Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the Prime Minister for his very gracious words. The Prime Minister and I have differences on all sorts of policies, but people should know that the Prime Minister is a person who greatly respects the institution of the parliament, as I do, and despite what might be said in the media and what might be reported of the perceptions of this chamber or conduct in this chamber, the fact is that it must survive and it must thrive, because we live in the greatest country in the world. We do so because there is a contest of ideas and the ability to exchange different ideas—in a robust way, on occasion, but always respecting those who have gone before us, those who have served, and making sure that this institution is in a fit state for those who will come in the years ahead.

I want to say a few words about my friend the member for Aston, Alan Tudge. Alan came into the parliament in 2010. He is a person of great integrity, of huge intellect. He had a significant career and experiences over the course of working with Brendan Nelson, Alexander Downer and Noel Pearson and others within the private sector, which came to bear around our cabinet table and around our leadership group in discussions and in the party room. He does have a great intellect, an appetite for nothing more than seeing what is in our country's best interest. He dedicated himself to that during his time in Aston for the people in his local electorate. It's a great area, and he has been passionate about making sure that, whether it's local roads or projects in his local community, he has been a champion on behalf of those people. But his interests have extended nationally, and he's been very passionate in the area of Indigenous affairs and education in particular, and his contribution to public policy and to advancing the cause of Indigenous Australians and young Australians as their minds experiment, explore and grow has been his particular passion.

The Prime Minister pointed out earlier that our families are conscripts in this business, and yes, they are. The Prime Minister and I have had conversations before about death threats against our own children, and there would be other members in the chamber who have had a similar experience. The online environment has created an opportunity for spineless people, people without the integrity of most decent Australians, who conduct themselves in a way that they should be ashamed of. It does bring an additional pressure not just to those family members but to us as parents, and there is a price that we pay for that. That's not peculiar to any side of the chamber. It's a reality for all of us in this chamber.

We live in a robust democracy, as I say, and we should exchange ideas, but we should do it in a respectful way, particularly without seeking to inflict pain, harm or discord. Certainly, somebody who is as depraved as to think it's acceptable to go after the children of an elected member of parliament—we should completely and utterly condemn it, and the whole parliament speaks as one in doing that.

Has there been pressure on the member for Aston? Of course there has. Has he felt that pressure, particularly with teenage girls? Absolutely. Is he a person who has absolute love and dedication for his children? Yes, he does, very proudly, and it's part of the reason that we're very proud of what he has been able contribute to the Liberal Party over a long period of time. We wish him well in the next chapter of his life. We wish him every success. We wish him well in his return to his family. When I spoke to him at Christmas he was devastated by his father's passing—just another layer, I suppose, of pressure that he has had to endure, and that's the reality of the situation.

I can understand the decision that he has made. The Liberal Party is poorer for him moving on. We wish him and his family bright days ahead. As the Leader of the Liberal Party, on behalf of our members and on behalf of my colleagues here, we extend every best wish to Alan Tudge in the years ahead.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

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