Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I have never been to the home of the member for Banks and I do not know any of the members of his family, so it is a funny place. We spend a lot of time together here and yet we often come to realise that we know so little about one another outside this place.

So it was with Rob Chalmers and me. I came here in 1996. After I became a shadow minister in 1998 I had portfolio responsibilities that were of interest to Rob Chalmers. On this basis I got to know Rob Chalmers very well, in a professional sense at least.

Reflecting again on the nature of the place, I am very sad now that Rob Chalmers was in a nursing home. I did not know it and I am very sad that I was not able to be here for his farewell. Certainly, I would have visited him if I had known how unwell he was in his last days.

Rob Chalmers was obviously an extraordinary person. Anyone who achieves so many years in the press gallery of the national parliament is an achiever. I read some of his last works and he was obviously still very sharp.

He had a very strong interest in trade and industry policy. I suppose it is true that he was of the old school, but very consistent. He took his ideals and views about trade and industry policy to every issue of the day. He was most consistent and always advocated on matters on the basis of those ideals and principles.

It is hard to imagine what it must be like to have been here for so long and seen so many members, prime ministers and treasurers come and go. Reflecting again on my earlier statements I regret now not to have found some time somewhere to have a meal or a few beers with Rob Chalmers, because he must have been a repository of some fantastic stories about this place, both the official and the unofficial sides of the place. So I have come to this condolence motion with lots of regrets.

I am very happy to have known Rob Chalmers and to have had many policy discussions with him. And of course I am very happy to have been the subject of some of his stories—positive stories, I am happy to say. I very much regret that I did not get to know Rob Chalmers, the person, better and I very much regret I did not spend more time with him in a more social sense. I am sure that if I had I would be a better politician today, because I know that I could have learnt much from him both from his knowledge and his experience. I often say that I still learn every day I am in this job, and it is true. I have been here for 15 years. You would learn a lot from someone who has been here for 60 years, and I am sure I am not the only one who holds that view.

So, I join with the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and all members who have participated in this debate in saying that he will be sadly missed. I acknowledge his amazing contribution to public life in this country and therefore his marvellous contribution to his nation.

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