Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I will just begin by saying that, as government whip and as opposition whip, you could not get a greater calibre of senators that these six retiring senators to assist you in your role; in particular, telling you how to do your job, at what pace to do your job and what degree of enthusiasm to use for fulfilling your role. I have really enjoyed the counsel and the advice that I have had from the retiring senators.

The other thing that I want to comment on—which I hope the Australian public comprehend when it is read as time moves on—is that each of the six retiring senators have actually contributed right up until this very day, and I am sure that that will continue until 30 June. They have not lagged in their duties; they have not relaxed in their stance or in their role to represent the people of Australia and their respective states. In fact, I have detected vigour and great enthusiasm in representing their particular constituencies and certainly in their work within the chamber. Nothing would be more evident than the estimates process, where each of the senators who are retiring, who really did not need to contribute as hard as they did, contributed above and beyond what I would call the call of duty for any senator, and I was particularly impressed by each of the senator’s contributions. I particularly want to place that on record.

Equally, all of the senators have been involved in chamber duties of one description or another, even assisting the whip and being acting whip on occasions when we have needed that assistance. They have done that at short notice, have been willing to do it and have stepped into the chamber. I particularly appreciate that, and I know the other whips appreciate that.

I want to briefly touch upon the six senators and then hand over to you, Mr President. First is my good colleague from Tasmania, Senator John Watson, the father of the Senate. I am not going to go through all the other things, and I particularly want to associate myself with all the comments being made by everyone here this evening. Senator Watson has taught me two great things. He said to always be a grassroots politician. John, I do respect the way you have ingrained that in me and I will not forget that. Secondly, he replaced the good Sir Reginald Wright. Sir Reginald Wright and I were in the same Liberal Party branch and we had some good debates. But Sir Reginald Wright was an early mentor of mine and encouraged me to join the Senate. John said that I could learn a lot from Sir Reginald, but he said, ‘Do not cross the floor as many times as he did.’ I have not done that once yet, John, and I will hopefully not have to seek that particular path. I have particularly enjoyed John’s company and mentorship in Tasmania. John has taken a personal interest in me and I have appreciated it, as has my wife. John, I thank you very much for that.

My mother has gone to bed now so I can say this safely: Senator Patterson has become a little bit of a mother figure to me. I have had the privilege of travelling overseas with Senator Patterson. You get to know people a lot better when you travel with them. Kay, you were a great leader of our delegation. We had some very solemn moments as well as some really good, fun times, and we worked extremely hard on our delegation—as I am sure all delegations do. But, Kay, you were a credit to the Senate and you were great in your leadership. We have always maintained a strong bond since that trip, and I have also appreciated you popping into the whip’s office during times of crisis, as all whip’s offices have, and you have been a calming influence. I thank you for that.

Senator Kemp: who would have thought that Senator Rod Kemp and I would ever sit down and enjoy a red wine together, after our start in life? I used to sit up in the gallery during the GST debates when I was here lobbying for an industry association and Senator Kemp was taking the GST legislation through this chamber. I would be in his office and we would be arguing and fighting very deeply over my industry’s issues. As Senator Kemp reminded me this evening, I won, and we got some great concessions for my industry, but it caused him a lot of heartache. As Peter Costello reminded both of us today, he received more complaints about me from you than any other person in Australia. It probably cost me a casual vacancy in the Senate at the time. Senator Kemp and I started out life arguing from two different perspectives on the GST—in fact, about death, about the funeral industry. I represented my industry’s case, and Rod and I had some serious, heavy debates over a protracted period of time. But we never lost respect for each other or our loyalty for each cause, and I think that has deepened our relationship since I entered this place.

I want to relate one incident about Senator Kemp. I was at a Bradfield function up in the Mural Hall one night and the Assistant Treasurer, the Prime Minister, the Treasurer and Senator Kemp came through. I was at a table with some good Liberals and it was announced that I was a potential senator from Tasmania. Rod just gasped. He could not believe it. He said, ‘This man has argued with me for the last two years.’ Senator Paul Calvert took me to your office and put the oil on the waters, and we have been very good friends ever since. We have respected each other and enjoyed each other’s company in various locations. I have respected your advice too, Rod. You have given me great advice.

The most recent thing I will recall from Senator Kemp’s career is Senate estimates. Senator Kemp, Senator Birmingham and I were the formative members of the Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts, and Senator Kemp performed his duties exceptionally well. He gave us a lot of vigour and fought extremely hard. In the estimates prior to the most recent ones, though, I did think that vanity crept in when he asked a lot of officials how different policies were working, and he asked, ‘Now who was the minister then?’ The recurrent answer was, of course, ‘Senator Kemp’. Rod, you have been a fine example to this Senate and I have absolutely appreciated what you have done and what you have taught me.

Senator Chapman is, I think, one of the great orators of the chamber. Again I associate myself with the remarks others have made, and I will not go through all the kind things that have been said about him tonight. Senator Chapman, you were great as a whip, especially as a government whip when we had taking note of answers after question time—when you had to quickly develop the theme and work out what was happening. Probably the most reliable senator in that process was Senator Chapman. He would quickly develop the debate and then attack the opposition and do it admirably, and he never, ever missed a beat. On this side it is a little bit easier, because we dictate what taking note is. I remember a few weeks back, Senator Chapman, I asked if you would do taking note and you did. I was just flabbergasted. I could not leave the chamber, I was so engrossed with what you were saying. I remember saying to you, ‘I’ll have to get the DVD.’ Someone said, ‘Can you?’ and I said, ‘Yes, we can.’ It was just a great performance; it was fantastic—an inspiration to those on this side. We will miss your impromptu ability and the oratory skills that are needed in this chamber and that you clearly demonstrated beyond the capacity of most.

Senator Sandy Macdonald and I used to sit over on the other side when he was on duty as a minister and I was on duty as whip into the late hours of the night, and we would trade secrets. When I say we traded secrets I mean that we would talk about shares. They are all on the senators’ interests register, but we did engage in discussions about which stocks would be good to buy for our respective superannuation funds. I developed a great bond with Senator Macdonald on those issues and an appreciation of his enthusiasm for the Senate and his portfolios.

Senator Lightfoot: what can I say? A fellow police officer, we bonded from day one on that basis. The thing I was particularly interested in with Senator Lightfoot when I arrived in this place was that he was ‘the voice’. Senator Lightfoot was the voice on the radio that I would listen to when driving my car from one end of Tasmania to the other—well before I ever entered this chamber as a temporary chairman of committees. His was the most magnificent voice on the radio. It just epitomised what I thought the Senate was all about. When I got here and met him, the illusion was not burst. He was the epitome of a gentleman senator and I have really appreciated that. I have never, ever changed my opinion of him on that basis. Even when I once had to say, ‘Would you mind stepping into the office, Senator Lightfoot? I need to discuss a matter with you,’—as I was government whip at the time—Ross came in, very erect, and said, ‘You don’t have to explain to me what I have done wrong. I understand completely and it will never happen again.’ I felt like I was dressed down by Ross. It was the easiest dressing-down I have ever given to a senator. I appreciated it. It was only a minor misdemeanour. Nevertheless, Ross knew exactly what the situation was and made it very easy for me.

Mr President, I have said enough. The night has been long and it has been very good, because we have all recalled memories of six fantastic senators for the Australian parliament. I say, as many others have: Australia will have a lesser capacity in this place for the loss of these senators, for a variety of reasons. We understand we cannot keep you forever. That is just impossible. Please leave this place knowing that you have served your country exceptionally well and you have served your states exceptionally well. You leave this place with the knowledge that you have given to this place the best possible capacity, and we have acknowledged that all during this evening. I thank you for your friendship but, more importantly, for your service to Australia.