Warren Entsch (Leichhardt, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Like the member for Fisher I also will be quite brief. Like the member for Fisher, I did not know Alby in his life as a state member. Most of the association that I would like to refer to, because so much has been said about him now, is the heartburn and the trauma that he constantly created when as the Chief Opposition Whip I tried to manage Alby on a daily basis down here. He was quite amazing. If something was happening that Alby did not agree with, you knew about it and you knew about it very quickly. As many people have said here, he was passionate about his electorate. He was absolutely, totally committed to his electorate. The only commitment greater than that was of course to Glo, to the boys and to his family, which he held on the highest pedestal. I guess from his background you could expect that.

There were some very interesting scenarios in the party room. We have spoken about shirt fronting and expressing his passion, if you like, for a particular point of view, but there was a softer side to Alby. When he had the patch after that accident, he actually had children painting different coloured patches. There was a bit of a competition in his electorate. He would get kids to paint different things on patches. He would wear these different patches on his eye. I have to say—and I often reflected on this to Alby—that he was well suited to the patch and, of course, the fact that he had lost an eye because he was so one-eyed on almost everything that he did. There was no middle ground.

We had some confrontations. He was well known for his views towards our coalition friends in the National Party and at one stage he almost created a riot when he demanded of me as the whip that every week we have a Liberal Party party room meeting—not once a fortnight but every week—because Alby wanted the opportunity to stand up and give our coalition friends a blast. We had to abide by that request because Alby was making all sorts of threats about what he would do.

I was just looking here at my diary and saw that 29 May was Alby's birthday. As I have done for quite a few years, I rang Alby on 29 May and sang him happy birthday. I was rather saddened this time because I actually rang him on 29 May and did not get him, but I sang nevertheless to wish him a happy birthday. At that stage I was not aware that he was as ill as he was. Nevertheless, I got the satisfaction of doing that.

His protege, who sits beside me, is Angus Taylor. When Alby decided that Angus was the man that he was going to hand over the reins to he came down here and was as proud as punch. He would tell anybody who had a moment to listen—and even those who did not want to listen—that he had found the perfect candidate. As a mentor for a candidate Alby was extraordinary. You would have almost thought that Angus was part of the family. He was so proud. He was so convinced that Angus was going to win that seat and he was so proud when Angus did so. I have got no doubt at all that it was the bit about the windmills. He certainly found a similar view in that area.

The colour and the character of this place are defined by individuals like Alby. It is sad that we do not get enough people like him. Sometimes they are a little bit difficult to manage and sometimes we can be a little bit embarrassed by them, but I have to say to you that the passion he had for his electorate, the passion he had for his job and the passion that he had for his family are the sorts of attributes that we can only aspire to.

With those few words I would like to wish all my love and my best to Glo and the family as they continue to deal with this sad loss. To my old mate who was a bit of a sparring partner, Alby Schultz: we certainly loved you while you were here and we certainly miss your colour. I can assure you that he will never be forgotten.

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