David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Hansard source

Can I thank the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition for their fine words. On behalf of the federal National Party, we honour the memory and pay our deepest respects to the life of Jim Webster, a Victorian senator for the National/Country Party, who served for 16 years in the parliament. He passed away on 3 April this year. Jim leaves behind him an incredible and distinguished legacy. He was a former leader of our party in the Senate and a former minister for science and the environment, who served in the Fraser government.

Throughout his entire career, Jim was a faithful servant of the Country Party and the National Party and the people of regional Victoria. Born in Tasmania and moving to a farm near Melbourne when he was four years old, Jim was a keen student at Caulfield Grammar, before running the family farm while his older brothers served in World War II. It was during this time, when his father served in the Victorian parliament, that Jim became active in the Australian Country Party, which ultimately led to his nomination in 1964 to fill a casual vacancy of the Senate.

During his political career, among Jim's most significant achievements include his work for the environment and for Australia's Antarctic research efforts, establishing the national maritime science research centre in Hobart and the CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory at Geelong. Another tremendous achievement that Jim secured was his work in ending pirate whaling. He was instrumental in introducing the Indian Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Jim's service to Australia did not end with his time in the Senate. After his resignation in 1980 followed his appointment as Australia's High Commissioner to New Zealand, a position he held for four years, before returning to farming in his home state of Victoria.

On behalf of the National Party family and this entire House, we extend our sincere condolences to Jim's loved ones, his four sons and four grandchildren, and express our heartfelt gratitude for his tireless service to Australia. May he rest in peace.

See this speech in context