Former Hawke government minister Peter Morris has died, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese describing him as having made the Hunter region and Australia a better place.
Mr Morris, who served as the Member for Shortland for over two decades, died peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday aged 93.
He was elected to the House of Representatives as the ALP, led by Gough Whitlam swept to power in 1972.
“Peter Morris was one of the reasons we look back on the Hawke Government with such fondness and such admiration,” Mr Albanese said.
“As the Member for Shortland and as a Minister, Peter’s work was always shaped by Labor values and his deeply humane instincts.
“When I was Transport Minister, Peter was a source of sound and constructive advice on shipping, aviation, regulatory reform and regional economic development.”
Mr Albanese said that Mr Morris gave the Labor movement “heart” and “helped make the Hunter – and Australia – better”.
Mr Morris served as the Transport Minister under Bob Hawke, as well as holding the Resources, Aged Care and Industrial Relations portfolios at different points.
He delivered the Ships of Shame report in 1992 which exposed dangerous practices in the shipping industry and the exploitation of sailors.
He did not stand for re-election at the 1998 election.
Post-politics he served as the chair of the International Commission on Shipping and president of the Newcastle Maritime Museum.
