Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I commend the member for Kennedy for his earthy and heartfelt remarks. Ian Causley was one of the select few who served in not one but two parliaments. Ian was the New South Wales parliamentary member for Clarence from 1984 until 1996 and then won the federal seat of Page and served there until 2007. While, unlike the member for Kennedy, I did not directly share time in parliament with Ian, I knew him well, not least through the vast National Party membership network. I recall his passionate contributions to debate on the floor of state conferences. I'm sure the member for Lyne can back me up there! At federal meetings as well, there was always a contribution with a genuine belief—a real purpose behind what he said. He said what he meant, and he meant what he said.

Ian Causley was also, importantly, a committed local member. The regions mattered to him. He knew his electorate from one end to the other, and, when the boundaries changed, he was out there quickly to introduce himself to his new constituency areas. He knew the people, but, more than knowing the constituency, he understood the constituency—their wants, their needs, their hopes and their aspirations.

The Causley name has long been synonymous with the Far North Coast of New South Wales. Ian was a renowned farmer, but he extended that experience and passion into the industry through directorships and local organisations. He led the Clarence River Cane Growers Association as president. He extended this contribution into the New South Wales Cane Growers Council, and this proved to be a lifelong commitment to the industry. Even after his long and successful service in two parliaments, Ian remained committed to his own industry, serving on the New South Wales Sugar Milling Co-operative board until 2017.

It was a natural progression of his commitment to people around him for Ian to stand for and win preselection for the state seat of Clarence. After four years of opposition, on election of the Greiner-Murray government in 1988, and later in the Fahey-Armstrong government, he served as Minister for Natural Resources from 1988 to 1990, Minister for Water Resources from 1990 to 1991, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries from 1993 to 1995 and Minister for Mines from 1993 to 1995. So we see a lifetime of experience in the primary industries translated into service for industries across the state and, indeed, the nation.

In federal parliament, he served as a respected Deputy Speaker for almost six years until 2007. There was respect that ran across the House of Representatives—across both sides of the parliament. I mentioned that Ian never forgot his personal base, and we can understand something of the effort in representing the best interests of canegrowers in New South Wales when 95 per cent of Australia's sugar cane came from north of the Tweed. On Ian's passing, Sunshine Sugar—which is a partnership between the grower owned New South Wales Sugar Milling Co-operative and the Australian family owned business Manildra Group—offered a tribute, which gives us a very real sense of his contribution and an insight into just what he was like:

The NSW sugar industry has lost a great warhorse, with the passing of Ian Causley.

Having been involved in agri-politics for more than 50 years, Ian was a strong leader and was Chairman of the NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative during some of its most turbulent times.

Indeed, they were turbulent times, but they were lucky to have a good leader in Ian to help see them through those turbulent times.

At this time, we mourn his passing with his family members: Craig Causley, Marcelle Turner, Derek Causley and Shane Causley. Ian lost his treasured wife, June, in 2013 after her courageous battle with cancer. He loved her so. The family has requested donations be made to prostate or breast cancer causes in lieu of flowers at this time. Despite June's passing, he did not withdraw. He continued to work in and serve his community, which is a great mark of the man.

Reporting on a function in 2006 to mark his 20-plus years of parliamentary service, the Lismore Echo published a wonderful, iconic photo of him as a strapping young canefarmer, complete with a canecutter in one hand, and a photo essay of his life. The photo was accompanied by a report on his achievements over that time span, and it was a very, very long report. Those achievements extended far and wide across community life, with Ian recalling how he enjoyed mucking in with local small stall holders at Sydney's Paddy's Markets, backing the little bloke—backing the little guy—against a push for redevelopment of their site into an office and residential block. Paddy's Markets stands today, proudly—in fact, not in one but in two locations, at Sydney's Haymarket and Flemington.

At the same time, in 2006, Ian pointed to the depth of commitment we have across Nationals branches—the wonderful people who comprise those branches for the common good. He was asked who should be his successor. His reply was, 'I don't anoint successors,' because, as he explained: 'History tells me it's the kiss of death if you anoint someone, and local branch members don't like someone forced upon them. They have to fight their own battles.' We think of Ian Causley's family and friends at this difficult time. We share their sorrow at his passing, but we also share their great pride and satisfaction from reflecting on his life so well lived—a life lived for others.

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