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Shorten gave a long list of thanks to people during his final speech, including his staff, former colleagues, family and current colleagues.
The outgoing NDIS Minister reflected he was proud to have served in three institutions “essential” to the endeavor of democracy – the Australian Workers’ Union, the Australian Labor Party and parliament.
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“We Australians by and large are a pragmatic bunch. We don’t tend to think of ‘isms or ‘ologies … most Australians focus on the fundamentals. Family, health, home and community,” he said.
Shorten also gave a specific shoutout to former ACTU secretary Bill Kelty, as his early work in the union was defined by Kelty’s mentorship.
“I have benefited from the wisdom of Bill Kelty, here today, the understanding and right of work to organise for fair wages and decent conditions must move in concert with the imperative for employers to create the wealth [to the] pace of the fair wages of the workers’ jobs,” he said.
Former prime ministers Paul Keating and Bob Hawke also got a shout-out.
“It remains a source of enduring pride that the last act of collaboration between Paul Keating and Bob Hawke was their joint opinion piece advocating for the platform that we took to the 2019 election,” he said.
“It is just a shame more people did not read it. Through my time as Labor leader, I was proud to lead not just a strong opposition but a genuine, positive alternative. I think it is a fitting time to thank my deputy Tanya Plibersek, in particular for the unwavering support she offered me in those moments.”