Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, it's a great honour to follow in the footsteps of the previous speakers. Some fine words have been spoken about you, Mr Speaker, and rightly so. Many of us have known you for a long period of time, and it will come as no surprise to anyone in this chamber that the Speaker has gone around individually to us and given specific writing instructions about the length of these speeches and their composition—'Don't overdo it and don't speak for too long.' He's been very dedicated to this place right to his last moment in that chair.

Mr Speaker, you and I came into the parliament in 2001, 20 years ago, and I can give somewhat of a rare insight to follow on from the member for Corio's personal reflection on his time having known the Speaker. As flatmates, Mr Speaker, you, Steven Ciobo and I started out in this place, and I can say for the benefit of those members here that there were two rowdy people in that household and you were not one of them. Steven Ciobo and I and others—as I look across, I can implicate some on the other side as well—used to, on occasion, go to the Holy Grail on a Wednesday night. There are some people smiling and some looking down. But, on our return to the unit, you weren't flustered. We didn't disturb you, and it did not make you miss a beat on your regimented scheme and life. You departed our unit at the same time every morning to come up to the House to embark on your exercise program and apply yourself in a disciplined way to this vocation. I think that, Mr Speaker, demonstrates your great capacity.

I think there is an enormous amount to be said of your sense of history and intellect, which have been referred to before—your sense of political history, particularly American political history, and your sense of belief and of adherence to beliefs and a structure that is rarely seen in public life. Mr Speaker, there is a lot that's been said today that reflects on this being a one-in-100-year event. We talk about those events, but this is a one-in-100-year event. The way in which you have been selected by this parliament and honoured by this parliament is a reflection on your own character.

I want to mention, very quickly, your friendship with Peter Costello. I know that that has been a significant influence on your time in this place, and that friendship endures to this day. He is a dear friend and mentor of yours, and you've honoured that relationship, and I know that he values that very much also. He has a lot to be proud of as well. I worked with Peter Costello, as many of us did over a long period of time. He doesn't suffer fools. He insisted on a staff body of people of the highest calibre—those with a great intellect, those with a great political capacity—and the capacity and capability that he desired, you delivered. There are many others from that office that have gone on to great things as well. He was well served by you, Mr Speaker, and in turn we have, by your service here, a lot to owe you and a lot to owe him and your staff. I also want to pay tribute to your staff, with whom Tony Burke and I work very closely, and pay respect to them, because they have provided you with support on this journey as well. It's not an easy job. Many people have made reference to that. Without good staff, none of us can perform within our individual roles.

The most compelling element to your service has been the way in which you have honoured our Westminster system. There is a lot that's been written and a lot that's been said in Australian public life about politicians and how we're regarded by the public. I believe that this is an incredibly noble profession. We have sometimes not put our best foot forward or have not displayed the best qualities of this place during question time, but we live in one of the greatest countries in the world. You have approached your job in a way that has lifted the standard in this House and has reflected favourably upon us and our generation with the Australian people. I think that is a great credit to you and your values and, as I say, your sense of history and the character that you've brought to this job.

I wish you very well in your remaining hours in this role and I wish you well in your continuing months as the member for Casey. You've been a fine local member, and there will be a lot more said about that in due course. Thank you for the way in which you've approached your office, for the way in which you've engaged with us and for the service that you have undertaken in your country's name.

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