The Albanese Government has confirmed the sudden passing of a sitting Labor Senator. Linda White, a Victorian Labor senator, has passed away after bravely battling cancer.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged her health struggle during an interview.
“It is just tragic news that Linda White has been taken from us, from the Labor family, taken from the people of Victoria, far too soon due to cancer,” he said.
“I visited Linda just a few weeks ago in hospital.She was very much like (the late member for Dunkley) Peta Murphy.
“Someone who never thought of herself. She was asking me about the Dunkley byelection was her focus,’’ he said.
“But he was such a champion she was someone who was a major contributor to the union movement.”
She was elected to the Senate in 2022 after being preselected following the retirement of Labor Senator Kim Carr.
Last month, Senator White took leave citing health issues, although she did not publicly confirm her diagnosis.
“As the Prime Minister advised yesterday I will be taking leave from the Senate while I deal with health issues,’’ she said
“For the next while I will be focusing on getting well again so I can return to my full duties representing the people of Victoria.”
Workplace Minister Tony Burke remarked that Senator White left behind an extraordinary legacy.
“Linda campaigned for years in the union movement for paid family and domestic violence leave,’’ he said.
“As a Senator she helped make it law so that no one would have to choose between safety and pay. RIP.”
Greens Senator David Shoebridge paid tribute to her, describing her as a “fundamentally decent, honest, empathetic, and intelligent force for good.”
“Right now, I am remembering all the good that she did, the principles that she held and thinking about her friends, family and colleagues.”
The Senate defense committee observed a moment of silence on Friday to honor her passing, following a tribute from Labor colleague Raff Ciccone.
Senator White was a prominent union figure in Victoria, holding leadership roles in the Australian Services Union, the largest Socialist Left union in the state. Additionally, she served as a former vice president of the ACTU.
“Linda White is a much admired figure within the wider labour movement, and I’ve always respected her as a strong and formidable advocate for working people and as a progressive and highly principled union leader,” Mr Bornstein said.
“Linda and I have had many discussions over the years, but in a Twitter exchange with Linda some years ago I used a poor choice of words. I regret doing so.’’
The Australian Services Union honored the late Senator White as “one of our great warriors, a torchbearer for equality, justice, and a fairer society.”
In their tribute, the ASU expressed,
“Linda White is an irreplaceable part of our union family. We will deeply miss our friend and comrade.”
They further highlighted her significant impact, noting,
“Linda’s influence extends to thousands, if not millions of Australians who never had the privilege of knowing her.”
Particularly, they emphasized her advocacy for Ansett workers, highlighting her relentless efforts to secure justice for those overlooked by the Liberal Government in the aftermath of the airline’s collapse.
“Against the odds, Linda and the union movement won back almost all of the $160 million owed to Ansett workers in a decade-long fight for justice – one of the great union victories.
“Linda fought to address unequal retirement outcomes for women. It is Linda White who, with her comrades at the ASU, put that issue firmly on the national agenda and kept it there for the past decade.
“We wish Linda could have taken up this fight for longer. However, we are so fortunate to have had Linda in our lives for as long as we did, and that she dedicated so much of her life to building up the next generation of activists and change makers.”
