Former Labor party leader Simon Crean has died at the age of 74. -AAP Image
Labor luminary and former leader Simon Crean has died at the age of 74.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
His former colleague, erstwhile defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon wrote on Twitter: "I'm shocked by the news of Simon Crean's death. Far too young. A good and talented guy, history will treat him kindly. Thinking of Carole and the family."
A unionist-turned-politician, Mr Crean had retired from the Labor party in 2013 after more than two decades on the front bench.
He was the last minister to have served in the governments of Bob Hawke and Paul Keating.