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.