Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Sunnybank Plaza. We did a walk through that shopping centre. I'm someone who does that. Some people would advise against doing this sort of activity but I do it because it's the only way that you actually get engagement with people that is not pre-planned. Going through that shopping centre with Graham on at least two occasions, there were two things I noticed. One was the people he knew, which was a lot of them; that showed a member in touch. The second was the genuine warmth, engagement, interaction and respect that he had with the people he didn't know. Whether they were raising issues that were easy to solve or whether they were raising problems to be dealt with, Graham dealt with them in exactly the same way—respectfully and with courtesy, and aiming to do, if he could, what he could for them. Where he couldn't because of differences where he thought the issue they were raising was not one that he supported, he'd tell them up front. We did multiple multicultural round tables in that very diverse electorate as well. I'd get regular reports from my first cousin Helen, who lived in Sunnybank, about Graham's effort as a member.

The thing about Moreton was that Graham won the seat off the Liberal Party and held it. It has been a marginal seat for all that time, and he has extended the margin out over a period of years. When we launched Julie-Ann Campbell's campaign for Moreton the Perrett army was there, transferred over to work for Jules. No doubt she will follow him as the member for Moreton and will do a fantastic job.

There was some misinformation out there from the media as well about Graham's preselection. I want to put this on the record. I went to Graham and said, 'Mate, if you want to run again, you're absolutely in.' He was like: 'I'm done. I've made my contribution. It's time.' He came to that decision himself, and I respected that, even though I was disappointed. But he also did something that not everyone in this place does: he lined up a fantastic successor in that electorate who can carry on his legacy.

To Lea, thank you for what you've given up as well. Thank you for lending us your hubby for such a long period of time. And to Stanley and Leo—I think a definition of good parenting is defined by the fact that Stanley is a South Sydney fanatic. That shows good parenting, particularly given Graham's St George—

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