Ross Vasta (Bonner, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Warwick Raymond Parer AO was born on 6 April 1936 and passed away on 14 March 2014. He was an Australian politician, a Liberal member of the Australian Senate representing the state of Queensland. He is the nephew of Australian war photographer Damien Parer. Warwick was born in Papua New Guinea. He attended St Joseph's Nudgee College in Brisbane, and he was educated at the University of Melbourne, where he received a Bachelor of Commerce.

Warwick became a member of the Senate in 1985, and from March 1996 to October 1998 he was minister for resources and energy in John Howard's government. He retired from the Senate on 11 February 2000, and his vacant seat was taken by Senator the Hon. George Brandis. He was Chair of the Coalition of Australian Governments Independent Energy Review Panel and was a Member of the Governing Council of the Old Parliament House in Queensland. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2005.

Warwick Parer served as President of the Queensland Liberal Party from 2006 until February 2008. In May 2012 Warwick was appointed Chairman of the Board of Stanwell Corporation Limited. He was also a former chair of the Energy and Transport Advisory Sector of the CSIRO. He had also been the Chair of the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Foundation since 2010.

After departing politics he remained active in the Liberal Party, serving as Queensland State President from 2005 to 2008. He worked with the National Party President, the Hon. Bruce Scott—and I acknowledge him in the chair tonight—to prepare for the eventual amalgamation of the two parties into the LNP.

Warwick Parer was a Bonner constituent, and he was also a friend. I first met Warwick in the early 1990s. His son Justin and I were in the Young Liberals, and I was invited over to the Parer household to meet with Karen Rasey—who was the Young Liberal President. Little did I know that it was part of a predetermined plan to have me sign up to the Young Liberal executive, and Karen was not going to allow me to leave the Parer residence unless I signed the nomination form then and there. There was the start of the influence Warwick Parer and his family had in helping me pursue my career in politics.

I know that Warwick helped many people start a career in politics, and that is because he dedicated his life to public service. Warwick was also an inspiration when events did not seem positive at the time. I remember that he was the Queensland Liberal President when I lost my seat, in 2007. He made me feel like I had achieved something by saying to me and others, 'if only we had a swing against the government, like we had a swing against us in Bonner, we would still be in government'. Recently he scrutineered the biggest booth in Bonner, in last year's federal election, and he was able to analyse the result and report back to me.

I treasure the last hour of manning that booth with Warwick as we shared many memorable stories with each other. He would always attend functions with his supportive and loving wife Kathi. One of the rare times when I did not see them both together was Tuesday last week, when we were honoured to be hosting a dinner in Bonner for the Hon. Phillip Ruddock. It was only when speaking to Drewe Freeburn, the event organiser, that he informed me of how Warwick was looking forward to attending the event. However, he had been hospitalised just prior to it. Warwick still wanted Kathi to attend, and we all passed on our well wishes to Kathi for Warwick's speedy recovery.

Warwick's greatest achievement by far was his family. Justin and I had been friends since the early 1990s, and Warwick would always talk about Justin and his great achievements, from raising a family to his successful business ventures. Justin, your father was very, very proud of you, and especially of your determination to succeed. Justin is one of Warwick's three sons. Warwick married Kathi 40 years ago, and their love produced four daughters and three sons: Carol, Martine, Helen, Sonia, Warwick, Justin and Rowan. Their family includes four sons-in-law: Peter, Lee, Chris and Bruce, a daughter-in-law Jenny, and 18 grandchildren.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

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