Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I do not, of course; I am just another party hack like Senator Evans. But you have seen life, and that is evident in the work that you have done in this chamber.

The thing that stands out on our side is that Senator Murray has been, as far as we are concerned, in all our time in this place, the only Democrat who really understands economics and business. We know that the Democrats are a broad church and have a number of issues which mean a lot to them, but it is our experience that Senator Murray really is the only one who fundamentally understands economics and business. Of course that has meant that Senator Murray has had an enormous workload in carrying legislation that deals with the budget taxation expenditures and industrial relations. I want to say that I congratulate the new government on recognising that expertise by honouring Senator Murray with the responsibility of preparing a report for the new government on budget transparency issues. I commend my successor as finance minister, Lindsay Tanner, on asking Senator Murray to conduct that review. I look forward to seeing Senator Murray’s review and I think that it will have a bearing on our policy positions.

As finance minister, of course, I had to juggle a Prime Minister and Treasurer who were not necessarily all that enthusiastic about undue transparency and, no doubt, Mr Tanner might find that his Prime Minister and Treasurer in the reality of government are not quite as enthusiastic as they might have been in opposition. But I am sure your report will be very instructive and well thought through.

Certainly my own former department of finance had enormous respect for Senator Murray. I used to have estimates briefings with my department before every series of estimates and there would always be a session dedicated to: what is Senator Andrew Murray going to pursue at this Senate estimates; are we prepared for the series of questions which he will no doubt bring to bear? So the respect that Senator Murray earned not only exists in this chamber but I think is widespread, certainly in the financial departments of the government.

The coalition of course extends its enormous gratitude to Senator Murray and his Democrat fellows who supported the new tax system. I will say something more about this tomorrow night. I guess it was the most difficult issue the Democrats have had to deal with in their 30-year existence. Senator Murray’s dedication to good policy outcomes and to ensuring that good policy outcomes outweighed the politics of issues meant that in the end he did support what he, I and I think the nation now know was a very important change to our tax system. It is now almost unimaginable to think of having retained the old tax system in 2008. We would not have had it but for the courage of Senator Murray and a few of his Democrat colleagues who in the end supported the new tax system. I acknowledge his courage and commitment to that cause and the difficulty that it no doubt would have caused him in his party.

I was interested in Senator Evans saying that Senator Murray seems to have convinced those on our side that he is really a Liberal and those on the Labor side that he really supports Labor. I think that the truth is that his Liberal tendencies are pretty strong, and I guess in the true sense of the word they would be small ‘l’ liberal tendencies, but we on our side like to think that we are the custodians of the two great British liberal traditions: conservatism—which I guess I am a disciple of—and small ‘l’ liberalism. Many of my esteemed colleagues of course are dedicated exponents of the virtues of small ‘l’ liberalism, and I think Senator Murray is one of the great exponents of the virtues of that great British tradition of small ‘l’ liberalism.

Indeed, on that score I think he would have graced our party. I am sorry we were never able to persuade him to see the light and join the Liberal Party. I think he would have graced our side of politics and that it would have given him the opportunity to serve as a minister and be part of executive government. As Senator Evans properly said, one of the problems of being in a minor party in this place is that you are denied the opportunity of being part of the executive, but he has more than made up for that by being one of the great legislators this parliament has seen—an absolutely outstanding legislator. But, as I said, I am sorry that he has not had the opportunity to be part of an executive.

Senator Evans also made the point that, when we look to that corner, we notice that Senator Murray is the only one to have not been the leader of his party. I do not mean any offence to his three esteemed colleagues, but I certainly want to say that I think he would have been an outstanding leader of his party. I think his party failed in not giving him that opportunity.

The other thing that really stands out about Senator Murray is just how personable a human being he is. Senator Murray is one of the most personable, pleasant and agreeable people to deal with, in my experience. Those are not necessarily common attributes in this place. Senator Murray is one of the most determined negotiators that you could encounter. He certainly knows what he wants in a negotiation but does it with courtesy and grace, which is, as I said, very rare in this business.

Tonight we also saw that Senator Murray is quite a philosophical fellow. It reminds me of when I was 20 and first went to the temple at Delphi and learnt about the inscriptions at each end of that temple which gave rise to the notion of the Delphic oracle. At one end the inscription is ‘Know thyself’ and at the other end the inscription is ‘Moderation in all things’. While I might aspire to achieve both of those things, I have failed miserably so far, but it can truly be said of Senator Andrew Murray that he has achieved those great attributes which the Greek philosophers thought we should all aspire to. He can leave this place knowing that he has achieved that level of fulfilment.

Tonight we also saw on display Senator Murray’s emotion. I am not old enough of course to know whether he is right about getting more emotional as you get older—I say that tongue in cheek! I recall that one of the last questions I answered in this place as a minister was from Senator Murray and it was on the subject to which he has dedicated much of his parliamentary life: the welfare of children. I recall in answering that question that I became emotional in a fashion which is rare for me in this place, but it really did strike me as a father of three children, knowing Senator Murray’s dedication to the cause and knowing the great work that remains to be done in that area. I certainly hope that those with whom he has charged that task undertake it and carry it out. I place on the record my enormous commendation to Senator Murray for his dedication to that cause.

I close by congratulating Andrew and his wife Pam on their 36th wedding anniversary today. Make it a great night! I wish Senator Murray many, many years of happiness ahead.