Bruce Scott (Maranoa, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I want to extend condolences regarding Rick Farley for two reasons: firstly, because of his involvement in the pastoral industry and organisations and, secondly, because he is the first cousin of my wife. Rick’s father and my wife’s mother were brother and sister. Whilst they did not grow up together in a close way because of their separation, they were aware of each other’s progress as children and throughout life.

When Rick Farley joined the Cattlemen’s Union as its executive director, it was a very difficult time for the beef industry. But, as one person who was involved in the agricultural politics of the time, I always respected the way that he was able to pick up an issue, focus on the issue and assist the president and the organisation of which he was director to fearlessly take the agenda forward to government of whatever political persuasion. He never sought favour with any political party when he was the director of the Cattlemen’s Union. As I said, it was a very difficult time for the beef industry, and in many ways he was the right person at the right time to help that organisation gain traction and gain recognition for the cause that the cattlemen of Queensland had on their agenda. At that time I was President of the Maranoa Graziers Association, and in many ways we worked together, although the Cattlemen’s Union was in fact a breakaway organisation from the United Graziers Association of Queensland. More recently, the Cattlemen’s Union, the grazing organisations and the grain growing organisations are all speaking with one voice as an amalgamated body.

He brought that same energy when he came to Canberra as the Executive Director of the National Farmers Federation. At that time, the National Farmers Federation had raised a great deal of money under the farmers fighting fund, which was used to take on some of the unions in relation to the waterfront. Once again, through his fearless approach he was able to take forward fearless advice to the National Farmers Federation and its executive.

Another role that he took on, which in many ways was ahead of its time but later proved to be at the right time, was his focus on land care. I had a great deal to do with Rick because of his decision to focus on the Landcare movement, which was driven as much by Rick as by a very close friend of mine, Jock Douglas from Roma. They took up that issue fearlessly at a time when you might say the farm organisations were rather resentful. Rick and Jock were seen as perhaps not looking after the land when they believed they were looking after the land. But we know now that Landcare is a nationwide movement, and both sides of parliament see the need for the government to make an investment in the sustainability of the nation’s land resources—be they farming lands, crown lands or our national parks. That whole movement of Landcare was an issue that Rick Farley took forward. As a great communicator he was able to send a very clear message across Australia through the organisations that then came on board.

I feel I speak on behalf of the many thousands of friends that he had and associates that he worked with during his life in the Cattlemen’s Union, the National Farmers Federation, the Landcare movement and Aboriginal reconciliation. I know that he did not always make friends wherever he went, but he spoke about and did what he believed was right for the future. Of course, in so many instances what he fought for turned out to be ahead of its time. Rick Farley was a great advocate and a great communicator.

I was privileged to know Rick, and his passing is a great loss to the nation. I know it will be a great loss to his children and his wife. I say, on behalf of rural Australia: thank you, Rick, for what you did. You gave us direction. You were so often controversial, but at the end of the day you were on the right page. The direction you took has put us in a much stronger position today, whether in the beef industry or through the changes on the waterfront. Your work was so important, albeit resisted by the unions, pastoralists and others. Rick always had a focus on what really was right, and often that was at odds with a particular section of our community.

Rick, we will mourn your loss. The tributes that have flowed from around Australia, from editorials in the major newspapers and from the parliament yesterday, are testimony to the esteem in which Rick Farley was held. He was held in the highest regard. To his wife, Linda, and his children, I send my condolences on behalf of my constituents and on behalf of so many people of rural Australia.

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