Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia) Share this | Hansard source

I want to briefly assoc­iate myself with the remarks made by my colleagues to our three retiring senators. The brevity of my remarks is in no way an indication of the expansive regard in which I hold all three retiring senators. This is an occasion when you can absolutely trust and agree with as truthful all of the words said by all of the previous speakers, even including those from the other side of the chamber. Most of the praiseworthy things have been said. I just want to associate myself with those very fine words, because I am aware that a lot of my colleagues want to speak tonight and time is short.

We lose three very fine senators, each of whom, in their own way, has made a very substantial contribution to this Senate, to the parliament, to the nation, to his or her state and, indeed, in these three cases, to the Liberal Party, of which they are all members. I know, as everyone else has also said, that each will have a future in public life in one way or another.

I must briefly mention Judith Troeth, whom I was delighted to see come to the Senate all those years ago. She joined me as one of the few senators from our state who actually lived in the country and had roots in the country, and we were both Liberals. This does not mean much to me these days because now in Queensland we are all one big happy family, but in those days it was very important to me that Judith as a rural woman had come into the parliament as a Liberal.

I well remember the way Judith fought for rural issues in particular in those early days. I shared some time with Judith in the ministry in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry portfolio. I was very conscious of the work that Judith did in research and development in the organisations there and in many other ways—the way she promoted women in rural industries and in many things that occurred in that area.

I also thank Judith for the guidance she gave me on the RU486 debate. I always thought I agreed with them; I did not quite understand why. Sorry, Guy, but it was Judith who was able to confirm to me that what I was doing was correct. I particularly appreciated that.

I will not go on with my remarks on all three or any of the three because all of the things have been said. I just say ever so briefly of Guy that he is a very passionate exponent of Tasmania. It is good that you are passionate, because some would say there is not much to be passionate about in Tasmania. I know that is wrong. I was spending a lot of time in Tasmania when Guy first entered the Senate. I had a lot to do with him; both of us were trying to help forestry and fisheries in particular in Tasmania in those days. I have known Guy's passion for Tasmania and everything that happens there and all the other causes that have been mentioned.

Guy, I am certain that you will have a future in public life. I know the government in Victoria is just waiting for Judith Troeth to be available to do good things. I have no inside information; I just know that the sort of person that Judith is will always find some sort of role in public life. Similarly with Guy, I was sort of having a wager with him on whether it would be federal parliament, state parliament, local government or perhaps something international but I am sure that Guy will not be lost from public service, and that will be to the benefit of Tasmania and indeed Australia.

Russell is a Queenslander, of course. Russell is a person who really did, as a Queensland senator, change the world, with a remarkable election six years ago. Russell actually changed the dynamics of politics in Australia for those first three or four years. Russell's expertise and indeed the expertise of all of my colleagues who are leaving is demonstrated in the speeches that they have given tonight. Again, I know that Russell will continue in public service, be it political, academic or perhaps international. I said that any government who did not take advantage of Russell's expertise and experience would be seriously failing in their duty to Australia. In that comment I particularly join with—as I rarely do—the Leader of the Government in the Senate, who made a similar reference.

All three, as I say, have made a very significant contribution. I wish all three publicly, as I have done and will do privately, all the very best in the future for them and their families and in their future roles. I am sure it will just be a brief departure from public life and I am sure we will see them around somewhere in the future. All the very best to you all.