Judith Adams (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It gives me great pleasure to speak about our retiring senators this evening. I would like to start with the father of the Senate, Senator John Watson, who has given 30 years service to the Senate and the people of Tasmania. I think that is a wonderful record. Last year I was fortunate enough to go to the scrutiny of legislation conference in Wellington. John and I were both delegates. I must say that, having him there beside me to offer support, I learnt so much. He was always around to answer any questions and to support me. As I had to present a paper, I was quite nervous about it, but John gave me support and paid me the attention that I really needed to do that. I thank him very much for that. I am not really involved with the financial side of this place—the finance committees or any of that area—but I do know that John is. Listening tonight, we have heard about the terrific contribution that he has made to the Senate in that area especially. I thank him for that.

I move on to Senator Grant Chapman, who has represented South Australia for 28 years both in the House of Representatives and the Senate. This is a wonderful achievement, and I am sure that, when Senator Chapman returns to South Australia, he will be focusing a lot of his time and his experience on rural South Australia. I wish him very well in his next life and with what he is going to do. I am sure that he will continue contributing and trying to rectify rural issues for his constituents.

Senator Kay Patterson has been in the Senate for 21 years. I am really going to miss Kay. She is a very hardworking and distinguished senator. She has been, in everything she has done, determined to succeed in what was very important to her. Her track record really says it all. Her advocacy skills have been second to none. As has been said this evening by all those senators on the coalition side, Kay has always been there with her support, wisdom, sense of humour and, sometimes, caution. I thank her for that. We will certainly miss her for all of the things that she has done—quietly achieving in the background but always there to steady us up and say, ‘That’s enough; let’s go this way,’ or ‘I think you should be going in another direction.’ I really thank her for those words of wisdom.

To Senator Kemp, who has spent 18 years representing Victoria: estimates will not be the same without you, nor will the chamber. I recall his banter across the chamber with Senator Lundy when he was Minister for the Arts and Sport. We really will miss that. He has made a huge contribution to the parliament, especially, as people before me have said, with the GST and the other areas that he has had terrific expertise in.

Sandy Macdonald has been a great contributor in this place. His knowledge of rural and regional issues is second to none. Probably the main area where I have worked with Sandy was as Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister for Defence when he had responsibility for the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program. As I have been very involved with that program, I must say that Senator Macdonald was a great advocate for the position he held and also for all those people that he met with in that area. He supported and advocated to his parliamentary colleagues to get them to take part in the program. We have not agreed on all issues, but I feel that Senator Macdonald is a great ambassador for his rural constituents. I am sure that he will continue to be so when he leaves this place.

Senator Ross Lightfoot is a WA colleague who has served the people of Western Australia in three parliamentary chambers. He has been a great supporter of the resource sector and is also the patron senator for the mining and pastoral area of Western Australia. Senator Lightfoot has worked tirelessly in that area, and his constituents there will be very sad that he has left the Senate, but I am sure he will continue in the same vein.