Flags will fly at half-mast to mark the passing of Labor elder Tom Uren, who died at the age of 93 on Monday.
Tributes have poured in from both sides of politics for Uren, who was a former deputy leader of Australia’s Labor party and served as a minister in the Whitlam government.
The former sportsman and prisoner of war retired from parliament in 1990 after serving more than three decades in public life.
Prime minister Tony Abbott said the nation was “in mourning” following the news of Uren’s passing.
“Tom Uren devoted his life to serving what he called ‘the human family’,” Abbott said. “He taught a generation of Australians to forgive and to forge new friendships with our former enemy.”
“I have instructed that flags fly at half-mast on the day of Mr Uren’s state memorial service.”
The memorial service will be held in Sydney next week.
Labor leader Bill Shorten described Uren as a “leviathan” of the Labor movement.
“On a day when we celebrate the best of Australia, we can proudly say that Tom really was the best of us,” Shorten said. “Tom was the keeper of Labor’s conscience in trying times. He was our moral centre. Our light on the hill dims darker with this sad news.”
A member of Uren’s family told Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese that the politician had met his death “with the same character and courage he faced the rest of his life”.
Albanese, who was raised by a single mother, described Uren as a father figure.
“He was the closest thing that I had to a father figure over the last 30 years when, as a very young man, I went to work for him and it was an honour and privilege to be his comrade and his friend,” Albanese told reporters on Monday afternoon.
“I was able to spend time with him just two days ago. He leaves a legacy that is enormous for our movement. He was a lover of people and of the community and the community gave him that affection back. I mourn him today. I pay tribute to him and I thank him on a personal level for his mentoring of me,” Albanese said.
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek acknowledged Uren’s passion for conservation and social justice.
“The face of our city, and the survival of the working-class communities within the inner city areas, is down to Tom. He lived a long and a rich and full life, but the legacy he left us will last far longer,” Plibersek said.
“We are all the poorer for losing him. He was much loved throughout the party and will be very greatly missed.”
