Trailblazing Greek-Australian minister Peter Morris (Montiadis) dies at 93

The archetypal national curate of Greek practice successful Australia has passed distant peacefully astatine the property of 93. Peter Morris died connected Sunday, surrounded by his family, his loved ones confirmed successful a statement expressing heavy sadness.

A erstwhile curate successful the Hawke Government and long-serving Member for the Hunter region, helium leaves down a important bequest successful some Australian nationalist beingness and the Greek Australian community.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Morris, saying helium helped marque some the Hunter portion and Australia a amended place.

“Peter Morris was 1 of the reasons we look backmost connected the Hawke Government with such fondness and such admiration,” Albanese said.

Born successful Sydney connected 29 July 1932, Peter Frederick Morris (Montiadis) had heavy roots successful the Greek diaspora. His father, Jimmy Morris, migrated from the land of Symi, anglicising his sanction from Agapitos Montiadis and aboriginal moving a café successful Newcastle, New South Wales. Morris maintained strong ties with the Greek Australian assemblage passim his beingness and was often successful interaction with Neos Kosmos connected issues affecting the diaspora.

He entered national authorities successful 1972, elected to the House of Representatives arsenic portion of Gough Whitlam’s landmark Labor victory. Representing the electorate of Shortland for much than two decades, Morris built a estimation arsenic a steady and reliable advocator for his constituents.

Trailblazing Greek-Australian curate and erstwhile Bob Hawke authorities curate Peter Morris (Montiadis), who has died aged 93. Photo: ALP

Over the people of his parliamentary career, helium served successful respective ministerial roles under Bob Hawke, including Transport, Resources, Aged Care and Industrial Relations. In each portfolio, colleagues accidental helium brought a applicable attack grounded successful Labor values.

Albanese highlighted Morris’s power some arsenic a curate and a mentor.

“As some a backbencher and a minister, his work was guided by Labor values and a profoundly quality instinct,” helium said.

“When I was Minister for Transport, Peter was a source of applicable and constructive proposal connected matters of shipping, aviation, regulatory betterment and determination economical development.”

One of Morris’s astir notable contributions came successful 1992, when helium tabled the landmark Ships of Shame report. The enquiry exposed unsafe practices and the exploitation of seafarers successful the shipping industry, prompting nationalist statement and important reforms.

Albanese said Morris brought “heart” to the Labor question and played a decisive relation successful improving the lives of Australians, peculiarly successful the Hunter region.

Peter Morris is remembered arsenic a dedicated nationalist servant, a reformer, and a arrogant fig of Greek practice whose publication near a lasting imprint connected Australian society.