Andrew Hastie (Canning, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Today I rise to honour the memory of Luch Jonceski, a servant of this parliament for four decades, who served as an attendant in this House of Representatives and as an assistant to the Speaker of the House. It's a privilege to join with my colleagues in honouring his memory in front of some of his colleagues. Luch was a man who straddled history in the sense that he served both in the old and this present parliament. That's quite an achievement. I only knew Luch for just over a decade, and most of our interactions occurred in the House or in the courtyard outside, where we'd chat away in the sunshine during short breaks. I think that's an experience that many colleagues had.

The thing I want to note about Luch today is that he was a consistently cheerful and friendly man. That's how I'll remember Luch. I think everyone who works in politics, but particularly in Parliament House, has to have good people skills. But for Luch, it wasn't just a vocation; it was who he was. He was a friendly, cheerful man. Luch transcended his vocation in that sense, which explains why we all had such great affection for him. Our political life is full of peaks and troughs, summits and valleys, and no matter where we might find ourselves on a particular day, Luch always graced the moment with a warm smile and greeting, and that is the memory I have. He had the common touch and he also reminded us of the outside world, the regular Australians who we represent in the chamber.

He reminded me not to take things too seriously and not to take things too personally, which I think is really important, and that there is life outside of this building. I think that's why I will miss Luch. I think he was the best of the Australian people. Everyone in this House will be the poorer for his absence but none more so than his family—his wife, Mary, and his children, Jess, Rebecca and Josh. I offer my condolences to them today.

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