Today, Jan McLucas and Bernie Ripoll – who have dedicated two decades to the Labor Party and to Queenslanders – will step aside to allow us to put forward our team for the next election.

 

These are two champions of our movement who have fought for Labor values: security and dignity in retirement, a better deal for people with disability and mental illness, and their carers.

 

The Federal Parliamentary Labor Party pays tribute to Jan McLucas and Bernie Ripoll who will not be contesting the next election, have chosen to step aside from the Shadow Ministry.

 

Bernie Ripoll has spent 17 years of serving the people of Oxley, standing up for ordinary Australians.

 

In government Bernie drove the Future of Financial Advice report – and in Opposition he helped defend it from this government’s plan to destroy the consumer protections we instilled.

 

Bernie has defended Labor’s world-class superannuation system against the attacks of a government that does not believe in security and dignity in retirement for hard-working Australians.

 

Bernie Ripoll is one of our party – and our Parliament’s - most decent blokes and he will be greatly missed by many.

 

Jan McLucas has been a passionate advocate for Queenslanders in the Senate since she was elected in 1998 - the only woman among seven new Senators.

 

For more than a decade, she has been a leading advocate in the Parliament for people with disabilities, people with a mental illness, their carers and their families.

 

She can be proud of the contribution she made to the creation of our world-leading National Disability Insurance Scheme.

 

As a Minister, as a Shadow Minister, and as a Senator, Jan always put people first and she will be missed but her achievements will continue to those most in need.

 

The Federal Parliamentary Labor Party congratulates both Jan and Bernie for their long-standing dedication to our Party, to Queenslanders and for their service to this great nation.

 

We thank Bernie and Jan and their families for everything they have done and all they will do in the future.

 

TUESDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2015

 

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