Thursday, 21 March 2024

Members statements

Linda White

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (09:46): I rise to pay tribute to my friend the late Senator Linda White. I worked with Linda for over 20 years at the Australian Services Union. Linda was one of the hardest working people I have ever met. Principled, tough and uncompromising in her approach, Linda would always hold everyone in the room to account in the fiercest way possible and then half an hour later have everyone in fits of laughter. That was Linda. For her entire working life Linda devoted herself to improving the lives of working people, from her time as a union delegate, a lawyer, a union official and ultimately a senator for Victoria. She was singularly focused on righting wrongs. All change comes from a collective effort, and Linda would be the first to acknowledge that, but it is fair to say that some of the groundbreaking industrial reforms of our era have Linda’s fingerprints all over them – equal pay for workers in the community sector, addressing the superannuation pay gap, family violence leave and fighting for entitlements in the aftermath of the collapse of Ansett, just to name a few. As a senator for Victoria Linda made her mark early, but she had so much more to give. It was a privilege to join hundreds of mourners at ACMI last week to celebrate her life. My thoughts are with her brother Michael and all of those who loved her. She will be deeply, deeply missed.