James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to acknowledge the life of former Senator for Queensland Stan Collard, OAM, who passed away recently. Stanley James Collard was born in Maleny in 1936 in what was known then as the north coast. The eldest of three sons of William and Edina Collard, Stan was raised on a family dairy farm, where he learned early the values of hard work, community and humility. He went to primary school at Maleny, followed by two years at Nambour State High School—the school that I went to along with Fiona Simpson, the member for Maroochydore. This was the sum total of his formal education, after which he helped his father on the family farm before moving to Brisbane and joining Queensland railways as a trainee engineman.

That that lack of extensive education should not mean you draw conclusions as to his ability. Like many children of farmers, Stan put his family and the family farm before his own self interest. Stan would go on to drive some of the largest coal trains in the world, hauling the wealth of Queensland to the ports. Stan was also heavily involved in his community. He served as a lay preacher in the Methodist church, and, while based in Cloncurry, became active in the Country Party. By 1959, he was a member of the local branch, and, prior to the 1966 federal election, he was campaign director for Bob Katter Sr. Stan continued in this role for the following three elections while continuing to work as a locomotive driver.

Stan's anger at the Whitlam Labor government's poor economic management and its increasing interference in states' rights prompted him to seek preselection for the Senate in 1975. Fifty years ago, he won a place on the joint coalition ticket and entered the Senate in one of the most turbulent periods of Australian politics. In Stan's first speech he spoke about the challenges of isolation and the need for better communications and services for rural Australians. It was a theme that he returned to throughout his service in the Senate. Stan's record in this place was exemplary. He was a diligent and conscientious senator. He spoke with a quiet but determined voice on behalf of those living behind the Great Dividing Range and beyond the reach great cities, highlighting the contribution of those Queenslanders to our national wealth and their right to fair representation. Stan advocated for practical solutions, improved infrastructure, fairer electrical arrangements for rural areas and policies that struck a balance between conservation and development. He served as National Party Whip and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate before becoming leader from 1985 to 1987. In the shadow ministry, he carried responsibilities for veterans' affairs, arts, heritage and the environment.

Through all of this, Stan brought the perspective of someone who knew life outside of politics and who had never forgotten where he came from. When his parliamentary career prematurely ended in 1987, Stan continued his lifetime mission of service. He contributed to Lifeline, Life Ed and many other community organisations across Queensland. In 2014, his efforts were fittingly recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia—something that he said to me he was particularly proud to receive. But, in a way, Stan was the political godfather of the Liberal National Party.

While the Liberal Party and the National Party were busy squabbling and having their fights that seemed to go on for years, Stan, along with a couple of other people, set up an institution known as the Conservative Breakfast Club, of which I'm currently a patron. The idea and the ideals of the Conservative Breakfast Club were to bring together the Liberals, Nationals and conservatives to make sure we remembered that we were united in our cause to oppose the left and united in the belief of the dream that was Queensland. Each breakfast, we pay homage to Stan and to the other founders of the Conservative Breakfast Club. The Conservative Breakfast Club, in its own way, was a forerunner to the Liberal National Party.

Stan's life is a reminder that this parliament is enriched when those who've lived and worked in our regions bring their voices to the national stage. I honour Stan's service and that of his late wife, Gloria, to Queensland and to Australia, and, as a serving Liberal National Party senator for Queensland, my thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

We need to talk about the Olympics. It is a tale of two Olympics. We had the first three years since the Olympics were awarded to Queensland, where the state Labor government did very little—well, apart from Premier Palaszczuk jetsetting around the world chasing red carpet. We had three wasted years. After the election in October last year, we have a new government in Queensland that has revitalised the Olympics and the Paralympics and made sure that we have a road map to their delivery in 2032.

I want to acknowledge the fantastic work of Premier David Crisafulli, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, and the Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Tim Mander, for making sure that there is a road map to the 2032 Olympics. I want to acknowledge the work of Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and the Brisbane City Council team and how they've worked in partnership with the state government to make sure we deliver the best Olympics and Paralympics the world has seen.

Work is already underway on a $7 billion capital works program that will enable the games to reach beyond Brisbane and into the regions, and to allow all Queenslanders, not just those who live in Brisbane, to benefit from the legacy of the games for years to come. The joy of the games and its economic benefits and its legacy will be shared across Queensland because the games will be spread across Queensland. I'll come to rowing in Rockhampton and tennis in Brisbane shortly. We will see existing venues be used for training and events across the state before and after the games, and natural assets such as parklands and beaches will be used as temporary venues. Indeed, the entire Olympics Games and Paralympic Games will be one giant advertisement for Queensland.

The Queensland government is investing $250 million in grassroots sporting clubs and will leverage Queensland's 20-year tourism plan to ensure these games are not just for one city but for all of Queensland and for all Queenslanders. With this positivity, it is shameful that the Prime Minister would seek to suggest that parts of the Olympic Games should be taken out of Queensland. It is disappointing that we have a Labor prime minister who wants the rowing to be taken away from the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton and given to Sydney. It is shameful that we have a Labor prime minister who wants the tennis to be taken away from Brisbane and sent down to Melbourne. If it's good enough for schoolchildren of the Rockhampton region to row on the Fitzroy River, it is good enough for Olympic athletes. I encourage the Prime Minister to get on with the job of supporting the Olympics being hosted solely in Queensland.

We have a prime minister who, after having won the election, is ruling this country like an uncrowned emperor, whether it's taking away resources from opposition parties or holding a productivity roundtable where nothing is discussed in meaningful terms apart from tax rises.

We have a Labor Party who are refusing to rule out tax rises, tax increases and new taxes, and the one that everybody should be worried about is the refusal of the Labor Party to rule out a tax on your spare bedroom. This might sound a little bit crazy, but it's true—the Labor Party are considering and looking into a tax on your spare bedrooms. It is utter madness, and I will make sure, as part of a massive truth-telling campaign, that every Australian who has a spare bedroom knows that the Labor Party want to tax it.