Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

Today I pay my respects to the Hon. John Fahey AC. He was a good man and a great authentic Australian. John was a selfless servant to the people of New South Wales and to Australia over his two decades in the New South Wales and the federal parliaments. Rightfully, there has been much focus on John Fahey's many achievements, both as Premier and as federal finance minister but also as the man he was. John reluctantly took the reins of the Liberal leadership in New South Wales, describing the moment as one of his saddest days because of the circumstances under which he took over the leadership. Despite this, true to form and true to his nature, he rolled up his sleeves and he got on with the job of leading and reforming not only his party but his beloved state.

He delivered major policy initiatives, such as the introduction of the Disability Services Act, the introduction of the New South Wales seniors card, the appointment of the first New South Wales Minister for the Status of Women, and the overhaul of the New South Wales industrial relations system. And, as has been said by previous speakers, he famously leapt for joy when it was announced that his tireless advocacy, and that of his team, for Sydney to host the 2000 Summer Olympics was successful. For those of us old enough to remember, we will never forget his spontaneous and unbridled joy.

John Fahey courageously and selflessly put himself in harm's way to protect Prince Charles from an attack on Australia Day in 1994. He helped the people of New South Wales rebuild after the devastating 1994 bushfires that went straight into the heart of Sydney. After the closest of electoral defeats in New South Wales in 1995, he rolled up his sleeves, shook himself up and entered the federal parliament as the member for Macarthur at the 1996 federal election, which was when I first met him. As the federal Minister for Finance, John was instrumental in rebuilding the federal budget to a position of strength, for which all of us in this nation still owe him a great debt of gratitude.

I would also like to mention one of John's many unsung achievements: his advocacy and mentorship of young men and women—in particular, women—in the Liberal Party. My friend and very good colleague Senator Marise Payne, who unfortunately is not able to be here today because of official overseas business, has very fondly recounted to me the support John so generously extended to her throughout her career in the party. John supported Marise throughout her political career, all the way back to when she was a young staffer in the Greiner-Fahey government of the late 1980s and the early 1990s in New South Wales. In her poignant and heartfelt eulogy at John's funeral, Marise remarked that, as part of John's team, you worked with him not for him. She described John as always available and always supportive.

This says so much about his leadership style and his contributions. He valued individuals and also their contributions, and he didn't harbour prejudices. That is what made him such a wonderful role model for several generations of Liberals. And I know that he played a role in mentoring many other Liberal women, including Senator Fierravanti-Wells and the New South Wales Premier, Gladys Berejiklian. While I didn't personally have the opportunity to get to know him well, I am thankful for all that he did to chart the path for strong female representation in this party at all levels. He did this not in the pursuit of tokenism but in recognition of the need for our parliamentary chambers right across our nation to be more representative of all Australians and in recognition of the need for the best representatives, be they male or female. In the words of the Prime Minister today, he was a tremendous Liberal.

We honour John Fahey's leadership, his service and, indeed, his entire life. To John's wife, Colleen, and his two children and grandchildren, I offer my heartfelt condolences. We give our thanks to John for a life well lived and authentically lived.