See www.couriermail.com.au/subscriptionterms for full details. [1] He was born in Sicily, Italy. Labor and Liberal heavyweights, lawyers, business people and family paid tribute to Mr Sciacca, a former federal politician, in a state funeral at the Cathedral of St Stephen in Brisbane on Friday morning. 1.73m. He served in the Hawke and Keating governments and was minister for veterans' affairs from 1994 to 1996 before being narrowly defeated in his south-east Brisbane seat of Bowman at the 2004 election. Mr Sciacca is survived by wife Karen, daughter Zina, granddaughter Grace and step-sons Daniel and Nicholas Toth. Opposition leader Bill Shorten, who was mentored by Mr Sciacca and others on the Labor Right faction, said the Sicilian-born former MP encapsulated the best of the Labor party - clever, compassionate, brash and bold. Renewals occur unless cancelled as per full Terms and Conditions. He loved people, no matter where they were and what their issues were.". Following his election defeat, Vasta won Liberal Party preselection for the Brisbane City Council ward of Wynnum . License this article Felicity Caldwell is state political correspondent at the Brisbane Times Connect via Twitter, Facebook or email. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk outside the funeral for former MP Con Sciacca.Credit:AAP/ Regi Varghese, "Con Sciacca was not just an honourable member, he was an honourable man.". Mr Sciacca's ability to form friendships despite ideological differences was highlighted when his eulogy was delivered by former Liberal minister Santo Santoro. "He was a senior at (Brisbane's) St Joseph's Nudgee College and came home one day with a sore back," Mr Sciacca said. "Con and I, we looked out for each other.". Mr Sciacca's younger brother Joe said he and Con were very close. Please try again later. He died today, surrounded by family and friends, including his great mate Santo Santoro. Mr Keating said he knew his former colleague was the man for the veterans affairs job, even though his Italian forefathers had fought against Australia during World War II. Mr Sciacca served as the Minister for Veteran Affairs in the Keating Government from 1994-1996, after rising to Cabinet. . 05:29 EST 30 Jun 2017. It explains that if you do not provide us with information we have requested from you, we may not be able to provide you with the goods and services you require. (Only applies if home delivery is included in your package), Subscriber-only newsletters straight to your inbox, Todays Paper, a digital replica of the newspaper, SuperCoach Plus for stats, analysis, tips and more, Saturday and Sunday paper delivery* He also served as the Minister Assisting the Treasurer for Superannuation and had several parliamentary secretary roles. For full details, see our Terms and Conditions www.couriermail.com.au/connectedterms. But he was never mean-spirited or bitter. Followed categories will be added to My News. Former Labor heavyweight Con Sciacca has been farewelled at a state funeral in Brisbane, where he was described as the "ultimate man of the people". Please try again later. "I love you dad. His funeral was attended by politicians across the party divide, with former Labor premier Peter Beattie seen speaking with and then entering the church alongside former LNP premier Campbell Newman. To improve your experience, Australia v India third Test | Match Centre, Watch Eels v Storm in the NRL for free on 9Now here. Con Sciacca, Self: Four Corners. Concetto Antonio", "Tributes for Con Sciacca who died, aged 70, after battle with cancer", "Former Labor MP Con Sciacca just beat cancer, now has cataracts", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Con_Sciacca&oldid=1124136150, Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia, Members of the Australian House of Representatives, Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Bowman, All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 November 2022, at 14:32. To upgrade, call 1300 MY NEWS (696 397), As a Full Digital Access or Paper Delivery + Full Digital Access Member youll get unlimited digital access to every story online, insight and analysis from our expert journalists PLUS enjoy freebies, discounts and benefits with our +Rewards loyalty program. Most Viewed in National His father Bruce Edric Laming was an Australian Liberal Party politician in the Queensland parliament, he died on September 11, 2017. Con Sciacca died on Wednesday after a long battle with cancer. "Con fought the good fight, longer and tougher than most," Mr Shorten said. "He remains widely regarded as one of Australia's best veterans affairs ministers," Mr Shorten said in a statement on Wednesday. So, how much is Andrew Laming worth at the age of 55 years old? He consecutively won the next two elections of 1990 and 1993. Brother Joe Sciacca recalled how on the night he lost his seat, the phone was ringing off the hook. Mr Sciacca had been in and out of St Vincents in Brisbane over the past six months. Mr Sciacca is survived by wife Karen, daughter Zina, granddaughter Grace and step-sons Daniel and Nicholas Toth. He may have been a long-serving member of the Labor party, but such was . "He had many gifts, an instinct for people, a handshake that made you feel you'd been his friend you're entire life. Full Digital Access + Weekend Paper Delivery $8 billed every 4 weeks for the first 12 weeks, then $36 billed every 4 weeks. We thank them for sharing Con with us with such generosity. Con Sciacca is known for Four Corners (1961). [8], In 1992, Sciacca's son Sam died of Ewing's sarcoma at the age of 19. If you wish to change or create a new subscription, please call 1800 070 535 Monday to Friday 7.30am 6.00pm & 7.00am-11.30am AEST on both Saturdays & Sundays. Mr Sciacca, a former Veterans Affairs Minister in the Keating cabinet, died on June 21 following a long battle with cancer. I am so proud to be your daughter.". "Con Sciacca was a good friend, a mentor, a community champion and a true gentleman. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten thanked Mr Sciacca's family for "lending" the political stalwart to the Labor party for so long. "Con was always one of those people who excelled in everything he turned his hand to.". Prices after the introductory pricing period may be varied as per full Terms and Conditions. TV Shows. New customers only. Former Keating government minister and Labor veteran Con Sciacca has died from cancer. If it was six months, I would hug you! he said. He rose to Cabinet and served as Minister for Veteran Affairs in the Keating Government from 1994-1996. In October 2009, Mr Danby flew to Brisbane with his wife for an opening ceremony and meetings with Con Sciacca, a former Labor MP voted out of Parliament five years earlier. Each payment, once made, is non-refundable, subject to law. "Seven months later, he was gone. Subscription automatically renews at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. "I thought the personality is so big, he'll win all these people (over), which he did," he said outside the service. I'm dedicating my award to my late son. Mr Sciacca is survived by his wife Karen, daughter Zina, granddaughter Grace and stepsons Nicholas and Daniel Toth, and other extended family. Having been hand-picked for this role, the Foodland Board and Corporate Office are confident he has the right capabilities and experience needed to lead Foodland into the future. [7] After a redistribution made Bowman notionally Liberal, Sciacca contested the new Division of Bonner at the 2004 election, but was narrowly defeated by Liberal candidate Ross Vasta. "I had succeeded in giving back just a fraction of the love he had given me my entire life," she said. It could take up to 5 business days before your first paper delivery arrives. To join the conversation, please log in. "Con was a much-loved member of our Labor family. Mr Sciacca had been fighting a long battle with cancer before he died on June 21 . Mr Sciacca is survived by wife Karen, daughter Zina, granddaughter Grace and step-sons Daniel and Nicholas Toth. Menu. About. "Because Con was larger than life, he had this huge personality I knew some vets would say, 'oh, he was Italian', and they fought the Italians in the Second World War, but I thought, the personality is so big, he'll win all these people, which he did," he said. Former prime minister Paul Keating arrives for the state funeral. If you subscribe directly with us you will also get access to our News+ Network which is made up of some of our most popular news sites, like. He had frequently been admitted to the hospital in the last six months for his deteriorating health. Often most of it was unprintable and full of his colourful turn of phase. "I'm here on behalf of our movement to say goodbye. He served as MP for Bowman from 1987 to 1996, when he lost an election, before being returned in 1998 and serving again to 2004. "It did not matter to him where we came from," he said. He loved his family & friends and will be deeply missed. Brisbane masseuse accused of sexually assaulting clients, Secret grand ballroom uncovered amid debate over Walter Taylor Bridges future. In 2004, Vasta stood for the Liberals in the Division of Bonner, and defeated former Labor minister Con Sciacca. 23:33 EST 29 Jun 2017 Mr Sciacca was never short of advice on how the ALP was travelling at a state or a federal level. The service began with the national anthem and his coffin was draped in the Australian flag and adorned with white and yellow roses. @RodBamberry: RT @9NewsQueensland: He was known as one of the most persuasive politicians of a generation, Con Sciacca brokered peace again, this time at - 5 years ago @SAS_Media_Comms: Vale Con Sciacca 1947-2017 . Thereafter he started the Sam Sciacca Travelling Fellowship through which health experts would visit Australia and present lectures on the latest developments in research and technology. , updated Sondos. Seewww.couriermail.com.au/subscriptionterms for full details. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. "Con belonged to many people and many groups. Labor heavyweights gather to pay tribute to former federal MP Con Sciacca in state funeral. He received the news via a telephone call from his wife, Sondos Ismail, who survived in the sea off the coast of Java for 19 hours before Indonesian fishermen found the boat's wreckage. Mr Sciacca is survived by his wife Karen, daughter Zina, granddaughter Grace and stepsons Nicholas and Daniel Toth, and other extended family. "Con was a giant of the Labor party. He loved people, no matter where they were and what their issues were.". The service book for the state funeral for Mr Sciacca. Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. "Con fought the good fight, longer and tougher than most," Mr Shorten said. Were working to restore it. Mr Sciacca is survived by wife Karen, daughter Zina, granddaughter Grace and step-sons Daniel and Nicholas Toth. Join the conversation, you are commenting as. Not in conjunction with any other offer. Labor veterans, especially those from the Right faction, were often found there having a long lunch and solving the problems of the world. No cancellations during the first 12 months. Mr Sciacca who moved to Australia when he was four years old, joined the ALP when he was 17 was in federal parliament for a total of 15 years, after a two-year stint out of parliament when he lost his seat briefly at the 1996 election. Mr Sciacca represented the southeast Brisbane seat of Bowman for 15 years and served as veterans affairs minister in Paul Keating's government. . "Con loved Labor and Labor loved Con," he told the congregation. Sciacca died on 21 June 2017, aged 70, after prolonged suffering from cancer at St Vincent's Private Hospital in Brisbane. How long does it take for my home delivery to start? 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