John Eren farewells Parliament

The valedictory speech delivered by outgoing Lara MP John Eren in Parliament last week:

CAN I firstly acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which we meet, and I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging. I want at the outset to thank the Premier, the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples and of course the Parliamentary Secretary for First Peoples for our leading the way in formulating a treaty with the First Peoples. Thank you so much.

It is very surreal – 20 years, the blink of an eye, here we are, the last speech in Parliament. I am not sure how other members that are retiring are feeling, but it is certainly hitting home. Of course I was first elected to the other place. It seems such a long time ago, remembering the first day I stood in the other place as a first-time MP delivering my inaugural speech. When I look back so much has changed since that first day. Many people in the chamber may already know that I arrived in Australia from Turkey as a child migrant with my family at the age of six. My dad, a fitter and turner, decided to take up the offer from Australia, who were seeking skilled migrants. My mum was also a labourer.

Back then Mum always tried to get home from work before we finished school to take care of us, as many mums do, doting on their children. One day when I got home Mum was not there. I later found out that she had had a workplace incident – I do not call it an accident, because it was not and could have been prevented. Prior to that incident there had been complaints about the press being faulty, but her concerns were ignored. She did not want to lose her job and continued with her work, and subsequently the press came down without warning, chopping half her index finger off. It could have been much worse, but that really resonated with me. As a young boy I could not understand how her calls for help were ignored and she was asked to continue in an unsafe work environment. That stayed with me for a while and then prompted me when I worked at Ford in Broadmeadows at the age of 22 on the production line to become a shop steward for the vehicle builders union – I was elected by the workers – and also the occupational health and safety officer, which was brought in by the then Labor Cain government in the mid-1980s. Looking back, I can see how that incident really inspired me to become a member of Parliament and to be here.

It seemed a good opportunity while preparing for my final speech here that I reflect on my first speech, which was of course in the other place. In that speech I remember mentioning the following:

Some historians say that in these battles on that day the entire outcome of the Gallipoli campaign was determined. The objective of these Australian troops was to take a hill called Chunuk Bair, and in defending this hill Mustafa Kemal uttered his famous command:

I do not order you to attack; I order you to die. In the time which passes until we die other troops and commanders can take our places.

To my knowledge on 25 April 1915 my grandfather, Hamdi Isteni, was fighting in a battalion commanded by Mustafa Kemal, later to become Kemal Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey. It is quite possible that my grandfather heard this command. Mustafa Kemal’s troops were engaged in fighting against the northern line of Australian troops that day. There were his famous words of course in 1934, which are something I will always remember:

Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives … You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours … You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.

One of the most profound and amazing things that happened to me over my time as an MP was in 2015: having the honour of becoming the Minister for Veterans to represent Victoria at the commemoration ceremonies in Gallipoli. I recall receiving the phone call from the Premier advising me of the portfolios I would receive in 2014. I am sure that he could recall that as well. He said to me, ‘You are now the Minister for Sport’, and I said, ‘That’s great’. He said, ‘You’ll have tourism and major events’; I said, ‘That’s great’. And he said, ‘Get ready, you’re going to Gallipoli. You’ll be the Minister for Veterans’. That was a really important part of my life, and I really thank the Premier for giving me that opportunity. It is beyond comprehension to understand how all the stars had aligned for this to happen to me – a child who migrated here at the age of six from Turkey, whose grandfather fought in a battalion commanded by Mustafa Kemal, to go on to become a minister for the best state in our nation and represent that state in Turkey as the Minister for Veterans on the centenary of Gallipoli. It was an honour and a privilege that I will be forever grateful for and a moment in my life I will never forget.

However, as you could imagine, across the 20 years I have represented the wonderful people of Geelong there are many proud and memorable moments. In my inaugural speech I mentioned how important I thought it was that we talk about issues to do with mental illness, and I said:

There is a stigma which attaches to mental illness which simply does not exist with physical illness, and yet it is one of the most common forms of illness in our society today. The acceptance of mental illness, of having it, of its treatment, and the acceptance by others of those who suffer from it, remains one of our largest public health issues …

I am extremely proud of the investments into mental health that this government is making. It has taken our government to step up and tackle this issue head-on by having the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. This has been a massive step in the right direction – accepting the recommendations of the royal commission to implement a current and future plan of investment. Recently I was pleased to see this in my local community, with the Premier and the Minister for Mental Health opening a new 16-bed acute mental health facility at the Barwon Health McKellar Centre in my electorate.

One of the sad moments as minister – and they were rare, having the portfolio that I had, obviously – and members may remember this, was the Puffing Billy investigation by the Ombudsman. Through this investigation we learned that the Puffing Billy management ignored the repeated cries for help from children and their families about the abuse. Being briefed and hearing the disturbing and horrific details had a profound impact on me, and I hope that that process of redress provided the victims some closure. I do also hope that this closure and support can be offered to other victims of abuse and suffering, such as to the Care Leavers Australia Network, and I hope that their pleas for redress are answered soon. I am proud to be the chair of the Australian Orphanage Museum, and I urge all members to come to visit this important, nationally significant extensive collection in Geelong.

I am also proud of the work that we as a government did while I was minister to change the culture and profile for women and girls in sport, in particular the record investments of millions of dollars for female-friendly facilities and the creation of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation. I am so pleased with the legacy we have left at the State Netball and Hockey Centre, the centrepiece of the Victorian government’s investment in women’s and community sport. I want to thank Rosie King, former CEO of Netball Victoria, and her team for their hard work and persistence. I am also proud of the legacy in creating Visit Victoria. When I stepped down as the minister in 2018, we led the way nationally with a strong visitor economy, having created 25 000 new jobs in the industry since 2014.

I have always had the firm belief that we should leave the world a better place than how we found it. As a local MP I have worked hard every day to ensure I leave the electorate a better place than how it was when I first became the member for Lara. One of the areas that has always been close to my heart is our local schools. Along with my children and now my grandchildren I have attended state schools, and I truly understand the importance of a good public education. Many in this house would recall me saying, ‘What if the cure for cancer was in the mind of a child that could not afford education? What if?’. I am so proud of the work that this government has done to ensure that Victoria is the Education State. In my electorate I remember the first time I toured some of our local schools, and I remember seeing for the first time North Shore Primary School, which was in such poor condition. I could not help but notice the looks on the students’ faces, clearly not happy with their school environment. It brought a tear to my eye, it really did. Since that time I am pleased to say that every school in my electorate has received funding from our government. This major investment, especially in Corio and Norlane, saw the regeneration of local schools into a new school, Northern Bay College, with multiple campus sites. It is a different learning environment now after record investments in these facilities, and you can see the pride on the students’ and staff’s faces. It really makes a difference.

In 2007 Richard Marles, the member for Corio, and I formed Northern Futures to address high unemployment in Geelong’s north. Over 15 years later, this service has helped so many locals find secure employment and a steady future thanks to the state funding that we provided. Thanks must go to all those involved in the wonderful organisation, who work hard every day to deliver real on-the-ground training, support and employment for people who have been long-term unemployed.

Another major investment in the north I am proud of, which I am sure many of you may know, is the Northern Aquatic and Community Hub. The landmark facility will be built on the current Waterworld and Centenary Hall site next to Barwon Health North. Many in the house will know that this project was a long time in the making, and in fact many in this house are also grateful that it was funded so I did not have to keep pestering them all the time about it. I am proud of this investment and how it will complement the state government’s $33 million Barwon Health North facility so that this whole precinct will be a fantastic hub for the community.

Another great achievement in infrastructure provided to the suburb of Lara: when I became the member for the area, the suburb of Lara did not have a secondary school, and I am proud to say under a Labor government it now does. It also received a brand new police station, CFA station and ambulance station. This investment into Lara is continuing, with recent budget funding to upgrade the Six Ways in Lara, which was a major road priority for the local community.

In my inaugural speech I mentioned the hopes that many of us had for Avalon and its potential. Since 2003 Avalon has gone ahead in leaps and bounds, and despite the struggle of the past few years, Avalon has continued to grow and diversify. I believe Avalon has done great work and this is only the beginning for it. I am proud that our government has seen the possibilities and continued the investment, alongside Avalon, to ensure that it reaches its full potential. I cannot wait to see how this hard work and dedication continues to pay off for both the airport and the surrounding community it supports.

In my inaugural speech I also highlighted that Geelong lacks a proper conference centre, which denies it many opportunities to bring revenue to the town. It has been a great honour as a local member for the region and as a past minister for tourism to see that this vision is finally becoming a reality. This project is one of many. Geelong is thriving, with cranes in the sky, and that is a legacy in Geelong that we are known for.

The upgrades to Kardinia Park have seen it turn into the MCG of regional Australia, another legacy in the region. Hopefully it is also the home of the 2022 premiership winners after Geelong take out the grand final. And I say: go Cats!

In order to ensure that I am not speaking in the house for the whole day I would like the leave of the house to table a list of achievement highlights in my electorate over the past eight years that I am extremely proud of. It is certainly not a comprehensive list – there is so much more – but it just shows the massive investment the northern suburbs of Geelong have received under a Labor government. I ask the leave of the house to table this document.

(Leave granted; document tabled).

As most of you would know, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019. This diagnosis, along with the COVID pandemic, has made me place a greater focus on my health and wellbeing and that of my family and friends and value the ability to spend quality time with them. It really was the catalyst for my decision to retire. I look forward to continuing my work with Fight Parkinson’s. I will continue to work hard to raise much-needed money for research, and I will continue to get the message out there about support services that are available for people who are living with Parkinson’s.

My journey to this place and over the 20 years since I first became a member of Parliament has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. However, it has not been my journey alone. I want to thank the people in my life who have made this possible. Firstly, I want to thank all of those people in my electorate who term after term after term voted me back in to represent them. I hope I have made a positive impact on your lives and that it is a better place now to live, work and raise your families than when I was first elected. I want to thank everyone from the Premier’s office, the Victorian ALP head office and all the ALP members who have stuck with the best political party in the world through thick and thin. Thanks to all the unions who uphold and protect workers rights, especially the Transport Workers Union.

Of course I thank the wonderful department staff, committee staff and Parliament House staff, including the clerks, Hansard, dining staff, security and all of the attendants. There is always a lot of behind-the-scenes work and support that goes into everything we do, and much of it goes without any recognition, so it is important for me to thank each one of these groups for their assistance over the many years.

Some say there are no friends in politics, but I can honestly say I have been very lucky when it comes to friendships I have with colleagues. Geelong has been represented by a fantastic group of local MPs, and I would like to thank Lisa, Christine, Darren, Gayle and former members Ian Trezise – I know he is not well at the moment; hopefully he is recovering well from his operation – and Michael Crutchfield for their years of friendship and support. My good friend Richard Marles is the federal member for Corio, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence – that title sounds good, and I am so happy for his elevation to high office. I thank Richard for being a supportive friend who has been a big part of my journey here.

My broader group of colleagues across the state also need a big thankyou. You have been the most tremendous bunch of people that I have ever worked with – ever. It is just an absolute pleasure to be a part of your lives as you are a part of mine, especially the class of 2002 – isn’t that right, member for Yan Yean?

(Yan Yean MP Danielle Green: Hear, hear!)

I wish everyone contesting the next election all the very best.

Over the past 20 years there have been changes in faces, but the support across the years has been constant and strong. It would be remiss of me not to mention the people who are no longer with us – Mehmet Tillem, my good friend; Fiona Richardson; Jane Garrett; Kimberley Kitching; Lynne Kosky – who all made huge contributions to a better Victoria, and I thank them for it.

I have been honoured to work under three fantastic premiers in this state: Steve Bracks, John Brumby and of course Dan. It has been a pleasure to work with such fine leaders. I would like to thank all the staff who have worked with me over the years. My electorate office staff are the backbone of everything I do. I want to thank my current staff – Kelly, Erin, James, Cansu – and all of the previous EO staff. I have had many amazing staff over the years, but it would be remiss of me not to mention David Saunderson, who was with me at the beginning and is still a great friend to this day. I would like to also thank my previous ministerial staff, Christina, Desiree, Anthony, Ella, Ozge, Letitia and Sally. A special mention for both Ella George, who is the Labor candidate for Lara, and Anthony Cianflone, who is the Labor candidate for Pascoe Vale at the next state election. It gives me a great sense of pride to pass on the baton to such capable, energetic and dedicated candidates. It is reassuring, especially in my seat of Lara, to have such a competent candidate who will work hard every day to carry on the legacy of delivering for the electorate. I also wish Alison Marchant all the best as the Labor candidate for the Bellarine.

My community has many people who have been a source of strength and support for me. There are so many to mention. I will not be able to thank them all, but a special mention to Jimmy and the Onturk family, Jack and the Mulayim family, Alex, Rodney, Lou, Vlad, Leonie, Zoli, Ismet and the Turrkan family, the Meddings family and so many more.

My extended family needs an enormous thankyou, and there are a lot of us. I will not go through all of them. My parents, Ali and Muyesser, and my parents-in-law, Gerald and Allison, who are no longer with us, were always so supportive, and I am grateful for their unconditional love and support. They would be looking down from above and would be as proud as they were when they were with us. Thank you to all the extended Eren and Brown families. Special mention to Kathleen; Bettina; Jim; Patrick; Allison; Terriann; my brothers, Tayfun and Anil; and my sister, Tulin. My nephews and nieces – and some of them are here; Nez and Nurel are here. We obviously have such a big family, which is fantastic. I am going to enjoy every minute with them. They know who they are, and some of them are in the gallery today.

My children, Kadir, Ekrem, Enes, Sumeyra and Adem. Where do I start? I love you all so much. As a parent you never want to compromise your ability to be a good father and to be a good MP, so you try to balance both but always try to put family first. But now it is time to concentrate on my family, especially my grandchildren, Ayla, Tahsin and Ayse, who are my world, and they are in the gallery – I am going to wave at them. Geraldine and I are lucky to have amazing partners for our children, so thank you to Minh, Daniel, Ashlee and Tahlia. With three of our children getting married in the next two years, Geraldine and I are looking forward to many more grandbabies in the future if possible – hopefully. No pressure.

Last but not least, to my wife, Geraldine, I know that none of this could have been possible without your support. You have been and continue to be a great source of love and strength to all of us. There is no doubt in my mind that I would not be here without you. There is so much work that would not have been done without you, and as I said in my inaugural speech, there would not have been enough courage to do this without you. You are a great mother, a grandmother and my life partner. You have worked incredibly hard for the Labor movement and for the Geelong community – both are better for it. I look forward to trying to make up those times we missed out on together. I look forward to our travels and special moments with our children and grandchildren and our extended family in the next chapter of our lives. Thank you for being you, Geraldine.

My last words – I would like to just leave you with these last few words in this place. There are two things we will never know: when we are born and when we will die. In between live your best life. I wish you all the best in this house and the other place. I hope you all have a happy, healthy life with your loved ones. Take care.