Matt Keogh (Burt, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Industry) | Hansard source

I rise to pay tribute to former Senator Michael Eamon Beahan AM. He was a former sparky, unionist and state secretary of the Australian Labor Party in Western Australia, and, notably, he was a former senator, pivotal in ensuring the WA branch of the Labor Party won government in 1983 and was re-elected in 1986. He played a role in the successful federal campaigns in 1983, 1984 and 1987.

When he entered federal parliament as a senator for Western Australia during the Hawke-Keating era he made it clear in his first speech to the Senate that he was concerned with getting things done, and that he did. He was committed to parliamentary committee work and worked to modernise the parliament in the role of Senate President. He took on the almighty challenge of lifting the standards of question time in the Senate, recognising that the televising of question time had a significant impact on the public perception of the work of the parliament overall.

As a good adopted Western Australian, Senator Beahan advocated for our state. One of the most memorable was the recognition that the parliament reflected almost no Western Australian history and art, as well as Queensland, Northern Territory or urban Aboriginal art. Rightfully now, the portrait of him in this building plays tribute to his work in establishing an art collection that is more reflective of our federation.

Senator Beahan played an important role in the modernisation of the Western Australian Labor Party and the Australian Labor Party nationally, and that cannot be overemphasised. That contributed greatly to its electability through the 1980s and 1990s. Of course, his contribution helped make our parliament what it is today. I extend my deep condolences to all of his family. Vale, Michael Beahan.

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