Decision details

Moved by Councillor Maxwell, seconded by Councillor Arkins -

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council note:

(i)         with sadness the passing of long-time Labor activist, trade unionist and community advocate David Carey, and records its appreciation for his lifetime of service to the people of Sydney and the Australian labour movement;

(ii)        David Carey was a true gentleman and a tireless champion for fairness, equality and workers’ rights. A totally committed member of the Australian Labor Party, David’s work as a union official and later as a union secretary placed him at the heart of the movement’s efforts to improve the lives of working people;

(iii)       over many decades, David held numerous offices within the Labor Party - including Vice President of the Kings Cross Branch, President of the Sydney State Electorate Council, and Secretary of the Wentworth Federal Electorate Committee. He was active in every campaign that the Kings Cross Branch participated in over more than thirty years — from local government contests for the City of Sydney and the former South Sydney Council, to campaigns for the State and Federal seats of Sydney and Wentworth;

(iv)       he supported countless Labor candidates during that time, including Tanya Plibersek, Tim Murray, George Newhouse, Evan Hughes, Steven Lewis and Savanna Peake in federal campaigns; Linda Scott in her campaigns for both the State seat of Sydney and as Labor’s Lord Mayoral candidate; and many others including Barri Phatarfod, Sacha Blumen, Eddie Lloyd, Jo Holder and Skye Tito for the State seat of Sydney. At local government level, he worked alongside Greg Shaw, Michael Lee, Tony Pooley, Verity Firth, Meredith Burgmann, and more recently Zann Maxwell and Olly Arkins;

(v)        David was tireless during campaigning - taking the lead at the Kings Cross stall at the Fitzroy Gardens fountain, pressing how-to-vote cards into the hands of voters at the Rex Centre pre-poll booth through all kinds of weather, and serving faithfully as Booth Captain at the Reg Murphy Centre polling booth in Elizabeth Bay from dawn until close on polling day;

(vi)       beyond party politics, David brought the same energy and conviction to national causes. He campaigned passionately for the 1999 Australian Republic Referendum, the 2017 Marriage Equality Postal Survey, and the 2023 referendum to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution and establish a Voice to Parliament;

(vii)      David was known for speaking with sense and reason in debate, always on the side of the underdog. He was respected by all who knew him for his kindness, decency and thoughtfulness, and for his enduring belief in fairness for all; and

(viii)    he was a friend to many in our area, and his passing leaves a great void in Sydney’s civic and political community. His memory is fresh in the minds of all who worked alongside him, and his example will continue to inspire;

(B)       all persons attending this meeting of Council observe one minute’s silence to commemorate the life of David Carey and his significant contribution to Sydney’s civic, political and community life;

(C)       Council express its condolences to David’s family and friends, and to the members of the Kings Cross, City and Haymarket Branches of the Australian Labor Party; and

(D)       the Lord Mayor be requested to write to David’s family to convey Council’s condolences.

Carried unanimously.

X113762

Note – all Councillors, staff and members of the public present stood in silence for one minute as a mark of respect to David Carey.