Mary Fisher (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is humbling for a relatively new senator like me to have an opportunity in these circumstances to recognise, farewell and thank my departing coalition colleagues. I want to start with Senator Sandy Macdonald, with whom I share a passion for things rural and regional. While Senator Macdonald and I have not always shared a common view on the policy outcomes, I have learnt from him how to benefit from respecting another person’s point of view whilst never, ever taking away from the dedication to the cause and the commitment to the people whom you seek to represent. From Senator Lightfoot I have learnt how a senator born of one state can perhaps contribute all the more richly to the advocacy on behalf of the people of another state. Essentially I look forward to doing in reverse what Senator Lightfoot has done by moving from South Australia to Western Australia. In my case it is from Western Australia to South Australia.

From Senator Rod Kemp I have learnt how to work very hard at being a senator whilst also having fun and to never, ever lose one’s perspective but always remember that we are here to do a job. Senator Kay Patterson is the Senate’s glue. Senator Kay Patterson owes me and her Senate colleagues nothing, but I owe Senator Patterson much. My father would not let this occasion go by without me reminding Senator Patterson that my father, since meeting her, would never dare do anything other than tie his own. My South Australian colleague Senator Grant Chapman said in his own words that he is a ‘oncer’. His commitment to rural and regional South Australia was never, ever a once-off. It is probably to his rural roots that Senator Chapman owes his reputation as being amongst the rare breed of politicians who are also genuinely nice guys. To my coalition colleagues, I say thank you and farewell.