Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I rise on behalf of the opposition to join with the Leader of the Government in the Senate in supporting her motion and her fine words honouring the life and paying tribute to the work of Dr John Richard Coulter—senator, leader, scientist, researcher, environmentalist, campaigner and, above all, a dignified man of thought and evidence.

John Coulter was born on 3 December 1930 in Perth to John and Constance Coulter. Completing his education at Wesley College, he went on to study medicine, as we've heard, at the University of Adelaide in South Australia, graduating in 1956, taking residency at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and then becoming a surgical research officer at the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science. It was his early medical research delving into the impact of toxins which set John on his path to a lifelong dedication to medical research and environmental advocacy and which saw him advance issues well ahead of their general acceptance across politics, policy or community debate. John was to join, drive, lead and contribute to a number of South Australia's conservation bodies from very early in his career, holding positions that would shape and influence the state's planning and policy landscape and, indeed, no doubt, driving and informing his desire to enter and influence politics.

Like Senator Wong, I too had some correspondence and communication with former Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja to better understand aspects of John's life and his contribution. Natasha shared with me her mum, Shirley, recalling attending a protest against a tree-felling with John, which she assumed from the way her mum told the story must have dated back to before the time that Natasha was even born. John's environmental advocacy was to be a hallmark of the life he led, but it was not just advocacy, because, as Senator Wong has said, he was a man true to his words and lived the deeds of his words.

He was to join the Australian Democrats in 1980. John backed and supported those Democrats' campaigns for upper house seats by contesting, firstly, a South Australian House of Assembly seat in 1982 and then the House of Representatives seat of Boothby in 1983. They're often thankless tasks, particularly for minority party candidates, but a demonstration of commitment to achieve the outcome and influence that those minor parties seek. Such is the unpredictability of politics that John was selected for what was thought to be a fairly unwinnable position on the Senate ticket at the double dissolution election of July 1987 called by the Hawke government. He ended up being one of seven Democrat senators elected in 1987. In South Australia, he was elected as the second Democrat to their then leader Janine Haines and the 12th of 12 senators to be elected from South Australia at that time. From then on, John was to have a solid career in the Senate, and for throughout his entire career the Democrats would retain the balance of power in the Senate.

John was certainly an active member of the Senate, known for introducing multiple bills, particularly those aimed at protecting the environment. But it wasn't just specific to the environment; he would campaign relentlessly on matters that impacted the environment, as he saw it, such as Australia's population growth policies and what he contested to be sustainable levels of population, or, indeed, the measures of GDP that are applied and economic analysis that he saw—and contested—subverted or impacted upon the consideration of effective environmental effects.

John Coulter was to serve as deputy leader of his party and then as leader of the Democrats through—as Senator Wong indicated—a more trying period for a party that, until then, had enjoyed a very rapid rise in its success and influence. What is one of the many notable things about John Coulter is that he brought a significant level of expertise to the Senate. He was able to use that ability to affect policy outcomes and to influence political discussions. He was to establish the very first significant Senate inquiry into climate change, which, as we've heard, called for the introduction of a carbon tax, back in 1995, arguing that funds from that would be used to develop energy efficient industries. As the Democrats environment spokesman, he spoke out about arguments in favour of protecting Australia's old growth forests and wilderness. He warned of the risks of pollution of fresh water posed by industry, agriculture and urban waste. One of his passions, also, was to work on trying to get states and, indeed, Australia to secure water planes for fire emergencies. Perhaps it was his base in the Adelaide Hills that informed that. At the time, it was not something taken seriously, yet today, of course, it is something Australians would not live without.

As we have heard, John Coulter also advocated for the endangered bilby, not just as an endangered species, but, in a novel campaign to raise awareness of the bilby, he sought it to be a symbol of Australian Easter, rather than the environmentally destructive introduced species of rabbit. His legacy well and truly lives on there, from the delightful Haigh's bilbies that we in South Australia love to share. He was active in that promotion, particularly across this place, circulating of the bilbies through the federal parliament each and every year, and the tradition was continued by his successor in the Senate, Natasha Stott Despoja.

John would also apply that medical and scientific research to his work and his thinking, leading arguments to pursue nation-leading legislation, including on the ethics of cloning and challenging the patenting of genes and sequences. Natasha reflected to me, as I suspect to Senator Wong, that she would love to see that prevention of the patenting of genes and gene sequences pursued as a fitting tribute to a pioneer and senator like John Coulter.

In 1995 John made the decision to resign from the Senate due to his ongoing health issues at the time. His vacancy would be filled by Natasha, and, indeed, Natasha was to receive a gift that she says she treasures to this day from John—a copy of The Prophet inscribed by John with the excerpt, 'Yesterday is but today's memory and tomorrow is today's dream.' It is a kind gift that she said was designed to inspire her to keep working for a fairer, greener world. Indeed, they are words that all in this place could and should treasure and reflect upon.

We have heard how John liked to judge people on their intellect and their analytical capabilities. A scientist and scholar as well as a pioneering environmentalist, whether as leader of a political party in the Australian Senate or as a councillor on the Campbelltown council or as president of the Conservation Council of South Australia, Dr John Coulter made the most of every opportunity he had to advocate for our precious environment and for the society he saw as important to preserve and protect. This is John's legacy. He was one of those unique individuals who will be remembered for his fierce and unwavering commitment to his beliefs and for campaigning on those issues, not only within the parliament but beyond, and for living true to those campaigns. His contributions were always thoughtful, always respectful, always considered, always deliberative and constructive.

On behalf of the opposition and the Australian Senate, to John's loved ones—his daughter, Kiersten, and stepchildren, Graham, Debbie and Gwendolynne: we extend our sincere condolences and pay tribute to his great contribution to this place and our nation.

Question agreed to, honourable senators joining in a moment of silence.