David Jull (Fadden, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

There were quick one-liners, like: ‘The honourable member has many endearing qualities. It’s a pity intelligence isn’t one of them,’ or, ‘If brains were water, the honourable member would be declared a drought area.’ Interjections like that would fly across the chamber. As I said, they were always effective but they were never nasty and they were never vindictive. He was a great parliamentarian.

Probably the best thing that happened to Sir James, particularly in his later life, was his meeting with Benise, the present Lady Killen. Special tribute should be made to Benise and all she did for Sir James, including the way she looked after him during his declining years. She is a wonderful woman, and I think a great tribute was paid to her at the state funeral when one of Sir James’s daughters indicated that she was probably the best thing that happened to Sir James.

In closing, may I extend my personal sympathy to Lady Benise, to Diana and Heather and particularly to Sir James’s granddaughter, Dana. I think Sir James always wanted a grandson. Dana presented a great-grandson within days of the passing of Sir James Killen. Sir James Killen was a great Australian and a great Queenslander, but above all he was one of the finest characters and one of the finest parliamentarians I have ever met.

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