Phillip Thompson (Herbert, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

Like many people that have spoken today, I find it tough and sad to think that only last week Peta was sitting across from us, yelling out some good banter—and giving some free advice—with such a brave face. I went through baby-MP school with Peta in the class of 2019. As previous speakers have said, there is no real teaching of how to be an MP. You've kind of got to figure it out on your own. I remember not knowing where the toilets were, and there was really no-one there to help. Having Peta there, with her experience but also her cheeky little way and wit of giving a little bit of a jab to her opposition, was something that I kind of relished and liked. I just found Peta to be a good person.

We definitely disagreed on lots of things. I remember giving a speech about youth justice and the crimes that are happening in Townsville and my views on it, and as I looked over, I could see Peta staring at me in disbelief of my views. But she didn't heckle me. She wasn't upset with how I was thinking, and as soon as I finished my speech she came out and wanted to discuss it—not robustly at all; it was like a friend with a differing opinion. I said I disagreed with her, and that didn't matter. There were no issues and there was this kind of respect. Any time she spoke and said things that I didn't agree with, I would give her a little bit of a hard time afterwards and we would laugh and be friends, but on the opposite side. With any speech that I would give, I knew that when Peta was here she would actually be listening, because she cared—not just about her electorate, but about the nation, and she cared about how all of us in here represent.

It's extremely sad for Rod and Peta's family members, but also the Labor Party and her family there, to go from being next to your friend one day to now—her passing. I think it deeply affects everyone. Peta's personality—her laugh, her wit, her interjections but also her intelligence—will be greatly missed. It was always good to see Peta rise to her feet, especially for a 90-second statement, right towards the end, before question time, when everyone is in the chamber. She would deliver this awesome 90-seconder—sometimes laying the boot into us, but that's okay. She'd do it with such grace and style, and then right at the end she'd look over and she'd let you know that she was there. She was larger than life.

When I found out that her cancer had come back in 2019, Peta didn't want to talk about her. That wasn't her style. She wanted to talk about what she could do for others. She was a person of graciousness but also a person that cared about everyone else. I don't think I'd be as strong as she was through that whole time. I don't think I would be here, as unwell as she got, and still going to committee meetings, still asking questions, still giving speeches and still asking others about how they were. I don't know if I'm that strong.

I remember talking to Peta about my kids, and I thought it was quite fitting that when the Prime Minister was speaking this morning there was a child up in the visitors' area—in the viewing gallery—making a noise and being loud. Peta wouldn't want that child to be quiet. Peta would want that child to be loud, to laugh and to yell out, because her time in here focused on the future of this country, and that's what that child would represent.

When my kids are in here, they're a little bit like me: a bit loud and a bit of a ratbag sometimes! They run around and cause a bit of trouble. Peta would poke her tongue out at them, or pull her ears out or make funny faces, and she would come over and say hi. Outside the rough and tumble of question time, people get along in this place; she demonstrated that. She was a fantastic politician and parliamentarian who knew the time for the fight but who also knew the time when we were in here trying to do the right thing by our communities and by the nation. I liked that she would run across and talk to me and, when my kids were in here, talk to them. It showed her humility and who she was.

This place now has a big hole in its heart and we are worse off for her not now being here; but we are better off for her contributions in this place. To Rod, I acknowledge what he has been going through—and the tough times the family has been through. Both of them turned up to help others. The Advanced Political Leadership program at the McKinnon Institute is about having better politicians serving the nation at a better standard. For Rod to be there whilst Peta was unwell shows the sacrifices they both made in the service of this nation. My heart goes out to him and to the extended family. Like everyone else has said today, I think it will be a tough time for many, and for a long time, because Peta touched so many people.

Peta: on behalf of my family and everyone who you met from my neck of the woods, you will be missed and be loved for eternity. May you rest in peace.

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