Luftwaffe's daily raids on the capital. Her parents, King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, remained at bomb‑damaged Buckingham Palace in a show of strength. During the height of the Blitz, the 14‑year‑old heir to the throne made her first radio broadcast, speaking to other evacuated children. She said:

We are trying to do all we can to help our gallant sailors, soldiers and airmen, and we are trying, too, to bear our own share of the danger and sadness of war. We know, every one of us, that in the end all will be well …

That same year her future husband, Prince Philip, completed his naval training and earned an appointment on a battleship that would escort Australian troops to the battlefields of northern Africa in Egypt. The teenage princess joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service shortly after her eighteenth birthday. She trained and worked as a driver and mechanic, earning the rank of honorary junior commander, the female equivalent of captain at the time. She served in uniform as part of the great war effort Churchill described as Britain's finest hour. Now, the Queen's passing means we have lost another witness to that time of great conflict and tragedy. There are now all too few of those for whom the Second World War is not a book or a documentary but a living memory. The loss of Queen Elizabeth must remind us all to treasure those who remain.

The princess became Queen at the age of 25, at the moment her father, King George VI, died in 1952. During 16 visits in 70 years, she forged a unique and strong relationship with the Australian people, beginning in 1954 as the first reigning British monarch to visit Australia. Displaying the energy and commitment that characterised her reign, the young Queen toured 57 towns and cities in 58 days, delivering 100 speeches. It is estimated that seven million Australians, which was 70 per cent of the population at the time, turned out to see her, including many from the suburbs that I now represent in the St George region. Among them were members of the St George Girl Guides from Bexley and Hurstville, tasked with greeting the royal family when it arrived at Farm Cove.

The Queen and Prince Philip drove down The Grand Parade and President Avenue to the cheers of more than 35,000 St George schoolkids, who were lining the streets. There was a trip to St George Hospital, before the royal party boarded a train at Hurstville station on their way to the Illawarra. Many trips over many decades helped to secure our nation's affection for its Queen. The reign of Her Majesty Elizabeth II has now come to an end. Hyde Park and Tower of London guns have been fired to herald her passing, just as they did in 1926 to announce her arrival as the granddaughter of the King. In Cardiff, Edinburgh, York, Gibraltar and Canberra, 96 rounds were fired in tribute, one for each year of her remarkable life—a life defined by duty and service, so much so that duty and service will now be redefined by her life. I join the House in mourning her passing.

Mr PAUL TOOLE (BathurstDeputy Premier, Minister for Regional New South Wales, and Minister for Police) (12:35:10):

— I contribute to debate on the motion. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II served her people with distinction, grace and sacrifice. It is fitting that we pause to mourn her loss, celebrate her life and mark the ascension of King Charles III. The past 10 days have seen a range of tributes from a wide array of people, and I have read and watched many with interest. The stories that captured my attention the most, though, were not the stories told by world leaders, monarchs or celebrities; they were the stories of ordinary people, people across the world who may have had only a passing interaction with Her Majesty but it stayed with them for decades afterwards. Indeed, it brings to mind my own experience with Her Majesty.

I was a student in year 6 at Holy Family School when, standing on William Street in Bathurst, the cavalcade rolled through in 1982. Clutching my plastic Australian flag, it was a moment that I have never forgotten. The affection with which she was held was reflected by the thousands who lined the streets for her visits to our cities and towns. Her Late Majesty's first visit to regional New South Wales was in 1945, only a year after her coronation. Across 58 days she toured the nation, stopping in Newcastle, Casino, Lismore, Dubbo, Wollongong, Bathurst, Lithgow, Wagga Wagga, Broken Hill and many more towns. It is estimated that around 75 per cent of Australia's population at some point caught a glimpse of the Queen and Prince Philip during the visit.

She had a message for those who could not be part of it, using a broadcast from the Royal Flying Doctor Service base at Broken Hill to note the stories she had heard of the fortitude, courage and humour of those living in the bush. She said, "Now that I have seen from the air something of the immense and challenging country in which you live, I know they were right." Her Late Majesty certainly made her mark on the regions. In February 1954 the royal couple stayed at the Gollan Hotel in Lismore, the only pub the royals stayed in during their Australian visit. Of course, as I said, they visited my hometown of Bathurst. Their arrival was marked by the bells of the Carillon. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's visit to Bathurst lasted just 75 minutes, but it was called by newspapers at the time "Bathurst's greatest day" and, for locals old enough to remember the historic event, it still is.

A crowd of people slept on Kings Parade, while others arrived in Bathurst at midnight on 12 February, with 4,000 members of the vanguard present. Upon the Queen and Duke's arrival in Bathurst, they met with the ex‑servicemen of the Bathurst Civic Centre before visiting an assembly of schoolchildren at the Bathurst Showground. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were welcomed by 80,000 people, in a turnout that is still regarded as the greatest crowd the city has ever known—even dwarfing today's biggest V8 Supercars gathering. I was fortunate enough to be alive for the only other time the Queen and Prince Philip visited Bathurst, which was in October 1982. There was a lot fanfare in the Toole household as my dad was the president of Evans shire at the time and he was one of the dignitaries who met Her Majesty. Dad was joined by my mum, in her bright yellow suit, and they had the honour of speaking to her. They still talk about that to this day.

While her visits will live long in the memories of those who had the good fortune to attend them, Her Late Majesty's impact will resonate well beyond those moments. She has been a constant in our lives through a time of the greatest change our world has ever known. Few days would pass without us seeing her face—on our money, on our stamps and on the news. She will be remembered for not just who she was but how she was. Her Late Majesty navigated seven decades of immense change and challenge with her trademark courage, strength and an unfailing commitment to the people she served. While she lived a life far removed from our own, there were flashes of familiarity—her love of dogs and horses; an impish sense of humour; and the obvious joy she took in her children and grandchildren. I extend my deepest sympathies to all members of the royal family. While we have lost an icon, they have lost a mother, grandmother and great‑grandmother. We thank them for sharing her life with so many of us.

But the end of an era also marks the beginning of a new one. I congratulate our new monarch, King Charles III, on his ascension to the throne. His Majesty already has a deep connection to Australia. Australia helped shape him for a time during his teenage years, and now he will shape the next chapter of the monarchy. He is passionate about many of the same issues that we in rural New South Wales are passionate about—the wool industry, family farms and sustainability. We hope to see him back on our shores in the years to come, to see that for himself. I look forward to furthering that friendship in the years and the decades to come. I commend the motion to the House.

Mr RON HOENIG (Heffron) (12:41:09):

I join members of this House to pause and offer my deepest condolences to the royal family, the people of the United Kingdom, the people of all Commonwealth nations and the people of New South Wales on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. I offer my sympathy for the profound loss of Her Late Majesty and acknowledge that the Queen was the longest reigning British monarch and the longest serving female head of state in recorded history. Her Late Majesty reigned for 70 years and 214 days. This is a period running from the extreme deprivation of the British people after the Second World War to the TikTok era, in which the palace also appeared to be active. Through the sound and fury of seven decades, Her Late Majesty exhibited a deep decency and stoic calm. She has been a reassuring constant.

For so many Australians, Queen Elizabeth II was more than just an abstract sovereign. In this loss, many Australians are bound in a common feeling of grief with the royal family and the British people. Few Australians have known a world without Queen Elizabeth II as the reigning monarch. Her Late Majesty is the only Australian monarch to have visited Australia. Yet we must also remember that, during her life, Her Majesty was also a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her Late Majesty's son King Charles III expressed vividly his personal loss in the following words:

The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.

We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother.

This experience of loss is no doubt shared by millions of people around the world. The 24-hour long line, snaking through London's unseasonably hot streets, of people waiting to pay their respects to Her Late Majesty attests to the love the British people have for their Queen. Given her public achievements, it is easy to forget that the Queen was wife to Prince Philip for almost 75 years. And Her Late Majesty was monarch for almost 71 years. So we, as Australians, have in a way been connected to the Queen for almost as long as Prince Philip was. In 1946, in a letter to his future mother-in-law, who was later to become the Queen Mother, Prince Philip wrote:

To have been spared in the war and seen victory, to have been given the chance to rest and to re-adjust myself, to have fallen in love completely and unreservedly, makes all one's personal and even the world's troubles seem small and petty.

Many Australians will struggle to grapple with the loss of Her Majesty. Hopefully, however, some people may find that, for a short moment, like His Royal Highness, their own and the world's troubles may become small and quiet. In a speech on their golden wedding anniversary, Her Majesty said of Prince Philip:

… he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years.

Those words, said remarkably after more than 60 years of marriage, no doubt can also be applied to the way many Australians feel about Her Majesty. Her Majesty has been, quite simply, a source of strength for all the people for so many years. For many of us, the passing of Queen Elizabeth II marks a moment of great sadness and grief. But this time of mourning will pass, and the deep connection and warm regard many Australians have always had for Queen Elizabeth II will not fade. May she rest in eternal peace.

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (12:45:26):

After more than 70 years on the throne, the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is at an end. On Friday 9 September much of the world awoke to the profoundly saddening news that Her Majesty had passed away. Over the past weeks, it has been clear the enormous impact that her death has had on many worldwide—as impactful, in fact, as her life. We have witnessed the most heartfelt outpouring of grief at the loss of Her Late Majesty. Crowds have gathered, flags have been lowered to half-mast and impromptu gardens have been made across the Commonwealth.

The Queen has been a constant in the lives of many of us for more than 70 years, and there is an immense sadness felt by many at her passing. As the longest serving monarch that this country and the Commonwealth have ever known, the Queen is assured of a notable place among the history pages. Since the dark days of the Second World War, the Queen has been the only monarch that many of us have ever known. She was a symbol of hope during the most recent COVID pandemic, echoing her late father, King George VI, as a symbol of national pride and unity. The Queen's devotion to service and duty has been an inspiration to so many across the world. She showed the world how to give, how to love and how to serve. That is why we mourn her so profoundly. In the depths of grief, we understand why so many held such love for her. Queen Elizabeth II once said:

When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future.

I find those words immensely comforting, and I know that many in this place would find solace in them as we continue to work hard on behalf of our local communities. Along with many members in this place, I visited Government House to sign the New South Wales condolence book and I shared the following sentiments on behalf of the people of North Shore:

To His Majesty King Charles III, on behalf of the people of North Shore who held Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the highest esteem, I send condolences to you and your family. There will be a profound impact on all of us here in New South Wales as we mourn the loss of a life lived in service and duty. We are thankful for her dedication to Australia, her people, and the wider Commonwealth.

Many in my local community maintain a strong devotion to our royal family, which is evident in the naming of many of our streets, such as Royalist Road and Prince Albert Street. The 1954 royal Australian tour reflects the incredible royal fever that still exists often today in Australia. During that tour, the young Queen made more than 100 speeches; opened eight parliaments, including our own; and attended more than 90 civic receptions.

During the tour, my community of North Shore was fortunate enough to host the Queen at a number of events, including a parade from Mosman through to North Sydney. Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh inspected the Balmoral naval base, now known as HMAS Penguin, with thousands of children and residents lining the streets. On their arrival at Middle Head, the royal pair passed beneath a floral arch created by the Mosman Home Gardeners' Society that spanned Middle Head Road. On the last day of the royal Australian tour, Sydney turned out to catch a final glimpse before the royal couple departed for New Zealand. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh delighted more than 48,000 wildly excited cheering schoolchildren in a 10-minute drive through St Leonards Park in North Sydney, which still bears, to this day, a memory of that occasion.

Children from 131 schools across Sydney turned out to see the Queen, and St John Ambulance officials had to treat more than 250 children and adults who, in their excitement and devotion, had collapsed under the blazing sun while wanting to pay tribute to Her Majesty. Near the Alfred Street end of the procession, 550 boys from The King's School, conspicuous in their slouch hats and red-and-grey uniforms, gave a military touch to the scene, which many of us would have seen echoed in yesterday's funeral. On Monday almost 5.2 billion people watched the State funeral in London, where we farewelled our Queen. I find the following quote from His Majesty the King in his recent broadcast to the Commonwealth appropriate as we say our last goodbye, "May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."

I congratulate His Majesty King Charles III on his accession to the throne. He has throughout his time been a friend to Australia and has visited regularly. He has invested significantly in the future of this country, recognising the Indigenous history, our native habitat, and the sustainability options and opportunities for other Australians. We wish His Majesty every good fortune and, as he begins his reign as King and monarch, we are confident in his ability to uphold the incredible service of his mother. I offer my condolences and the condolences of my community to you, your Majesty, and your family at this difficult time and share the thoughts and prayers of my local community. God save the King.

Mr EDMOND ATALLA (Mount Druitt) (12:50:44):

I am pleased to say a few words on behalf of my community and myself on the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. There has been substantial comment in the media since the Queen's passing, and I do not intend to repeat those opinions and news reports. Suffice to say, I agree with the general view that the Queen has been a much-loved and respected monarch ever since her coronation in 1952, some 70 years ago. There have been many examples given on the Queen's visits to Australia. Her Majesty has been a regular visitor to our shores during her long reign. She has opened parliamentary sessions and parliaments. The opening of our Sydney Opera House was a major event in which Her Majesty officiated.

But the Queen did not only officiate at internationally recognised places like the Sydney Opera House. My electorate of Mount Druitt was the scene of a big occasion in 1982 when the Queen, in the company of her husband, Prince Philip, visited the Mount Druitt area to officially open Mount Druitt Hospital. At that time, the Mount Druitt area was divided between two State electorates. St Mary's was represented by Mr Anthony Johnson, but the hospital was located in the Riverstone electorate. The event was probably the biggest ever seen in the district. Thousands of people lined the streets and there was an overflow crowd within the hospital grounds.

At that time, I was a third year student at the University of Wollongong and was residing at the university residence. I recall that some of my colleagues were all huddled around a television set, watching the event on the news. I did not know what the attraction was, so I asked the students, "What's on the TV?" One responded that the Queen was opening some hospital in Sydney. Before the Queen's visitation to Mount Druitt, not many knew or had heard of Mount Druitt. That visitation certainly put Mount Druitt on the world stage. My predecessor, the Hon. Richard Amery, often talked proudly of that occasion, when he, as a director of the hospital board, and his wife, Marie, joined other board members in lining up to be formally introduced to Her Majesty and the Duke.

After the official part of the day was over, members of the board and hospital officials, along with the then Premier, Neville Wran, dined in the hospital's boardroom. As I say, it was a big event. Her Majesty's passing had many locals recalling that big day in Mount Druitt when the Queen came to town to open our little public hospital. In conclusion, I pass on my condolences to the royal family on the sadness of Her Majesty's passing. I and my community wish the new monarch, King Charles III, the best of luck and good fortune. I am sure the new King would agree with me when I say that he has big shoes to fill, as his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, is going to be a hard act to follow.

Mr VICTOR DOMINELLO (RydeMinister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Minister for Small Business, and Minister for Fair Trading) (12:54:18):

— Many dedicate their life to service and duty with essentially faultless distinction. None to my knowledge has done so for 70 years under the relentless public scrutiny of global modern media. Her Majesty's finite reign was powerful indeed; however, her gift to leadership is where the enduring power reigns. A true lesson in grace, dignity and humility. Vale Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 1926‑2022.

I take this opportunity to congratulate our new monarch, His Majesty King Charles III. I have very much appreciated his advocacy over the years on important global issues, which reveals the monarch's personal passions and values. I wish His Majesty every good fortune and may he continue to show the adhesive qualities of true global leadership in an increasingly fragmented world. God save the King.

Ms JULIA FINN (Granville) (12:55:28):

I join with colleagues to pay my respects on behalf of the Granville community to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and recognise her incredible legacy. I also give my condolences to the royal family. Her passing after 70 years of service has touched millions. Most Australians have known no other monarch, and even those of us who desire an Australian head of State, including me, respect enormously Queen Elizabeth's diligent, devoted and calm approach to the office she held and the support that she provided to the Commonwealth. The affection with which she is held by Australians is deep and profound.

The Queen visited New South Wales 12 times, including visiting western Sydney in 1970 and 1986. On her visit in 1970, 75,000 people saw the Queen as she drove from the RAAF Base Richmond to Windsor and on to Parramatta and Rydalmere. The Bishop of Parramatta the Right Reverend H. G. S. Begbie and the St Matthews Church warden conducted the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh through the Francis Greenway-designed church. The Queen then looked at plaques honouring district pioneers and inspected the book of baptisms, marriages and burials dating back to 1810. At Parramatta the Queen declared open the restored Old Government House and their route to Rydalmere Wharf was crowded with people waving flags and streamers.

Down Under

During the 1986 royal visit, the Queen boarded a launch at the Man O'War Steps at Sydney Opera House to Rivendell wharf at Parramatta and then took the royal Rolls-Royce to Parramatta Stadium. There were 30,000 fans at the stadium, where Premier Neville Wran and Federal Minister for Sport, Recreation and Tourism John Brown as well as rugby league greats Mick Cronin and Ken Thornett joined the Queen. Premier Wran announced that Parramatta "was the very heart and living centre of the vast metropolitan area of Sydney, a place which in the early days of settlement equalled the importance of Sydney town itself." Several thousand children dressed in green and gold performed aerobics to by Men at Work. The Queen signed the visitors' book for the City of Parramatta and left for the RAAF Base Richmond to depart Sydney for Melbourne.

The Sydney Morning Herald

On 18 January 1977 a crowded commuter train derailed and ran into the supports of a road bridge that collapsed onto two of the train's passenger carriages. This date is seared into the history of Granville and remains the worst rail disaster in Australian history, when 83 people died, more than 213 were injured and 1,300 were affected. On 20 January 1977 reported that the Queen had sent a telegram to the Governor‑General expressing her sympathy for the victims of the crash. The telegram read, "I am much distressed to learn of the tragic train disaster at Granville. The Duke of Edinburgh joins in sending our heartfelt sympathy to the relatives of those who lost their lives and to the injured. Elizabeth R." During her lifetime, she consulted with 16 Australian prime ministers and 16 governor-generals served in her name. She was the patron of more than 20 Australian charities and associations. When visiting Australia in 2002 the Queen said, "For myself, I thank all Australians and declare again that my admiration, affection and regard for the people of Australia will remain as it has been—constant, sure and true."

As the Second World War engulfed Europe, the then Princess Elizabeth rallied to the cause and enlisted in the military, helping to boost the morale of the British people. In 1944, upon turning 18 she enlisted in the women's branch of the British Army, known as the Territorial Auxiliary Services. Rather than allow his daughter to be granted a high rank due to her royal standing, King George XI insisted that she be treated like any other soldier. Training as a second subaltern, she became an ambulance driver, learning to fix engines and change tyres—tasks we have all seen her perform in the later years of her life.

Princess Elizabeth saw her father's dogged refusal to leave London during wartime as an example of steadfast leadership and morale boosting. Most recently, during the pandemic, the Queen revived a World War II slogan to rouse the United Kingdom:

We should take comfort that 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.

It is clear that the Queen's wartime service helped shape her sense of duty. The Queen regularly sent a message of remembrance on Anzac Day. In the first year of her reign, in her message to the Governor‑General, Sir William McKell, she said:

On this Anzac Day, the first of my reign, I join with my peoples in the Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand in their remembrance of those Australians and New Zealanders who died in two World Wars …

I know that their sacrifices will continue to inspire all of us in our efforts to advance the happiness and prosperity of mankind.

The following year she wrote:

On Anzac Day in the year of my Coronation I share with my peoples in the Commonwealth of Australia and in New Zealand, the thankful remembrance of our debt to all Australians and New Zealanders who had laid down their lives in battle.

The memory of their sacrifice will be cherished for ever in all our hearts.

The following year the Queen joined more than 80,000 people in Hyde Park for a gathering of ex‑service men and women, war widows and legacy orphans at the Anzac memorial. The Queen met six winners of the Victoria Cross, including Mr George Cartwright, VC. Granville made a big contribution to the effort in the Great War. Some 1,469 names appear on the honour roll for the Granville district and two men from Granville, Private George Cartwright and Lieutenant Arthur Hall, were recognised for their service, bravery and sacrifice with the awarding of the Victoria Cross.

Because she lived her entire life in the public eye, and more so than any of her predecessors, we know from the early days of her reign that she was an animal lover. She favoured horses, of which she owned more than 100, but the Queen's best friends may have been her corgis and her other dogs. On Australia Day in 1959, after the passing of her corgi named Susan, the Queen wrote:

I had always dreaded losing her, but I am ever so thankful that her suffering was so mercifully short.

Susan's tombstone notes:

For almost 15 years the faithful companion of the Queen.

Over the next six decades the Queen would own more than 30 of Susan's descendants. Susan was an eighteenth birthday gift from the Queen's father, King George VI. Almost single-handedly the Queen created a mass market for corgis. Susan was mischievous and at one time bit the royal clock winder and on another occasion bit a young palace sentry. Princess Diana is said to have coined the phrase "a moving carpet" to describe the jumble of dogs that preceded the Queen when she walked with them. The Queen called them "the girls and the boys". In all her years of breeding, she never sold any of her puppies. All stayed with her or were given to breeders, relatives or friends. Between 1933 and 2018 the Queen always owned at least one corgi, but mostly it was more than that. At the time of her passing she owned another two. During her life the Queen introduced a new breed of dog, the dorgi, which is a mix between a dachshund and a corgi. It is not an official breed but they were much-loved members of the royal household. It is said that when her last dorgi, Candy, passed, it affected the Queen very deeply.

The Crown

After the Netflix series aired, corgi puppy registrations leapt by 60 per cent after the first season and 47 per cent in 2018 after the second season. The James Bond skit starring the Queen and three royal corgis at the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony also saw them tummy‑roll back into the public consciousness. We have different memories of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II but, as a dog owner and a former owner of corgis, I think you can tell a lot about a person from how they treat animals. The Queen certainly had a lifetime love of her corgis and I cannot imagine her without those animals beside her.

She also loved horses and was a dedicated breeder of thoroughbred racehorses. In 2013, at age 87, the Queen watched the Royal Ascot race and saw her racehorse, Estimate, win the prestigious Gold Cup. The races were some of the rare occasions when the Queen could allow her guard to drop in public for a few moments. She expressed her delight as a pure racing fan. She had great success from early in her reign. She was named British flat racing Champion Owner in 1954 and 1957. With victories at the St Leger Stakes, Epsom Oaks, 1000 Guineas and 2000 Guineas, the only one of five British classic races that eluded her was the Epsom Derby.

~break She made regular visits to the Royal Stud in Sandringham, and once the horses finished racing, they remained in her care in retirement. In her first public appearance after the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, she was riding one of her ponies around the grounds of Windsor Castle. Animals, or pets, can bring people closer together, and values such as her love of animals and love of life underpinned Queen Elizabeth II's reign. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a steadfast leader and one whom we felt so familiar with and connected to. It is with great sadness that we commemorate her passing but with fondness that we recall her contribution to our country.

Mr MARK SPEAKMAN (CronullaAttorney General) (13:05:05):

— I only saw Queen Elizabeth II once in my life, as a young, corgi-owning boy waving my plastic flag on 29 April 1970 when she whizzed past me and thousands of others through Caringbah on her way to Kurnell for the 200th anniversary of Cook's arrival on Gweagal land. Her Majesty's death has dominated our media and public discourse over the past 11 days. Why such an outpouring of admiration and affection in Australia for a 96-year-old woman on the other side of the world? For some, it is the magic of monarchy, the razzle-dazzle of royalty, the pageantry of pomp and the sparkle of spectacle. For some, it is the reassurance of continuity, the comfort of familiarity in rapidly changing times and a monarch who, for example, saw 16 Australian prime ministers and the already commenced and ongoing evolution of empire into commonwealth.

For others, including me, it is a reminder that whatever our individual positions about the detail of our constitutional arrangements, we are a country so blessed by stability, relative harmony, strong democratic institutions and the rule of law and witnessing a seamless, peaceful, uncontested transfer of title that is often lacking in other countries. For still others, including me, it is Her Late Majesty's persona as someone at the pinnacle of public life, yet removed from the rancour and ruthlessness, the intrigue and infighting and the cynicism and sarcasm that so often accompanies it. Here was a woman symbolising the best in public life with courtesy, dignity, stoicism, good grace, good humour and even an old-fashioned common touch with cardigans and corgis, and above all in the service of others. Indeed, back in 1947 on her twenty-first birthday, she famously proclaimed, "My whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be dedicated to your service." With 70 years of dedicated service as our Queen and her steady witness to her faith, she has honoured that promise. Vale, Her Late Majesty. Well done, good and faithful servant. I congratulate and offer my best wishes to her heir and successor and our sovereign, King Charles III.

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland) (13:08:10):

I make a brief contribution to the condolence motion on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I congratulate King Charles III on his accession to the throne. We have heard so much in other members' speeches and have read so much in the media about the passing of Her Late Majesty that I do not want to go over all the ground that has been covered before. I will speak from the perspective of a woman who has lived with the Queen as monarch for all of my life and, on a personal level, about the leadership and inspiration she has provided to me.

People talk about her 70 years as the monarch, but her leadership started from a very young age. When we hear the stories of her service during the war and of her broadcasts to young children in the midst of uncertainty and fear of war to give them a sense of certainty, strength and courage in a difficult time, for a young person to do that is an act of inspiration.

I wonder to myself how many of us could wake up to the news that our father had passed and know that the morning that we felt that intense personal grief at the loss of a parent would have to be shared not just with our friends and family but also with a nation that we were now expected to lead—and, indeed, the Commonwealth—as she did so eloquently, strongly, determinedly and doggedly throughout her life. None of us can experience or even properly comprehend that life of service and duty, that need to provide hope for the future and stability in such a time of uncertainty and change. As someone who leads a very small group in my community, I see that resilience and ability to exist in a situation where there are so many conversations, where so many nuances are being debated all the time about every action that she takes. She always stood resolute and did what she saw as the right thing to do, rather than just ducking and weaving with the winds and responding to that public sentiment.

It has been really wonderful to see the warm and the personal emotional response of members of my community to the passing of Her Late Majesty. I put a condolence book in my electorate, and it has been signed by so many people. We are sending it off to Canberra today so that it permanently forms part of the record. On the outside walls of the library, the Maitland City Council has displayed some of the images of the Queen that have become so iconic in our collective memory over the past 70 years. They will also be renaming Ministers Park to Queen Elizabeth Park, which I think is a great move. I warmly invite His Majesty King Charles III to come back to Maitland, as he has been there previously, to perhaps plant a tree in honour of Her Majesty. The royal family is a complex family. Not many of us have to live our lives in the limelight that they have had to experience; probably no-one on earth has had as much scrutiny of every aspect of their lives as that family has. Her Late Majesty led that family. She gave them the love and the support that she could as a mother, wife, parent, grandparent, sister and sibling, but also as a monarch who had to lead by example.

Her life as a woman doing amazing things, making sacrifices and undertaking tasks that were not expected of women when she first did them has also inspired so many women across our globe. We only have to think about the fairytales of old, which always talked about kings and queens. I still remember coming to a consciousness as a very young girl that we did not have a king of Australia or of the Commonwealth; it was the Queen. That is a very powerful message to women in the twentieth century, particularly, as feminists started to regain a voice for women across the world. That is not to say that the Queen was flying a feminist flag, but she was just being. Not many of us in life can actually inspire others just by knuckling down and doing the job that we have been assigned to do. On behalf of the community of Maitland, I extend my most sincere condolences to the royal family. I thank Her Late Majesty the Queen for the inspiration and the strength that she has given all of us.

Debate interrupted.

The SPEAKER:

I shall now leave the chair. The House will resume at 3.00 p.m.

Transcription in progress…