Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) | Hansard source

enator CASH (—) (): by leave—On behalf of Senator Birmingham, I move:

That the Senate expresses its regret at the death, on 30 January 2022, of the Honourable Michael Eamon Beahan AM, former President of the Senate and former senator for Western Australia, places on record its gratitude for his service to the Parliament and the nation, and tenders its sympathy to his family in their bereavement.

We pause today to commemorate the life of the Hon. Michael Beahan AM, former President of the Senate and senator for Western Australia. Michael was a proud Western Australian, an intelligent and accomplished parliamentarian and a true Labor statesman committed to the finest traditions of the Senate and to public service.

Michael Eamon Beahan was born in London in 1937 to his father, Francis, and mother, Grace. He won a scholarship to the Salesian College in Battersea, where he completed his schooling and worked briefly as an insurance clerk before migrating with his family to Australia at the age of 17. That was in 1954. Michael soon commenced work as a process worker at the Australian Electrical Company in Perth. After completing an apprenticeship as an electrical fitter, Michael went on to work as an electrician for some 10 years, including for his own small business as a contractor. During this time Michael also undertook three months of compulsory military service, serving with the 13th Field Squadron of the Royal Australian Engineers.

It was not long before Michael returned to further his education, undertaking study at the Leederville Technical College and subsequently at the Claremont Teachers Collegeand the University of Western Australia. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Education and a Diploma of Education. His education served him well and he went on to teach and lecture across economics, psychology and education, but not before marrying Jenny Aitken, with whom he had two children.

Michael became active in the teachers union and joined the ALP in 1968, becoming president of the Bunbury branch of the party from 1969 to 1972. A move to Melbourne in 1974 saw Michael engaged as part of a three-person team to set up the Trade Union Training Authority. Michael served as the authority's WA director, which in turn would provide him with exposure to the Labor Party at a national level during his six years at the helm. Michael won the ballot for the position of WA State Secretary of the ALP, becoming a member of the national executive of the party from 1981 until 1992. He also became a national vice-president of the party from 1986 to 1989, as well as serving as a regular national conference delegate for Western Australia throughout the 1980s and the 1990s. Those familiar with this period of history in Western Australia would recognise that Michael Beahan played a pivotal role in the 1986 state election as well as the federal Labor election campaigns of 1983, 1984 and 1987, when of course Michael himself entered the Senate to serve under Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and Paul Keating.

Upon his election to the parliament, Michael brought with him 50 years of lived experience, traversing trade, education, civic service and party leadership. This was all complemented of course by the perspective of having been a first-generation immigrant to this great nation, Michael having spent the first 17 years of his life in England before embarking, like so many postwar migrants of his generation, in search of a better life in Australia. It was perhaps this broad and extensive life experience that helped Michael perfect his craft in this place. He brought enthusiasm with him to the Senate, undertaking to advance the ideals for which he proudly stood.

In the Senate, it was clear that Michael did not wish to be a representative who spoke simply to fill the silence, but he opted to speak if his words added to the debate. As a backbench senator, Michael delivered powerful contributions on industrial relations as well as speaking on education issues, the economy and electoral matters. On the latter, Michael served diligently on the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters from 1987 to 1994. On 1 February 1994, Michael was elected unopposed as President of the Senate, a position he would hold until his departure from the parliament in 1996.

During his time in the Senate, Michael thought deeply not only upon the political ephemera of the day but also upon the enduring role of the institution of the Senate in Australia's democracy. In his final address to this chamber, Michael reflected on how his views of the importance and purpose of this place had transformed throughout his parliamentary career. As Michael described it, he had initially held a fairly sceptical and dismissive view of this place when he was first elected in 1987, describing himself as 'no enthusiastic supporter' of the very chamber over which he would eventually preside as President. This scepticism, however, stands in some contrast to the reflections that Michael delivered in his valedictory remarks nine years later, in which he said:

I do have a greater respect for it as an increasingly effective and necessary check on the power of the executive—any executive. I believe the Senate is developing and refining its role as a house of review and that, while petty politics frequently distract it from an effective use of its powers, much useful work is done in scrutinising and critically appraising the decisions and activities of government.

It is a rare but worthwhile exercise for senators to routinely challenge ourselves on what the Senate means to each of us.

During his time as President, Michael also led a number of delegations overseas and effectually used the position to provide Australian officials with access to high levels of government overseas. Michael was a deep-thinking man who polished his craft as a parliamentarian and deftly performed his duties as President to raise the decorum of this place and the standing of Australian governments on the world stage.

Following his departure from the Senate in 1996, Michael married Margaret—quite literally the day after he left the Senate. He went on to be elected as director of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, representing the interests of independent community pharmacists to government and other community and private organisations. In this role, Michael advocated for the expansion of pharmacy businesses to encompass the provision of health advice and health related services. He continued to serve his community as a member of the board of a local community centre, as chairman of a research and advocacy group, and as chairman of an advisory committee managed by Monash University.

In 2011, Michael was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to the Parliament of Australia, particularly as a senator for Western Australia, and for his service to the promotion of international bipartisan political debate, to the pharmacy profession and to the community. We can all draw strength and encouragement from Michael's diverse and significant contributions to public life and his posture towards the challenges of our time. On behalf of the government and the Australian Senate, I extend our sincerest condolences to Michael's family.