Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

Tony, as you observed, we've known each other for 35 years, which is a pretty confronting number. I would like to assert it's because we went to preschool together, but, sadly, that would be misleading the House! When I first arrived at Melbourne University on the first day of O-week in 1986, I was naive. I tended to see things in black and white, good and bad. I perhaps hadn't yet seen the whole world in its full colour. But at least that provided me, in my sense of the world of politics, with a set of simple, comforting truths. Those of us who were lined up at the Labor club desk obviously believed in fairness, compassion and justice. We were selfless and virtuous. Those who were lining up at the Liberal club desk were obviously in it for themselves. They were only about the money. They were completely selfish.

Then I met Tony Smith, who was a confusing proposition. To start with, I remember saying to Tony: 'Mate, you are a Liberal. You're driving a red Monaro and you've got a mullet. What the hell!' I remember speaking to some friends afterwards and saying, 'I think I just met a nice Liberal.' They said: 'Are you sure? A nice Liberal? I mean, how would that even work?' From the very outset, the concept of Tony Smith has been challenging me throughout my political life. To be clear: virtue does live on this side of the House. But if he can be a good bloke, then maybe there are some others of you over there who are actually decent people.

As it turns out, Tony and I have a lot in common. We were born four months apart. Our fathers taught at the schools that we both attended. Tony's dad was a chemistry teacher. My dad was a maths teacher. We were both the youngest in our families, with older sisters who both thought we were spoiled. We both attended Melbourne University, starting in exactly the same year. And we even passionately support footy teams which share the same colours. Maybe that does explain why his politics is a bit more benign than the rest of your lot's! But Tony is no stranger to the partisan contest. That's important because in a democratic two-party system it matters that the parties compete, and, over the last 20 years, that's exactly what Tony has done in a seat which the Liberals cannot take for granted but which Tony Smith has made his own.

Tony sat on John Howard's front bench. He was a shadow minister during the Rudd and Gillard years. He knows all about the partisan contest and how it is practised. But, in a larger sense, as we engage in our partisan activities we do so in the service of a greater democracy, which is embodied by this parliament and by the idea of being an Australian parliamentarian in the service of the whole nation. That idea, in my humble opinion, comes closest to capturing the spirit of Tony Smith. That is why, when in 2015 Tony became Mr Speaker, it was as if he were made for the job. Mr Speaker's intelligence had him across the standing orders and the procedures in no time. But much more importantly than that, Speaker, your integrity, your honour and the fundamental decency that characterises who you are meant that, almost immediately, you had the confidence of this entire House in a way that I had never seen before.

When I think about you and me sitting back there at the Melbourne uni SRC back in 1988, and when I look at you sitting there right now, I feel so proud of you, because you have risen, truly, to be a giant. The fact that on three separate occasions you have been elected unopposed to the speakership of this House is just one sign of why you stand apart in modern times as perhaps being the greatest Speaker of them all. And so, Mr Speaker, in this role we will miss you very much. Good luck in the future. I know that you have a few more months as the member for Casey, but farewell, my friend. You leave this seat with the rarest of achievements, because you genuinely go with the heartfelt goodwill and best wishes of every single member of this place.

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