Brett Mason (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Education) Share this | Hansard source

It is a great joy to say a few words about my 14 retiring colleagues. I know that at moments like this we are supposed to say words of farewell and congratulation, but in my case I think I will say words of apology. Perhaps I should start with Senator Murray, my old friend on the cross benches. Senator Murray was unfortunate enough to spend six years in the office next to mine. So often, on more than a dozen occasions, he ran into my office to say, ‘For God’s sake, Brett, what is wrong? All I could hear was screaming and kicking through the wall.’ I would say, ‘Andrew, I was just having a quiet conversation with my brother or my mother.’ He would say, ‘Brett, you can hear your voice all round the building.’ True enough, but we will all miss Andrew Murray and his great belief in ethical conduct and in accountability and transparency. He has changed legislation and made Australian corporate law much better. And, more importantly, perhaps, we will miss his great respect for the dignity of man. He has made Australia a better place.

I apologise to Senator Stott Despoja as well. She did not speak to me for three years after we went to Cambodia, because I embarrassed her in front of the Cambodian Prime Minister—so much so that not only did she not speak to me for three years but she also said she would never speak to me again. Nonetheless, she has been a wonderful senator; she has been engaging and has been a very vital person. She has a great skill in being able to grasp complex problems and articulate them to a television camera better than nearly anyone I know. I must admit I had a tear in my eye when she resigned as Leader of the Australian Democrats several years ago. I have never told her that, but she will hear that tonight, and I regret that her resignation happened.

Senator Bartlett was great company as well in his own Gothic sort of way. I forgive him for his purple shirts and purple ties. I think he should smile a little bit more. I was always worried that he seemed to be very depressed, particularly when he saw me. He is a man of great integrity.

Senator Allison has one of the toughest jobs, of course, in Australian politics—to lead the Australian Democrats. It is a very difficult job, but she has done it very, very well, and we will all miss her.

Senator Nettle is going as well. I do not think I have ever agreed on any issue with Senator Nettle. On every issue before this parliament I am on the other side to her. One thing I respect about Senator Nettle is that in politics it is easy to be a white bread politician, to stand for nothing and to go along to get along, but Senator Nettle is a senator and a woman of conviction, and I respect that.

Senator George Campbell—what is it about these old lefties from the Australian Labor Party, Madam Deputy President? I went with Senator Campbell to New York. He was wonderful to travel with; I do not mind admitting that. We spent many nights together in New York City, and he took me to all these bars and nightclubs, apparently recommended by Mr Rudd. He brought a great expertise to this chamber in industrial relations and in training, and also, particularly in his later years, he brought a great generosity of spirit to us all. It is funny how all my life I have been fighting against the Left and yet I am praising one of them—what has happened?

I have always been scared of Senator Linda Kirk. She is much more intelligent than me and a much better lawyer. She has also added a great intellectual rigour to the debate here in the Senate and in committee work. I know Linda lost her preselection in difficult circumstances. It is none of my business, but, suffice to say, I will miss her and I will miss her rigour.

Every time Senator Ruth Webber sees me, for some reason she starts laughing. She has the most distinctive laugh, with the possible exception of Senator Brandis, in this entire chamber. Many a time I have been nodding off in question time and the first trickle of a giggle comes from Senator Webber and I am immediately alight and woken up. I am going to miss her joviality and good spirits.

I now turn to farewelling my coalition colleagues. In my office in Canberra I have a photograph of Senator Sandy Macdonald and me astride an elephant in southern Thailand.