Beloved Labor Senator Nick Bolkus Dies Aged 75: Tributes Pour in for Champion of Multicultural Australia and Human Rights Advocate
- Nick Bolkus, the long-time Labor senator for South Australia, has passed away on Christmas morning at the age of 75, leaving behind a legacy of compassion and dedication to multicultural Australia.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese leads the tributes, describing Bolkus as “one of our great sons” who held true to his principles and sense of purpose throughout his illustrious career.
- Bolkus is remembered for his pivotal role in shaping Australia’s migration policy in the 1990s, including his courageous decision to allow thousands of Chinese nationals to permanently settle in Australia following the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
- SA Premier Peter Malinauskas pays tribute to Bolkus’s “grounded in humanity and moral leadership” that continues to resonate today, as the Labor Party mourns the loss of one of its most beloved champions.
Nick Bolkus, the highly respected Labor senator for South Australia, has died aged 75, leaving behind a profound impact on the nation’s multicultural landscape. The Greek Australian stalwart was a minister in the Hawke and Keating governments, and his tireless advocacy for human rights and social justice has earned him a revered place in Australian politics.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has led the tributes, saying: “Nick Bolkus came to public life as a young man with a young man’s idealism and sense of urgency and he held true to those principles and that sense of purpose right through his long and distinguished career.” Mr Albanese praised Bolkus’s unwavering commitment to democracy and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, saying: “Fittingly for the first Greek Australian to serve as a Cabinet minister, Nick Bolkus was a passionate believer in democracy and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.”
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas has also paid a heartfelt tribute to Bolkus, saying: “Nick was deeply respected across the political divide. He was a formidable intellect, a tireless advocate for the Labor Party and a generous mentor to many. He was much loved by his family, colleagues and friends. South Australia has lost a dedicated servant and the Labor Party has lost one of its great champions.”
During his tenure as immigration minister, Bolkus made the courageous decision to allow thousands of Chinese nationals who arrived in Australia before the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre to permanently settle, along with their relatives. This selfless act of compassion has been hailed as a testament to Bolkus’s humanity and moral leadership, and continues to inspire future generations of politicians and social justice advocates.
Bolkus’s involvement in Labor politics began at a remarkably young age, when he hand-delivered letters for Labor MP Don Dunstan in 1966. After his career in federal parliament, Bolkus continued to play an influential role in the Labor Party as chair of the local fundraising arm, SA Progressive Business. He will be deeply missed by his wife Mary, daughters Mikayla and Aria, and the entire Labor community.