Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Hansard source

For many of us on this side, at least, today is a day of mixed blessings. We have had the enormous pleasure of formally welcoming to our ranks Senator Cormann, who made one of the best maiden speeches that I have heard in this place. But we also face the sadness today of losing our good friend Paul Calvert. This sadness is compounded by the regrettable fact that Paul is the fifth Liberal senator to depart our ranks just this year. On behalf of all coalition senators, I want to congratulate Senator Calvert on an absolutely outstanding career representing in this place the state of Tasmania.

Paul has provided meritorious service to this Senate for, as he said, some 20 years. It has been my privilege to serve here with Senator Calvert for 14 of those 20 years. In that time, I have been able to observe a senator dedicated to diligent representation of the people of Tasmania. He has brought to this place fantastic enthusiasm for his state and its future. If there was only one thing that we knew about Paul Calvert it would be that he is a Tasmanian. It is a time to reflect on the fact that one of the great things about the Senate is that as a result of the wisdom of the founding fathers we do have equal representation from all the states. If you think about it, if we did not—if the Senate was chosen on the same basis as the House of Representatives—this chamber would probably have two or at most three senators from the state of Tasmania, and people like Paul Calvert might not have had the opportunity to serve in this place and represent that great state. It is a reminder of the great heritage we have of equal representation from all states, a heritage that must be preserved.

Senator Calvert has also been a dedicated and loyal representative of our great party, the Liberal Party of Australia. He has enriched, in my view, the federal parliamentary Liberal Party throughout his 20 years here, especially and most particularly because he brings to the Liberal Party a strong background in rural affairs and rural production and a background in local government. We noted with some amusement Senator Cormann noting that Western Australia needed not only more butchers, bakers and candlestick makers but more lawyers. If there is one thing that this place probably does not need it is more lawyers, and I say so as one myself. Paul, to his great credit, is not a lawyer and has brought other fine and more noble qualities to this place.

Paul has also brought to this place great and endearing personal qualities: a tremendous generosity of spirit, a sense of humour and a warm, friendly and welcoming personality. It is those personal qualities that have enabled Senator Calvert to rise through coalition ranks, first to Deputy Whip, then to Chief Government Whip and then to the highest office that any senator can aspire to, that of President of the Senate. For the last five years, which is nearly half the period that we have been in government, Senator Calvert has presided in this place with what I would regard as the appropriate degree of independence, fairness and resolve. Senator Calvert has earned the respect of all senators in all parties in this place based on his professional conduct in the role of President. On behalf of all coalition senators, I thank Senator Calvert for his enormous contribution to the state of Tasmania, to the Liberal Party of Tasmania and of Australia and to the Senate. I wish Senator Calvert and his most loyal and devoted wife, Jill, all the very best in their post-parliamentary life.