Upon his passing on Wednesday morning at the age of 88, Stewart West, who represented Cunningham for 16 years, was hailed as a “political titan” of the labor movements.
Several politicians from Australia have poured out tributes to the family and the Labour party at large. The family is yet to announce the date for his final funeral rite.
He held several positions such as Under Prime Minister Bob Hawke, West was chosen to serve as the Cabinet’s Minister of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.
As well as Minister for Housing and Construction from 1984 to 1987 and Minister for Administrative Services from 1987 to 1990, West stayed in Cabinet for the Hawke administration’s two further terms.
Who was Stewart West? Australian politician and former minister dies aged 88
At Forbes, New South Wales, on March 31, 1934, West was born.
From 1977 until 1993, while holding the Cunningham seat in New South Wales, he represented the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in the House of Representatives.
Two days before turning 89, on March 29, 2023, West passed away.