VALE VICTORIAN SENATOR SID SPINDLER
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The Democrats are very saddened to lose their colleague and friend, former Victorian Senator Sid Spindler who died yesterday aged 75.
“We offer our condolences to Sid's widow, Julia, his four children, extended family and friends.” Senator Allison said. “He will be greatly missed.”
A tireless campaigner for social justice over 40 years, Siegfried Emil Spindler, 9/7/1932 – 1/3/2008 died yesterday afternoon in Epworth Hospital, a year after being diagnosed with liver cancer.
“Sid's contribution to Australian politics was huge. He was a man who fought injustice all his life, and was central to the formation of the Party over thirty years ago.
“Sid fought many battles in his determination to defend human rights and improve the lives and the opportunities for the most marginalised in society.
Senator Spindler, a law graduate, was Don Chipp's senior advisor 1981-1986 and Victorian Democrat Senator 1990-1996. He was elected to the Senate in 1990 with the highest federal vote ever enjoyed by the Democrats in Victoria, and won great respect for his work there.
He will be remembered for his campaigns to end child labour, the exploitation of outworkers in the textile industry, establishing fighting fund for legal challenges to woodchip licences and sexuality discrimination and the treatment of asylum seekers. He challenged the Keating Government's economic policies and prepared alternative budgets and tariff proposals. He was the first parliamentarian to hold an inquiry independent of the parliament. He won changes to IR laws to stop discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual preference, age and physical and mental disability and had customs duty removed from wheelchairs. He led the Democrats negotiations on Native Title and was a campaigner, even in retirement, against Indigenous disadvantage.
“I am personally grateful to Sid for the help and mentoring he provided to me when I contested his seat on his retirement in 1996.
“We have lost a leading Australian,” Senator Allison concluded, “A fighter to the end.”
Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.
Media contact – David Collyer 0417 613 610
Senator Sid Spindler dies – by Ian Baker 0419885737
Former Australian Democrat Senator Sid Spindler – the man who spoke most in the Federal Parliament between 1990 and 1996 – has died in Melbourne.
A tireless campaigner for social justice over 40 years, Siegfried Emil Spindler, 75, (DOB 9/7/1932) died yesterday afternoon (Saturday, March 1, 2008) in Epworth Hospital, one year after being diagnosed with liver cancer.
Spindler had a high public profile over the past 20 years due to his prolific writings on social justice and his willingness to engage in radio and TV debates.
He worked to get his ideas across to the public to the end. In January, dismayed that fellow sufferers could not afford treatment, he appeared on TV news services campaigning for the anti-cancer drug Avastin to be supplied (means tested) on the PBS list. The most recent issue (March) of the current affairs magazine Arena featured a comprehensive and heartfelt Spindler article on Empowering Aboriginal Communities.
Just days before he died he said the February 13 Apology To Stolen Generations Day had gladdened his heart more than any single public event over his long life. In his maiden speech in Parliament, in August 1990 Spindler declared, “ a strong and continuing interest in their (Indigenous Australians) quest for justice and a place in our community that takes account of their cultural and spiritual heritage which can and should enrich our own.”
Twelve years later Spindler, with family and donor-supporters established his own philanthropic fund called Towards A Just Society, dedicated to supporting Indigenous education.
Spindler, born in Poland of German parents, was a law graduate who had a successful painting and decorating business in the 1970s. He helped establish the Australian Democrats Party and worked over a decade as senior adviser to party leaders Don Chipp and Janine Haynes. He won a Senate seat (Australian Democrats, Victoria) in 1990.
During the next six years Spindler spoke more than any other member in either house, mostly about applying the resources of the Commonwealth of Australia to securing a fair go for indigenous Australians, refugees, prisoners, pensioners, tax-payers and the environment. He campaigned long and hard against child labour and sexuality discrimination. He vehemently opposed militarism, tax-dodging and Government waste.
The bound volumes of his collected parliamentary speeches form a pile bigger than several urban phone directories. His widow Julia says: “He’d have spoken even more often if they’d let him!”
A serial over-achiever, always overworked, Spindler was also a deft delegator. His mother-in-law once said: ”Everytime you see him you get a job.”
After he retired from the Senate, not seeking re-election because of ill-health and the feeling his family had paid too high a price for his obsession with changing the world, Spindler plunged into Aboriginal affairs activism. His interest in the field had begun with a year as Business Manager at the Alice Springs Community College in the late 70s. The causes he and Julia supported since Spindler’s Senate time included the campaigns for reconciliation and a treaty and for implementing the reforms proposed by the Deaths in Custody inquiry.
The establishment of the Towards a Just Society Fund in 2002, by the Spindler family and donor supporters, was a logical extention of all that earlier involvement and work and stands as a glowing monument to Sid Spindler’s passion for the fair go. The Fund distributes $200,000 annually in bursaries and other help to Indigenous students.
Sid Spindler is survived by Julia and four children – Kerry is a senior economist, son Chris is a union official and Lindy and Bec, are scientists. There are four grandchildren.
It is expected his funeral will be in Melbourne later this week. ENDS
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