Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

May I join with all the others who have contributed to this condolence for our late friend and colleague, Don Randall. May I extend my condolences to his wife, Julie; to his children Tess and Elliott; to his extended family; to his staff and to all of his friends. In Macbeth, Shakespeare wrote:

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage

And then is heard no more.

Those words could be applied to some who have passed through this place over the decades, but certainly not to Don Randall. He was neither vexed nor will his deeds be forgotten, as indicated by the many contributions today. Don was always a great advocate. In the party room, he was direct and effective. As many others have remarked, none were left in doubt as to what Don was on about. Equally in this chamber, he was an effective debater and effective contributor to the many discussions that he participated in over the years.

I wanted to remark very briefly on another aspect of his advocacy that was less public. That was, as the member for Swan and then subsequently as the member for Canning, to his ministerial colleagues. Over the years, whether it was advocating for the extension or the expansion of aged care in his electorate or arguing passionately for greater flexibility, particularly for his beloved small businesses; the cause of immigrants from various parts of the world or for the care of the disabled, Don was there knocking on the doors of ministers such as myself, advocating persistently and with great perseverance and dedication for those things which he believed in and those people he represented. It was always a strong and persistent debate.

In these brief remarks, may I conclude by recalling that it was John Donne who said:

No man is an island, entire of itself.

That is why there is such a great feeling in this chamber today about Don's passing. May he rest in peace and may some of that peace be shared with his wife and family.

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