Former MP Alby Schultz loses battle with cancer

MAVERICK former politician ALBY Schultz died “with grace and dignity” surrounded by his family in Cootamundra yesterday.

He was 76.

The controversial stalwart was one of only a handful of members to fulfil a political career across the three platforms of local, state and federal politics.

The abattoir worker entered the political arena as a Cootamundra Shire councillor in 1983.

He was elected as our state Burrinjuck MP for 10 years from 1988 before progressing to the federal seat of Hume in 1998.

He reluctantly retired in 2013 with prostate cancer, and two months later developed inoperable liver and oesophageal cancer.

He leaves behind his wife Gloria, two children and five grandchildren.

Mr Schultz’s son Grant paid tribute to his father on social media.

“Today I said goodbye to a great man, a wonderful father and loving grandfather. Dad quietly passed away today surrounded by family.

“He fought to the last minute. It was only when Mum, Dean and I were there he decided his time had come. He left with grace and dignity on his terms.

Rest in peace Dad. Your proud and loving son.”

“He fought to the last minute. It was only when Mum, Dean and I were there he decided his time had come.”

Hume successor Angus Taylor paid his respects by describing Mr Schultz as a “straight shooter”.

“You knew exactly where you stood with him and I guess, in many ways, he reflected the values and characteristics of my own father. He asked for loyalty, but he gave it as well,” he said.

“He was a genuine conviction politician and I think that’s the highest compliment you can give anyone in this business.”

He said as the longest serving member of the Federal electorate of Hume, Mr Schultz would be remembered for his “extraordinary service to the people of our region, his towering strength of character and his great, great love of his family and his country”.

“When I spoke to Alby a few weeks ago, he was, as always, talking about helping people, particularly those without a voice. This time it was how we could help men with prostate cancer in the Riverina area.

“He was trying to solve problems right to the end. Despite his sickness, he would only reluctantly talk about himself.” 

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Mr Schultz was a well respected MP and would be sorely missed.

“A man of sound judgement and strong character, Alby was as much at home in the shearing shed, the local pub, and the corridors of Parliament House,” he said.

“He started out working in abattoirs and brought an earthy common sense to public life.

“On behalf of the Coalition, I extend our sympathies to his wife, Gloria, their children Dean and Grant and their five grandchildren.”

He will be buried in Cootamundra.

Scoop Opinion Extra

In the media Alby was perhaps most consistently described as a “maverick” MP, earning a reputation for polarising audiences.

Whether it was his controversial stance against the Liberal Party’s privatisation of Telstra, his boycott of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Stolen Generations, or physically clashing with a Liberal colleague during back-room talks about running National Party candidates, he was always good for injecting a bit of colour into the political rounds.

He certainly wouldn’t be muzzled by his party’s stance.

“He was always good for injecting a bit of colour into the political rounds”

I first met Alby about 16 years ago during a press conference designed to “introduce” him as the new Member for Hume.

My first impressions where that of a country-bred man out of his depth with this level of media attention.

We were at the train station and his minders and PR people were bustling him from one end of the platform to the other, introducing him to those reporters deemed advantageous to know.

As a farm girl myself and new to Canberra’s media scrum, I felt an instant affiliation under the circumstances.

He didn’t seem to have the finesse nor polish of other politicians I’d interviewed.

He never did gain that polish either, despite his 30-year political career.

So many of his quotes were pearlers. A journalist’s dream. He could be relied on for letting you record exactly what he said, politically correct or not. You could count on him to make a jarring comment that you knew would catapult your story up to the top of the news list for that day.

And he wouldn’t retract it no matter how controversial it sounded when you read back his quotes to him to double check he wanted to go that route.

Over the years and regardless of his political fame and declining health, he always did return calls, even from lowly country newspapers with none of the pulling power of the metropolitan press pack.

He sold himself as a no-frills, passionate and forthright champion for regional and rural Australia. At least where the country media was concerned, this rang true. He was a passionate reader of small local newspapers and quick to  respond to any public attack via the traditional “letters to the editor”.

His funeral service will be held in Cootamundra.

Former Hume MP Alby Schultz (front centre) with family. PHOTO: Grant Schultz