Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Communications) Share this | Hansard source

Like all in his Liberal family, I'm very sad about the passing of Peter Keaston Reith AM. Peter was one of the finest Liberals ever produced by the Victorian division. He was an incredible warrior for Liberal values; he was a true reformer; and he was courageous. As we have heard in this condolence motion, especially from Senator Cash, his successful IR reforms following the 1998 waterfront dispute are legendary. When I was a Liberal candidate and then when I was the member for Corangamite, Peter provided me with wise counsel from time to time for which I was most grateful. He was practical, good humoured and refreshingly blunt. Those traits will be very much missed.

As Opposition Leader, Peter Dutton, said in paying tribute to Peter Reith:

Elected to the seat of Flinders in 1982, he served as a Member of the House of Representatives for more than 17 years. In his maiden speech, Peter described Flinders as 'one of the great places in Australia to live and enjoy'. He kept his promise of representing the people of Flinders to the best of his ability.

Peter served under Liberal leaders Malcolm Fraser, Andrew Peacock, John Hewson, Alexander Downer and John Howard. He was loyal to each leader as he was to his party, whether in government or opposition.

His analytical and sharp policy mind was reflected in the positions he held as a shadow minister, from industrial relations and education, to foreign affairs and defence, to education and sport, and more besides. Peter was a powerful and effective Manager of Opposition Business.

But his main achievements came under the Howard Government where he had ministerial responsibilities for industrial and workplace relations, small business, and defence. …

Peter's political legacy is extensive. He will be remembered most, however, for his fearlessness in the face of extreme union intimidation—especially by freeing up the waterfront to ensure Australia had a more productive, forward-looking economy. He was an architect of pivotal workplace reform which put the interests of employers and employees first.

As we've also heard in this condolence motion, Peter Reith's work in Fightback formed the basis of much reform that was to come in the years ahead.

I was honoured to attend Peter Reith's funeral and to listen to the special memories and tributes from his family, a former staff member, one of his closest friends and former prime minister John Howard, who described Peter Reith as 'the great all-rounder'. Mr Howard said:

I have lost somebody I admired a lot, who gave enormously to the Liberal cause … He was there to bring about change, and he was an unrelenting person when it came to change.

In the montage of pictures of his life that we saw at the funeral, there were countless images of Peter with his beloved grandchildren. It was clear that he really loved his children and his grandchildren. Peter Reith died way too young from Alzheimer's disease—a stark reminder that life is short, so we should make it count. Peter Reith certainly never wasted a moment in making his life count.

I join with my fellow senators and members in the other place in offering my heartfelt condolences to Peter Reith's colleagues, his friends, his broader Liberal family and to his own family, especially his wife, Kerrie, and four sons, Paul, Simon, David and Robert. Vale, Peter Reith.