CONDOLENCES

Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (14:01): I move: That the House record its deep regret at the death, on 5 June 2026, of the Reverend the Honourable Professor Michael Carter Tate AO, a former Minister and Senator for the State of Tasmania from 1978 to 1993, place on record its appreciation of his long and meritorious public service, and tender its profound sympathy to his family in their bereavement.

I acknowledge the enormous contribution to the parliament and to the nation of former senator for Tasmania Father Michael Tait AO. His contribution to our nation was extraordinary in both its breadth and its depth. He excelled as a parliamentarian, minister, diplomat and ultimately as a Catholic priest.

As a senator for Tasmania and later minister for justice in the Hawke and Keating governments, Michael helped shape important reforms. In 1987, he played a key role in establishing the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and initiated a national review of gun control laws. In 1994, he was appointed as Australia's ambassador to the Holy See and to The Hague and represented our nation with distinction, wisdom and dignity.

So far, this sounds like a distinguished and one might say not atypical parliamentarian's life, but those who remember him know that was certainly not the case. The hint comes in his full later title: Father Michael Tate AO. Members of our parliament often go on to have second vocations after they retire or lose their seats, but I can't think of another whose second vocation was literally a vocation—a religious vocation.

There are precedents for priests becoming politicians. Sir Thomas More—the 'man for all seasons', famously—comes to mind. I can't think of another politician who became a priest.

It's a measure of the uniqueness of the man. His religious vocation wasn't something he decided upon in political retirement. It infused the whole of his adult life and was, in a very literal way, the thing that inspired him to enter politics.

As a young man, he aligned himself with the reforming second Vatican council and adopted as his hero and role model the Reverend Martin Luther King—that great believer in peace, justice and nonviolence. It led him to join the Australian Labor Party, because he opposed conscription for the war in Vietnam. Later, like many members of my party, his strong beliefs in pacifism and nonviolence caused him great distress when confronted by the Hawke government's decision to commit Australian forces to the first gulf war.

Following his political retirement, he became a trusted spiritual guide to many Tasmanians, and those he knew personally have lost a loyal friend, a valued colleague and a generous mentor. There is a story that Michael loved telling. I knew Michael in the Old Parliament House, and he was a great storyteller.

In 1996, as Australia's ambassador to the Holy See, he was received by Pope John Paul II in a farewell audience. He recalled how the quite busy Holy Father looked weary and a bit bored. 'Excellency, what is your next assignment?' the Pope asked politely. To which Michael responded, 'Holy Father, actually, I'm going to study for the priesthood.' 'A late vocation,' said the Pope. 'No, Holy Father, an early vocation long delayed,' was his response.

I think we might conclude that it was a vocation that he was true to his entire life. Our parliament was and is the better for having such a man for all seasons as a member. I pass on my respects to all who knew and who loved him.