Anthony Albanese pays tribute to Queen’s “seven remarkable decades on the throne”
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By Andrea Hayward, Andrew Brown and Tess Ikonomou in Sydney
Australians will remember Queen Elizabeth II as a wise and enduring presence, Anthony Albanese says.
“Her Majesty celebrated our good times and she stood with us during trials and hardships, happy and glorious,” the prime minister said in a televised address on Friday morning following news of the 96-year-old monarch’s death.
In the coming days, Mr Albanese will travel to London with the Governor-General David Hurley to convey the sorrow of Australians.
The Queen visited Australia 16 times during her reign, visiting every state and territory.
During her first visit to Australia in February 1954, 70 per cent of Australians turned out to catch a glimpse of the young monarch, Mr Albanese said.
“Throughout her reign Queen Elizabeth II showed her deep affection for our country,” he said.
“As she said at the Sydney Opera House in the year 2000, ‘Since I stepped ashore here, I have felt part of this rugged, honest, creative land and I have shared in the joys and sorrows, the challenges and the changes that have shaped this country’s history.’
“Her Majesty celebrated our good times, and she stood with us during trials and hardships, happy and glorious but steadfast too.
“In particular we recall the sympathy and personal kindness she extended to Australians afflicted by tragedy and disaster from floods and bushfires.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton paid tribute to the Queen, saying the world was yet to see a “more dutiful leader” or a “more decent human”.
“That extraordinary life which touched so many has sadly come to an end,” he said.
“The last page has been inked on an exceptional reign … a monarch who ruled with an absolutely huge heart and wisdom both innate and gained from almost a century of life and experience.
“Her Majesty was gentle, kind and much loved.”
In a statement, former prime minister Tony Abbott said the Commonwealth had lost an “exemplar of duty, honour and faithfulness”.
“Although I served the the Australian people as prime minister, I was always conscious of a duty to her as sovereign,” he said.
“I thought the crown always lent a touch of dignity to our robust public life.
“It is so typical of this remarkable woman that she was discharging her duty till her last day on this earth.”
Former prime minister Scott Morrison, who was the last Australian leader to meet with the Queen, said she had an affinity with Australia.
“It was the greatest privilege of my life to meet with her on several occasions,” he told Sydney radio station 2GB.
“She loved the resilience of Aussies and quite in awe of it, particularly rural communities … and understood droughts and challenges of farmers.
“She asked about the mice plague when I was there last year.”
Former prime minister Kevin Rudd said like many, he was in a state of shock and had expected the Queen to recover as she had with past illnesses.
“I didn’t really believe it,” he told ABC News.
“In meeting folks like myself, she was also extraordinarily well briefed … and she’s just a person with a great sense of fun and a sense of humour.”
Mr Rudd said republicans and monarchists alike, all had an “enormous affection” and respect for the Queen.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she was “deeply saddened” by the death.
“Her Majesty’s historic reign was defined by her dignity, strength and her dedication to service,” she wrote on Twitter.
The prime minister said the Queen was the only reigning monarch many had known and the only one to visit Australia.
“Today marks the end of an era the close of the second Elizabeth’s age,” Mr Albanese said.
“This time of mourning will pass but the deep respect and warmth regarding which Australians have always held for Her Majesty will never fade.”
AAP