George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I know that Senator Milne's speech was not officially a valedictory, but it was a farewell speech. I might make a few remarks on behalf of the government. Senator Milne is a colleague with whom I disagreed on almost every issue that I can immediately think of. There would be a few on which we have agreed, but there are not many. Of course, that is the beauty of this place: people come from all parts of our country and from all variety of points of view. Through the process of this place, usually not a chamber which the government controls, we produce an outcome which is tested on the anvil of democracy—indeed, this chamber is the anvil of Australian democracy. I have always found it possible to respect people whose points of view I profoundly disagree with, and I would put you in that category. What I respect is the fact that you have brought a passion and a commitment to the prosecution of your beliefs and you have been very successful, if I may say so. You became a senator shortly after I did. When I first came into this place, there was one Greens senator, former senator, Bob Brown. There are now 10. For a substantial period of time you led the Greens. I think, on the occasion of someone's farewell, it is appropriate to put to one side differences of political opinion—perhaps even bitter differences of political opinion—and to acknowledge their service.

You are one of the relatively few Australians who decided to give your life to public affairs and into the causes about which you felt passionate. For that you should be respected, thanked and admired. You spent more than a decade, as I understand, in the Tasmanian parliament and well over a decade in the Senate. So it has been a long and conspicuous period of public service. You have been an idealist; you have been an effective spokesman for your beliefs. On this occasion of your farewell, I am sure I speak on behalf of all government senators in thanking you for that service and wishing you well.