Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of my Western Australian Senate colleagues, I would like to associate myself with the remarks of the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Birmingham, and those of Senator McAllister. Unfortunately, I never met Vic Garland—as he was affectionately known across the Western Australian Liberal Party—but he is testament to the strength of the Western Australian Liberal Party. Over many years, we have sent people from the comfortable suburbs of Curtin to our national parliament and they have served us with distinction—Allan Rocher, who was a member of the Senate for a short time; Julie Bishop; and Sir Paul Hasluck. And Celia Hammond follows in those esteemed footsteps.

What is often overlooked is that, for a brief period, Vic Garland worked closely with another famous Western Australian, Sir Billy Snedden, whom we don't often think of as a Western Australian. Sir Billy was born in West Perth, educated at the University of Western Australia and was the inaugural chairman of the Young Liberal Movement of Australia. In listening to the contributions from Senator Birmingham and Senator McAllister, those of us from Western Australia have been reminded of the strength of the WA division and the very strong role we have played in sending very credible, competent people to our national parliament—and, indeed, to the prize of all prizes, the high commissioner post in London. On behalf of the Western Australian senators, and all members of the Western Australian Liberal Party, I associate myself with those remarks and send our condolences.

Question agreed to, honourable senators standing in their places.