Guy Barnett (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Kemp, you do know that! In fact, I note also tonight that Senator Chapman received the highest award that could ever be given in Chile to a foreigner, and I think that is a testament to the type of contribution he has made and the professionalism with which Senator Chapman has undertaken his role with the IPU and his other roles also.

I want to pay tribute to Senator Sandy Macdonald. In doing so, I acknowledge his great love and care for Alice and his family. If you know Sandy Macdonald you know that he loves his family, and that comes through. He and I have something in common in that we went to the same school. He has been a senator here since 1993, and I know that he really enjoyed those roles as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence; they were very special roles that he really appreciated. I am glad that in some respects he has achieved his dream to perform and contribute in that area. He is a true gentleman—friendly, kind and generous in every respect. Indeed, he is a very good ‘Nat’, as it were. He is great mates with Senator Ron Boswell, and I remember one time when both of them were making quips when I wore a more country-oriented sports jacket, and Bozzie said to me, ‘You can certainly join up as an honorary member of the National Party if you wear that type of attire in the Senate.’ They have a good sense of humour. I note that Senator Macdonald said in his valedictory speech that being in this parliament is a challenge to health, wealth and family life; I am sure that everybody in this chamber would agree. I acknowledge his work with the country of Turkey and with the Australia-Turkey friendship group. He has been to Gallipoli, and he has certainly done a lot to forge the relationship between our two countries. I want to agree with Senator Macdonald when he says that Australia is not just a lucky country; it is a blessed country. The contributions that all the six Liberal senators have made have been outstanding.

To Senator Kay Patterson: you do have, as I think has been referred to in the valedictory speeches tonight, a pastoral approach. You provide advice, care and compassion, and you demonstrate that in different ways. You have demonstrated that with me—even today, asking about my diabetes and how I am going with my blood sugar levels and that sort of thing, and commenting if I am looking a little tired or weary. That just demonstrates that there is empathy, there is compassion and there is a heart in Senator Kay Patterson. She does that, obviously, not just for me but also for other colleagues, and that friendliness and heartfelt concern for people comes through. I must protest a little, however: at lunchtime she made it very clear to me, for the second time, that she still does not like my beard—