Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration) Share this | Hansard source

It is with enormous admiration coupled with a degree of sadness that I too rise tonight to pay tribute to the significant contributions made by my colleagues Senator the Hon. Nick Minchin, Senator Alan Ferguson and Senator Julian McGauran to the Parliament of Australia during their time as senators in this place. I say to all three of you: when I entered this place three years ago you were my colleagues; tonight in giving your valedictories I am so glad to be able to say that each one has well and truly become my friend.

Nick, throughout your career in this place you have consistently demonstrated professionalism, competence and an extra­ordinary understanding of parliamentary practice and procedure. Your record in this place is such that, when you leave here, you can hold your head exceptionally high. I take solace in the fact, in particular after listening to your speech tonight, that, whilst your distinguished service in this place may be ending, there is a future for you on the conservative side of politics. Like Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, I too may well be looking quite seriously at joining your 'Friends of CO2' group!

Nick, it has been an absolute privilege to serve with you as a fellow senator but, in particular, as part of your team when you were the Leader of the Opposition in this place. I have always regarded you as my mentor, and I appreciate the time you have spent with me sharing your wisdom, your experience and your knowledge of parlia­mentary practice and procedure. I congrat­ulate you on your long and distinguished service to this place and I look forward to continuing to work with you as we go into the future.

Alan Ferguson, if only I had been a scotch drinker, but I wasn't—but that is all right! Alan, during your time in this place you reached the esteemed office of President of the Australian Senate. Without a doubt, that is a role of which you should be very, very proud. I did not have the opportunity to serve with you when you were the President of this place, but certainly I am advised by colleagues on both sides of this chamber that you discharged your role in a competent and effective manner and were, without a doubt, one of the best presidents in this place. I, of course, have had the opportunity to serve with you in your role as Deputy President, and I would agree that that is a role which you have discharged in a dignified and effective manner.

Your speech tonight has confirmed everything that I believe about you—that you are a true champion of this chamber. You are a person who is prepared to forcibly argue the case for houses of review and the fact that the upper house of parliament needs to maintain a degree of independence whilst ensuring that it discharges its role in an efficient and effective way, continually enhancing its capacity to carry out the review function, for which members of this chamber are elected. During my time in this place, Alan, you have been a great mentor to so many of us. I have sought advice from you on many occasions. Like others, I recognise that you are a man of great integrity and wisdom and a parliamentarian who has accumulated much knowledge in the working of the Senate over many years. Your departure from this place, again in relation in particular to matters of parliamentary procedure and practice, will be a great loss.

Julian, what can I say? I do not think you are allowed to say that it has been a blast in this place, but I have to say that, since I have been seated next to you, it has been an absolute blast—it really has. Julian, in the three years that I have been in this place—and I thought I had a unique style—you have taken the cake, well and truly. You have what is described as a unique style that will be greatly missed. Throughout your time in the Senate you have worked with distinction and with great flair. It has been an absolute pleasure to have worked with you in a number of capacities but in particular in relation to our time on the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties. You are a highly principled person, you have stood by your convictions and have steadfastly remained true to your beliefs during your time in this place.

In Julian's maiden speech in 1987, when laying down his beliefs, he said:

I stand for traditional Australia and its belief in the family structure as a source of strength to a society which is presently sorely tested by an array of social pressures. I stand for an Australia which accepts the recognition in law and policy of the status of marriage and its preferred treatment.

…   …   …

I seek to give full service to these ideals in my term in the Senate.

During your time in the Senate, Julian, no-one could say that you backed away from your stated beliefs, and in this game, with the pressures that can be brought upon a person, that is something to be exceptionally proud of.

Senator McGauran has had a long and colourful career in the parliament. His retirement will be a great loss to senators in this chamber, in particular his style of address and his undoubted capacity to identify and get to the nub of any issue in an effective way. Julian, I congratulate you on your service to the parliament and to the people of Australia. I look forward to continuing to work with you in the future and I wish you the very best in your endeavours. The state of Victoria and the Liberal Party is fortunate to have had the representation of a senator of such quality as you.

All three senators who will retire on 30 June are entitled to be proud of the contribution that they made to the Senate and the nation. Our country is a better place as a consequence of their service to the parliament. I wish them all the very best.

I will say one more thing for the record. Julian has promised to take me to dinner on Thursday, 28 September, when I am in Melbourne. It is now on the record.