John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In recent weeks controversy has dogged the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The ABC has been making news, not just reporting it. But tonight I want to acknowledge a remarkable ABC milestone—certain that my remarks will not be controversial and confident that they will be supported by all senators.

In December 2013 the voice of Australian cricket, Jim Maxwell, celebrated a remarkable 40 years of sports commentary with the ABC on radio and television. Jim Maxwell is the ABC's most experienced cricket commentator. His career has been extraordinary, covering over 250 test matches, including six tours to the West Indies, seven to the subcontinent, over fifty Ashes tests and five world cups since joining the ABC as a trainee in 1973. Jim has also been a constant fixture on the BBC's test match special team for many Ashes series. His knowledge of the game, his wit and his conversational style of commentary have won him a legion of fans and made him an Australian sporting institution.

Jim Maxwell learnt his craft under the tutelage of the remarkable Alan McGilvray, whose ABC commentary career spanned more than 50 years. For the past 13 years, Jim has shared the ABC Grandstand commentary box with Kerry O'Keeffe, who recently announced his retirement. Their formidable partnership—built on knowledge of the game, not to mention odd-ball humour—will be missed by many avid listeners.

Jim has by no means limited himself to the summer game. He has been behind the ABC microphone to cover hockey at three Olympic Games, as well as rugby league from 1981 to 1990 with the legendary Reg Gasnier, more recently Super Rugby, not to mention show jumping and even table tennis! Since 1988, Jim has also shown he is more than handy with the pen by editing Australia's longest-running cricket publication—the ABC Cricket Magazineor 'cricket book', as so many of us know it.

I know that Jim Maxwell generously supports many community and charitable causes—including his important work as President of the Primary Club of Australia. I congratulate Jim Maxwell on his first 40 years and look forward to many, many more years of hearing Jim's voice on the ABC.