Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party) | Hansard source

Mr Deputy Speaker, could I add a few words in this motion of condolence for Michael Beahan? I didn't know Michael well, but I was the deputy leader of a delegation to the United States and Canada with him. I think it was in about 1995. He was President of the Senate, so that opened doors that might not ordinarily have been opened, including to the White House to meet with then Vice President Al Gore and to a very memorable meeting with the oldest serving senator in the US Congress, Strom Thurmond. He had a four-star general as his aid, and he passed him a set of notes which we could all read from either side as to what he said to us as members of a visiting delegation.

It was an interesting delegation because of some of the characters on it. They included Mal Colston—who in this place, I suspect, is probably better forgotten than mentioned! Also, Alan Griffiths was a member of that delegation. Despite our differences, which are part of these delegations, we worked very well together, and that was in part because of the leadership of Michael Beahan. He was well informed, he was a gentleman, and he didn't hog the limelight on the delegation but shared around the tasks and the opportunities to say thank you to our various hosts in different parts of the country. We went to Chicago and New York. We went to Columbus, Ohio. You might ask: why Columbus, Ohio? It was because there was a potential US presidential candidate there, the then Governor of Columbus, Ohio, and the embassy thought it was a good opportunity for them to meet the gentleman concerned.

Throughout, Michael was remarkable in the leadership of the delegation that he showed. I met him on and off in this place over the years and bumped into him in a number of places after he left the Senate. He was always friendly and always had very informed commentary about things that were going on. Could I add to the comments, particularly those by his colleagues from the Labor Party, in extending my condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.

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