Natasha Stott Despoja (SA, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

The incorporated speech read as follows—

Motion of Condolence for former Senator Siegfried Emil (Sid) Spindler

Sid Spindler was a close friend, colleague and mentor.

I am the only current Democrat Senator to have served with him in the party room but I knew him well when I was a staff member during the early 1990s. In fact, while I was working for former Democrat Senator Karin Sowada, we were in adjoining offices.

Sid left the Senate in 1996, the year after I became a Senator. I missed his presence in the party room but he remained a respected, loved and supportive party figure and even better friend.

He is famous for his indefatigable work ethic. He was one of the few Senators there as late as the staff!

He didn’t suffer fools gladly and it took time for him to respect your commitment and talent, but to be accepted and supported by Sid was amazing. His support never wavered and I am forever grateful for that, especially during tough times in the party’s history.

Sid’s legacy is a proud one.

He was a fearless advocate for human rights, domestically and internationally. He was a passionate and tireless advocate for equality and social justice.

I learnt from his tenacity and his dedication. He worked the hardest, longest hours. He picked apart legislation, encapsulating what it was to provide a check on executive power. He moved many amendments to improve bills as well as initiating policy, Private Senator’s Bills, and inquiries he later even self funded.

Sid’s commitment to the rights of workers, refugees, indigenous Australians, and people all over the world is unassailable.

That he died on the 30th anniversary of the Mardi Gras reminds us that his work on ending discrimination for same sex couples is second to none in Federal Parliament.

Sid had a great sense of humour. He enjoyed being included in the Men of Senate calendar—yes, a bit of cheek on my behalf—and was always good for an intellectual discussion or a laugh at the many events and meetings we attended together over the years.

It is a great disappointment to me today that I cannot be there in person to eulogise this man. As I have just had my second child I am unable to travel for this sitting period. Otherwise I could do greater justice to the many fun, difficult, challenging and exciting times we had in this place and in the party.

I thank him personally for his unwavering support. He was a tower of strength during the GST debate and again when I was Leader of the party he helped form.

One of my happiest memories is celebrating the 25^th birthday of the Democrats at a dinner in Melbourne, which included former senators like Sid, Don Chipp, Norman Sanders and John Siddons. He knew I was proud to be a part of that group of like-minded party stalwarts.

Sid never gave up on the party he helped form.

He worked with former leaders and then was a Senator from 1990 to 1996.

Even while he was ill, he was still passionately espousing the Democrat cause—in spite of some devastating disappointments over the years—and was a forceful advocate for our existence.

We have lost a Democrat secure in our history and I’ve lost a friend and colleague.

He is survived by his wife Julia and children Kerry, Chris, Lindy and Bec, to whom the party and my family (Ian, Conrad and Cordelia) send our love and best wishes and thank them for the time they allowed us with their husband and father.

Question agreed to, honourable senators standing in their places.