Mr Crean will be remembered as one of the architects of the Hawke government's momentous industrial relations reforms of the 1980s and one of the most significant political figures of modern Labor.
He served as a parliamentarian for 23 years, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard.
As ACTU vice-president, Mr Crean played a key role in bringing about The Accord between unions and employers in 1983. "He was a leader of conviction and courage and was generous and supportive to young unionists and all those who sought his support and advice," Ms O'Neil said. Narrowly missing out on the Labor deputy leadership after Labor's election loss in 1996, he took on the position two years later after another election defeat.Mr Crean faced continued speculation about a Kim Beazley comeback amid poor opinion poll results and in November 2003 he resigned on the advice of colleagues - becoming the first Labor leader since 1916 to be replaced without having contested an election.
After serving as federal Labor leader from 2001 to 2003, across the floor from John Howard, Mr Rudd appointed him the trade portfolio after securing a Labor victory in 2007.
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