Guy Barnett (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, a minimalist, Senator Brandis—not the Keating republic that we didn’t have to have. Senator Patterson has been an academic and she also lectured my wife, Kate, who is a speech pathologist, and I think my wife is the better for it. So, Senator Patterson, I note that.

I turn now to Senator Rod Kemp: he has a quirky sense of humour, and yet he has that ability to put the needle in and twist it, and you can see the other side squirming and carrying on a treat. But they know that he is a man who is highly regarded and is respected in this chamber and is certainly appreciated for his contributions. He was elected in 1990; he was Assistant Treasurer from 1996 to 2001 and then Minister for the Arts and Sport from 2001 to 2007. I guess my relationship with Senator Kemp was forged, at least in part, during his role as Minister for the Arts and Sport during the 2004 campaign, in our efforts to combat the childhood obesity epidemic. We had a special forum on 29 June 2004. Senator Kemp will recall dinner at my home the night before and then, with John Howard, launching the government’s anti-obesity initiatives at Launceston’s Grand Chancellor Hotel, with Senator Kemp speaking, as well as other keynote speakers. That was a great event and he has done a lot to advance the cause in that regard and to support more healthy lifestyles. The active after school program is probably the most obvious one that comes to mind as far as an initiative and a program that he has advocated for successfully under the former government. So he will be missed in this parliament. I wish him and Danni very well in their future endeavours.

To Senator Ross Lightfoot: he is a great man and great camaraderie is shared with Ross. He certainly is a strong advocate for Western Australia. He certainly has, as per his valedictory speech, previously supported WA seceding; now he has softened that a little bit, but he is still a very strong supporter of WA. I have always enjoyed Ross’s company. He has a kind, generous spirit; he is certainly gentlemanly in every respect. Ross, you will be missed, and I wish you well with your future endeavours. You have certainly made a very positive and substantial contribution in this place, including to the relationship between Australia and Iraq. You have visited Iraq many times and I know that you have a heart for the people of Iraq and that you want a difference to be made there for their good. So, to all those Liberal senators, I wish them well. Congratulations and well done on a very fine effort—a huge contribution over many years.

I want to say of Andrew Murray that he is a professional, thoughtful and insightful man. He is honourable in every respect. He is one of the most honourable of honourable senators. He has been kind and generous. I remember when I and my wife, Kate, and Andrew and his wife, Pam, visited Sweden and Denmark in 2005. He has been a longstanding member of the Scrutiny of Bills Committee, and tomorrow morning the committee will be commemorating his service with a sausage sizzle at Parliament House. His contribution on any committee is worth listening to; it is valuable. He will certainly be missed. To Senators Stott Despoja, Allison, Bartlett, Kirk, Webber and Campbell, I wish you all well in your future endeavours. I thank the Senate.