Tuesday, 1 August 2023

Hon. Thomas William Roper

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:06): I move:

That this house expresses its sincere sorrow at the death, on 21 June 2023, of the Honourable Thomas William Roper and places on record its acknowledgement of the valuable services rendered by him to the Parliament and the people of Victoria as a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1973 to 1994, for the electoral districts of Brunswick West from 1973 to 1976, Brunswick from 1976 to 1992 and Coburg from 1992 to 1994, and as Minister of Health from 1982 to 1985, Minister for Transport from 1985 to 1987, Minister for Planning and Environment and Minister for Consumer Affairs from 1987 to 1990, Treasurer from 1990 to 1992, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs from 1987 to 1990 and from 1991 to 1992, and Minister for Employment, Post-Secondary Education and Training and Minister for Gaming in 1992.

I will take the opportunity to extend my and the government’s sincerest condolences on the passing of such a remarkable individual. He influenced the lives of many in Victoria, and so many people mourn his loss. He was a true advocate for social justice, a compassionate community leader and a cherished friend to countless Victorians. Tom’s unwavering commitment to upholding the principles of fairness and equality made him an outstanding member of the Victorian Parliament, serving for, as we have heard, 21 years in a range of positions. Throughout his distinguished career he tirelessly championed the rights of the marginalised and vulnerable and was deeply committed to the cause of Aboriginal reconciliation. His contribution to shaping a more just and inclusive Victoria will be fondly remembered and reflected on often.

Tom’s commitment to education and social justice began early in life through his passion for addressing the inequalities faced by students. He also published a book, The Myth of Equality, in 1971. Tom’s career in public service started with the National Union of Australian University Students, where he was the national Aboriginal affairs officer, followed by serving as the education vice-president from 1968 to 1970. He also became a tutor at La Trobe University’s education school, further utilising his skills and solidifying his commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable society.

He was a dedicated member of the Labor Party. He was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly, as we heard, in 1973, and he was only 28. He represented the constituents of Brunswick West, Brunswick and later Coburg, and throughout his tenure in Parliament he displayed an unwavering dedication to the betterment of Victoria, actively working to address social issues and promote positive change wherever he could. Tom’s leadership was evident as he assumed various ministerial roles – as I went through in the motion, many, many different roles, all of which he brought passion and commitment to. He additionally served as Leader of the House in the other place.

Even after retiring from politics in 1994 Tom continued to make significant contributions to various advisory councils and boards. He served on the Australian government advisory council, and he was a dedicated member of the Australian Hearing Services and the Climate Institute in Washington DC. His commitment to environmental conservation led him to become a board member of Greenfleet Australia in 2003, where he served for 21 years. In recognition of his contribution he was presented with a milestone forest, ‘Tom’s Forest’, planted in central Victoria and reflecting a life devoted to, among other things, promoting sustainability and advocating for the environment.

Beyond his professional accomplishments Tom Roper was a dedicated family man and a dear friend to many. His infectious warmth and genuine concern for others endeared him to those fortunate enough to cross paths with him. On behalf of the government I extend my condolences to his wife Anita, his three children and his broader family and friends.

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:10): On behalf of the Liberals and Nationals, can I join with the government in acknowledging the death of the Honourable Tom Roper and also send our condolences to his family, friends and the broader Labor movement. Tom Roper was born in Sydney on 6 March 1945. He spent most of his young life there. I understand that he was educated in Sydney at North Sydney Boys High School and then went on to Sydney University, where he graduated with honours in arts and majored in history.

As the Leader of the Government has said, he became a very active member of Sydney University and became involved in politics at that time. His activism in politics started at Sydney University. He then went and worked at the National Union of Students as an Aboriginal affairs officer, later education vice-president. He then became an adviser to the federal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs at the time, Gordon Bryant, in 1973. So he did have a long interest in this area. I note that in recent years with his stroke that he was still advocating on behalf of, as the government has said, marginalised people, including those with disability.

Tom Roper then came to Victoria, and as a relatively young member at the age of 28 was elected as the member for Brunswick West 1973 to 1976, Brunswick 1976 to 1992 and Coburg 1992 to 1994. As has been well recognised, he was, in opposition, the Shadow Minister for Health under two different governments – from 1976 to 1982 and then again in 1992 to 1993. In government he held a range of portfolios: Minister for Health 1982 to 1985; Minister for Transport 1985 to 1987; Minister for Planning and Environment and Minister for Consumer Affairs 1987 to 1990; Treasurer 1990 to 1992, which were some very difficult times for the state of Victoria; Minister for Aboriginal Affairs 1987 to 1990 and 1991 to 1992; Minister for Employment, Post-Secondary Education and Training and Minister for Gaming from January to October 1992; Shadow Minister for Sport, Recreation, Racing and Gaming 1992 to 1993; and also Leader of the House for the period 1989 to 1992. So it is a broad range of experience in this house in his ministerial responsibilities with all of these portfolios that he held.

As the Leader of the Government said, he had a keen interest once leaving Parliament in taking on roles where he was recognised internationally with his environmental credentials and his interest in Aboriginal affairs and, as I said, with the sad circumstances of his stroke, in also advocating on behalf of people with a disability. Can I also lend support and condolences to his family, his wife, his three children and all those that knew the late Tom Roper.

Sheena WATT (Northern Metropolitan) (12:13): I rise to pay tribute to the late Honourable Tom Roper, a man who meant so much to my local community in Brunswick. Many in this place will know him as one of the great health ministers of this state or as the Treasurer of Victoria, but to me and many other First Nations people, we know him as a champion of Indigenous rights. Aunty Joy Murphy spoke so eloquently at his state funeral of a man who wanted to change things for the better and a man that absolutely valued the environment, the country and of course our connection to it. He was a First Peoples minister well before his time, a champion for change before it was popular, and I will be forever grateful for the reforms he achieved as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. That can be seen in so many ways but locally in the only Aboriginal aged care home in Melbourne, the Aboriginal Community Elders Services in Brunswick East.

Brunswick is full of stories of Tom’s love and passion for the community, and in unearthing these I discovered from Helen Politis, a much-loved local, that he was a true Labor warrior until the very end. Tom would make every effort to hand out how-to-vote cards for Labor in every election, and the last time she saw him, she told me, he had just come out of hospital and he was still recovering from surgery and yet insisted on knowing the location of the voting booth. He was planning on being there to support the ALP that he loved so much – so, so much was the depth of his love for the party that he gave so much of his life to.

But as much as he loved the party, the people of Brunswick loved him more, especially the Greek community. As sure as the sun rises, you would see Tom celebrating the richness of the Greek heritage in the north. He was seen at almost every cultural event and would stay for hours and hours and get into the spirit of things, including dancing, and in doing so would fill the room with laughter and good spirits. On behalf of the Greek community, many of whom have reached out to me in the weeks since, I thank him for his service and I mourn his loss.

Tom’s impact is felt just about everywhere in Brunswick, including in his love of education and local schools. As a strong advocate for multiculturalism, he embraced the migrant community, mainly from Turkish, Greek, and Italian backgrounds. He pulled them close together and shared with them his passion for education and making sure that migrant families were very much involved in the decision-making of the school. Former Brunswick Girls High School teacher Prue Gill spoke in glowing terms of someone who was always campaigning for school upgrades and a new building and managed to find funds anywhere he could for the vital upgrades needed, including money from Whitlam’s disadvantaged school fund, which kept the school so strong in Brunswick.

Of course I cannot go past Tom’s love of sport. Like me, he was an absolute diehard supporter of the Carlton Blues. Somewhat unusually, though, he had some split loyalties, and just as loudly as he cheered for Carlton, he also cheered for the team of his partner Anita, the Fitzroy Football Club. Members of the Fitzroy Football Club remember a passionate supporter who was there for every home game and at every pre-game lunch. He was a popular figure who always supported vigorously from the concourse in front of the stands at Brunswick Street oval alongside Anita. He was known and loved by everyone at Fitzroy, and home games I hear have just not been the same since. To president David Leydon and all those involved in this special club, which is our most beloved Fitzroy, I am so sorry for your loss. It is no surprise that the first time I met Tom was at Brunswick Street oval. He was cheering louder than I ever thought possible, and at quarter time he peppered me with stories of Labor achievements, sage advice and some words about his long-term commitment to First Peoples. We even shared the same role as an advocate for Aboriginal peoples in our younger years, and yes, that filled up much conversation. The stories flowed between the goals and the marks of that Saturday afternoon and many other times after.

Tom, your legacy lives on in the lives changed and in the trees planted in your most fittingly named Tom’s Forest. My condolences to all that loved you, and mostly to Anita and your beautiful children. Vale, Tom Roper.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:19): I am only going to make a few remarks here to associate myself with this condolence motion for Tom Roper – ‘Snappy Tom’ in the community parlance. I did know Tom reasonably well. I did not serve with him in this Parliament, but I especially do remember that period through the 1980s when he was both health minister and later transport minister. I did also have significant dealings with him after he had left Parliament. He had his environmental interests, and he was a person who was prepared to talk to all parties and people of all different political backgrounds. He did provide useful advice in his various environmental roles and capacities, and he provided information to the opposition at various points too. I think it is important to recognise his ability to work across the chamber as well as that clearly he was a true Labor warrior, if I can describe him that way. There was much that we disagreed on, but there were things that he was able to impart that were valuable to our side of politics too.

I associate myself with this motion, noting his family. Anita of course was a Liberal, as people may know, and there are obviously those links there. But I should also say, perhaps more controversially, that he was a person who understood the standing orders and procedures of the Parliament very well indeed, and I will be slightly negative for just a moment: many believe that the slide in the Assembly ‍– I am going to reflect on that chamber – commenced in the period before 1992 when Tom Roper innovated with more, let me say, robust sessional orders and so forth, some of which were adopted later by an incoming government. He also was a person who in opposition best knew how to create confusion and chaos in a chamber.

Members interjecting.

David DAVIS: No, I am just reflecting. I do not think these are, in one sense, controversial things. He understood both sides of the equation. But perhaps his legacy in the Assembly is not something that has served Victoria as well as it could have. I think there is plenty of scope for reform still in the Assembly these days. But on his passing, I think he was a larger-than-life figure in so many regards – during his time in transport and his time in health and, as I say, the period after he retired.

Ryan BATCHELOR (Southern Metropolitan) (12:22): Just a brief contribution today to pay tribute to the late Tom Roper, obviously a significant figure in Victorian Labor and in Labor governments and someone close to my family, who made an impression on me as a youngster in and around that period of Labor politics that he was part of. But I want to talk briefly about the contribution Tom made beyond his parliamentary career. You can read the parliamentary biography and it is significant, but there are equally significant things he did before he entered the Parliament – most significantly, it seems, was the book he wrote, The Myth of Equality, which was referenced earlier, as a research officer for what was then the National Union of Australian University Students. It was revolutionary for its time and made great use of statistics and analysis to demonstrate quite convincingly just how much universities in Australia were the provenance of wealth and privilege. It was the work that he did, the analysis that he did, which made such a fundamental impact on the policy settings and the policy directions of the Whitlam government and the transformation that the Whitlam government made to Australia’s university system, transforming it and beginning the process of transformation from the provenance of wealth and privilege to one that is universally accessible. Many benefited from that right across our community.

Ms Watt has touched on his engagement with our First Nations communities. He was in fact brought to Melbourne by a job with the Abschol scholarship scheme, which was a not-for-profit organisation set up to support First Nations students going to university. This was a job that was given to him, and he was employed by John Ridley, who was a former state director of the Liberal Party. So we have John to thank for bringing Tom to us in Melbourne.

There is a very interesting oral history project on the National Library of Australia website which I listened to last night, on the suggestion of my old man. One of the stories that Tom tells is of a trip he took in the early 1970s to a UNESCO conference in the United States on university governance. Not content with just going to the conference to do the one thing he was there to do, he went out and spent some time with the Navajo community, and he learned about how they were delivering education in language and reflected on what we were doing in Australia. At a time when this practice was not only not encouraged but was prohibited in many parts of the country and at a time when many Aboriginal children were not allowed to speak their own language in their schools, Tom was part of the push to get that changed. He was a fervent supporter of self-determination for Aboriginal people during his time prior to public life, during public life and post.

He was obviously a big supporter of environmental movements. He never stopped being engaged in the issues of the day. His advocacy for accessibility on our tram network was just one of the things that he was so passionate about. He was gregarious, which is why he left such an impression on a young me, and behind his smile – his cherub smile, which will always remain a feature of my memory ‍– was a person who cared about people, and you saw that in everything that he did. He will be missed by many, notably his family, so we send our love to Anita and his children. And he will be missed by the Labor Party a lot.

The PRESIDENT (12:26): I might take the liberty of just adding briefly to this condolence motion, taking up Mr Batchelor’s point that Tom Roper was someone who cared about people. He left a huge impression on me the first time I met him and every time I spoke to him after that. The first time I met him, a long, long time ago, was when I had first come out of my apprenticeship. I was an electrician and had a responsibility for the electrics on a level of a building called Transport House. It was near completion and the tenants were moving in, and at this period of time these blokes in suits were coming on site with hard hats and for a few days in a row were giving me grief about, ‘Oh, I don’t think the minister would actually appreciate this aerial here and there,’ to the point that on the second day, when they tried me on, I said, ‘Listen, if you talk to me like this again, every electrician is walking off this job and will never come back and complete it, right, so you need to stop now.’ A few days later more blokes in suits turned up – more, as in a dozen – and a shorter guy came through the pack and made a beeline to me, and it was Tom Roper. Obviously, he was the minister that was going to take over this office, and he spent what seemed like at least 10 or 15 minutes just talking to me about the industry and about the next job. He complimented me and the apprentice on the work that we had done and at the end of the conversation said, ‘Thanks, guys. Thanks for the work. It’s been a pleasure to meet you.’ And I said, ‘It’s been a pleasure to meet you as well, Tom. I am rapt at what a terrific fellow you are, especially after your buddies there have been so ordinary.’ As I said, every time I met him as a younger MP, he made time, and he cared about people. So, Mr Batchelor, I could not agree with what you have said any more.

The question is that the house extends its condolences on the passing of the Honourable Tom William Roper. Can I ask members to signify their assent by rising in their place for 1 minute’s silence.

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

The PRESIDENT: The proceedings will now suspend as a further mark of respect, and I will resume the chair at 1:30.

Sitting suspended 12:30 pm until 1:33 pm.