Helen Kroger (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am pleased to have this opportunity to join my colleagues and pay a somewhat brief but genuine tribute to my colleagues who are retiring. The speeches that have been made speak volumes for the high regard in which we consider all our retiring colleagues.

I first had dealings with Senator Minchin when I was on the federal executive. It was with some trepidation that I first sat around that table with you, Nick, because your formidable reputation preceded you. So it was with some anticipation that I sat around that table. It did not help that at the second meeting that I attended as state president for the Victorian division I was 'beaten up' by the then Prime Minister, John Howard, in a particularly outstanding way, which only emboldened me in the approach that I should take. Nick, it was with your encouragement that I did that. Your valedictory speech tonight speaks volumes about the enormous contribution you have made to the country. There are very few people about whom you can stand up and say they made a real—with a capital R—difference to the state of our country, and you are one of those people. You have been a champion fighter for a number of causes and for that not only we, in this place, but many Australians will be forever grateful.

Senator Ferguson has really fathered those of us who came here in the class of 2007. Senator Ferguson, you have been a great mentor. Your advice has always been very sound and much appreciated. It really made the transition to this place so much easier for us. I also wish you very well for the future. I am sure that you and Anne will have many times to be able to enjoy those gorgeous grandchildren and enjoy the break from this place that you so well deserve.

Regarding Senator McGauran, I do not know how else to say this except to say that Julian is like family to me. He is like one of those challenging kids, one of my sons, whom you will always love to death, but who, my goodness, give you some problems that you have to deal with. Julian and I have known each other since university days. The flamboyant Julian has not changed since those days, which is such a redeeming nature. He is very much the person that I knew—I will not say for how many decades but for a few decades. It was the McGauran clan who were instrumental in the Victorian division determining to organise and agree to a joint Liberal-National Party Senate ticket—an arrangement that I have been a staunch critic of for the last decade, with a view that it should be revisited, notwithstanding that I hold my relationship with the National Party very highly. But the McGauran clan are largely responsible for us brokering that Senate ticket and sending Julian here for the last couple of decades.

Mr Acting Deputy President, if I may continue with your forbearance, I cannot go past a phone call that I received a few years ago, when I was state president. It was on a cold Sunday night, at seven o'clock. Julian was at the other end of the phone saying, without any preamble, 'Helen, I've just resigned from the Nats and I'm joining the Liberal Party.' After I got my breath I said, 'Julian, who have you told in the Nats? Who have you spoken to?' He said, 'I haven't spoken to anyone.' Julian, thank you very much, because you essentially ensured that for the next two months my life was taken away from me as I managed your transition to being a member of the Liberal Party and representing the Liberal Party. Julian, well done. It has been a great pleasure working with you and I look forward to having many dinners in the future.