David Moncrieff (Hughes, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It's a real honour to be able to speak in remembrance of Luch. I didn't know Luch for as long as some of the other members here, having been elected only last year, but I want to acknowledge how welcoming he was to the new members here. As has been said by some of the members that were welcomed a bit longer ago, he was so welcoming. The moment that I always remember about him is when I was in my first couple of weeks here and I was looking for a lectern. I walked up to the little spot next to the main doors of the chamber. I was still working things out. I said, 'Can I get a lectern?' and he went, 'Come in, come in,' immediately. He was so welcoming. He said, 'Come in any time you want.' He was so generous and welcoming with his time and his resources.

The first time I saw Luch was on The House With Annabel Crabb and they talked about how long he had served in this place and the place before it. There are no members left serving in this place now who served in the previous place. It's so sad that we've lost that connection to that previous place and to the legacy of that building for this place. Luch was always such a warm reminder of the familiarity of this place and of the legacy of this place.

As has been said, we as members of parliament couldn't do this work without those people supporting us—the attendants, the cleaners and all the people that make this place hum. We couldn't do it without them. Luch represented the best of this place. He represented that warmth and that welcome that we want for this seat of Australian democracy. We want it to be a place where all Australians feel welcome, and Luch did that in the most humble and welcoming of ways. He did it with a sense of humour as well, as the Prime Minister said. He used the same joke on me a couple of times. I drink a lot of water in the chamber as the member for Tangney, my bench mate, will attest. And, yes, Luch did use the old, 'It's on the house!' joke on me a couple of times. It was always very warm and it's something that I'll miss very much.

I want to wish all the best for his family. They have our sincere condolences. Our thoughts are with them at this time. It's such a difficult time, losing such an important part of not just our family but their family even more dearly. Vale, Luch. Long may his legacy in this place continue.

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