Simon Crean

 Simon Crean dies in Germany on the weekend. Mark Kenny writes about him.

My recollections about him was he was very much a hail fellow well met sort of guy. He was equally at home at the football or the opera. He was also a natty dresser who possessed an impressive wine cellar and knowledge of wine ( as did communist John Halfpenny!!)

He was one of the first university educated trade union officials. I do remember him talking at the conference of economists in Canberra where one Max Walsh was visibly impressed as was I.

He was beaten by Clyde Holding to succeed his father in parliament.That was both exante and expost a stupid decision.

He was never a backbencher and was very competent in all the ministries he was in. When Keating was beaten badly he thrived in opposition gathering several scalps and embarrassing John Howard badly.

He was  the only Opposition Leader not to lead the ALP to an election. This was because as Pter Brent stated because Newspoll back then di not do 2PP figures. This an unflattering who is the better leader figures ( which almost always favour the government leader) led the innumerate caucus to replace him with Mark Latham.

The only criticism I can make is why oh why di he take a job when he quit parliament? his pension was not taxed , one of costello's bad blunders, so he clearly di not need the money and surely he could have given his family more time.

Oh dear how dis I forget he was right on Iraq!