Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In my role as federal member, occasionally I get some curly phone calls coming through to my office. I received one the other day. Obviously, being in a marginal seat, I always do what I can to help the people who make contact, whether it be about a local government issue, a state government issue or, more often than not, a federal government issue. Recently, my office was contacted by Robert Reid, who had concerns about something which is a little esoteric. Robert Reid has been in Australia for 50 or 60 years, but he came from Scotland, so he has a particular interest in things from Scotland. Robert wished to talk to me about the fact that the city of Brisbane is named after Sir Thomas Brisbane but that references to his full name, Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, a Scottish name, have been dropped. Robert was most keen to see what I could do to make sure that this Scottish connection was not dropped. I met Robert at the RSL at Corinda. We had a beer together and I said that I would see what I could do. I know some Makdougalls and I know they are proud of their Scottish links. Robert Reid has been in Australia since 1970. He came from a little town near Glasgow and is very proud of his Scottish connections. So I will do what I can for Robert Reid to make sure Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane's name lives on. (Time expired)