Alison Byrnes (Cunningham, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to pay my respects to Ljupco Jonceski, known to all of us simply as Luch, and to extend my deepest condolences to his family. It is an honour to speak about a man who meant so much to this place and to the people within it. When we returned to this place at the start of the year, many of us felt Luch's absence immediately. In a place that is defined by change, by elections and by people coming and going, Luch was a constant. He was always here, always ready and always doing his job with care, dignity and good humour.

Luch served this parliament for over four decades, and he did so with an extraordinary sense of pride in the institution. As the Prime Minister noted, his story is deeply connected to this building itself. From working in Old Parliament House to labouring on the construction of this parliament to then serving here as a parliamentary attendant, Luch quite literally helped build and sustain the people's house, and that is a legacy that very few can claim. What set Luch apart, however, was not just his long service, but the way he treated people. He treated everyone equally, regardless of seniority, portfolio or party. He just had an instinctive understanding of procedure and ceremony, and he carried out his duties with efficiency, courtesy and warmth. He managed to be both highly professional and genuinely kind, and that combination earned him respect across the chamber. Many members will remember moments of nerves or pressure when Luch would quietly appear with a glass of water. You never had to ask; he had already noticed. It was a small gesture, but one that captured his thoughtfulness and his attention to others. He understood that this place can be demanding, and he took it upon himself to look after people in practical and very human ways.

For me, Luch was a familiar presence over a very long time. I had known Loochy for 35 years. During my time here as a staffer and as an MP, he would always ask me about my home in Wollongong. He loved the Gong, and he never missed an opportunity to ask how things were going there, what was happening in the community and how people were travelling back home. That genuine interest in people's lives beyond this building was part of what made him so very special. He often asked me about my predecessors Sharon Bird and Stephen Martin and spoke warmly about them. Sharon Bird shared this with me:

It was always such a pleasure to come back to Canberra and be greeted by his friendly smile, chat about the Gong and enjoy his little jokes.

Stephen Martin, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives described Luch as 'a champion person, a true gentlemen, friendly but efficient in all my close working relationships with during my parliamentary career and even on those occasions I returned to Canberra'. Those words reflect how deeply Luch was valued across generations of members in this place.

Like the Speaker, I shared familiar exchanges with Loochy in the attendants room near the chamber, where we bantered about who would get the lectern, who would get the water. He would insist on doing it. I would say, 'Loochy, I'm going to do it,' and that he could relax. He would say no, that he was going to do it, every time. It was said lightly, but it reflected his very deep sense of responsibility and his pride in his work. Luch loved this place and he loved the people who worked within it. He was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word, not because of formality but because he looked for ways to help others, to treat everyone with respect and to do his job well and without fuss.

His passing has left a real void in this parliament, and I really did not want to walk into the attendants room at the start of this year and not see him here and not get a chance to banter about who gets the lectern. His legacy lives on in the memories, the kindness and the care that he showed to generations of members of staff and of visitors. On behalf of all of us, I extend my heartfelt sympathy to Luch's family. May he rest in peace.

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