Peter Khalil (Wills, Australian Labor Party) | Hansard source

Yesterday I had the chance to speak very briefly about Michael Beahan's extraordinary life, in the House, and I appreciate the opportunity again here—among, in particular, some of my Western Australian colleagues—to speak about a wonderful man who made such a wonderful contribution. He was a dear friend to me. He was kind. He was generous. He was gentle. He was very generous with his time in offering advice to me as a new MP, particularly and throughout the last couple of years.

Kindness and generosity are not usually associated with politicians, Deputy Speaker, as you know, but Michael was nonetheless known for his kindness, and he was no less effective for his gentle nature and his kindness. He actually left a formidable legacy of service to the Australian community and to the Labor Party that he loved so much. He served as Western Australia's state secretary of the ALP, and during that period he put in a number of processes. In fact, I think he was instrumental, really, in ensuring electoral victory in Western Australia during those years. He then served as a Labor senator for WA from 1987 to 1996 and as President of the Senate from 1994 to 1996, during the Keating Labor government. We can all see, in the corridor here at Parliament House, his portrait when we walk past. After parliament, though, he remained deeply committed to the Labor Party and deeply committed to working for others and for his community. He was a very strong advocate for the role of neighbourhood houses in local communities, for health services and many other local social justice projects.

As I said, he was one of those really, genuinely lovely people who grace this planet from time to time and whom the rest of us, frankly, have the good fortune to know and to befriend. He was a very good politician and a very good public servant in the truest sense of those words. He was a good man. He was never about his ego; he was always about helping others.

But I'm just one of the many, many lives he has enriched, and many members of the local Brunswick Labor branch, which he was a member of, and the wider Wills electorate Labor family have met and spent a lot of time with Michael over the years, lucky enough to share in his wisdom and his passion for social justice. I reached out to them and asked to hear their stories about Michael. Here are just a few. I quote first his friend Michael Petit in Brunswick, who says: 'When Caroline and I first came to Australia 40 years ago, we both read a wonderful book, a now treasured book, A Fortunate Life by Albert Facey—a life lived honestly, humbly, and a sense of purpose and concerned beyond self. That was Michael. He was a Western Australian of the highest principles and character and he was our friend and good mate. I'm not going to comment extensively about Michael's stellar political career. He was a true believer, and that was made clear from the top down. But what I will comment on is his friendship, characteristics that made him a person you just wanted to spend more time with. I never met a man more generous with his time and devoted to making life better for all around him. He was a skilled speaker and advocate for causes, but also a ready listener to other voices. In short, he was somewhat of a national treasure. His death a few weekends ago was tragic for all of us and his friends.'

Michael Petit goes on to say: 'But you are never really gone when you live in the hearts and memories of so many.' He also says: 'I will revise the Facey book title to say, 'Vale Michael Beahan AM, a most significant life' and he would insist that we now toast one another with a really good shiraz.'

This from Malcolm Harding: 'I can't say that I knew Michael that well, but we did work together for a time when for his sins he managed to have himself appointed to the role of chair of the Celtic Club's disciplinary committee.' That must've been quite a job, disciplining Celts! 'I'm a barrister and I was appointed as adviser to this committee. Michael was given the gig, I suspect, due to his expertise in dealing with fractious behaviour. Michael brought a quiet calm to a querulous situation. He was hellbent on being fair and being seen to be fair, despite provocation.'

His good friend Ann Taylor said that 3½ years ago Michael was a board member of Merri Health and it was coming up to time to renew his position. But instead of running again, he said he wanted 'a good woman to stand'. He approached Ann, and Ann tells me this in and of itself was a huge honour. But he was also not the sort of person to handball anything and just let it go. He worked hard to mentor Ann and supported her through the election. Ann recalls that Michael was always there when she needed him. And she remembers he had one of those oodle dogs, named Millie, and boy did she adore Michael, as we all did. No-one was allowed to disturb their time together on the couch! He loved that dog, and I'm sure Millie will miss him too.

Mark Higginbotham, former mayor of Moreland, had this to say: 'Michael always had a lot to contribute. He made Brunswick his home and loved being a part of the Brunswick community. I will remember Michael as a very inclusive individual. He gave encouragement to women, to multicultural groups, was passionate on Indigenous affairs and LGBTIQ+ issues. Anything, you name it, Michael was a part of it. He was a true believer. He was truly admired and loved by all at the Brunswick branch.'

It's clear that he will leave a legacy that will endure for those of us who were fortunate to know him and, much broader than that, for the community that he impacted. I again extend my condolences to his partner, Margaret, his children, Daniel and Kate, his stepchildren, Georgia and Michael, and their families. I will very much miss Michael and the times that we spent together talking and the advice that he gave me and his insight and wisdom. He was a special person. Vale, Michael Beahan.

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