Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I have been in this place for a very lucky 13 years and I have been very fortunate in that time to have had the benefit of Harry Evans’s advice on many occasions. Most of my time, unfortunately, has been spent in opposition. The process of holding government to account with the limited resources of an opposition means that you require the best possible advice. It is often said that knowledge is power, and Harry has always been a source of knowledge for anyone who sought information from him.

I am sure that in the current debate that is taking place in the chamber there is much advice being sought about procedural matters. We have seen that repeatedly over the last few months, with an opposition seeking a position where it can cobble together the numbers using procedures to embarrass the government. But it would be Harry’s job to tell an opposition how they could do that, just as it would be Harry’s job to tell a government how they could respond. That is the knowledge that everyone needs to operate in this place. They need to understand what the rights of senators are. They need to understand what the obligations of senators are. To receive that advice, as I have over many years, has been a real privilege.

I know that from time to time we do things in this chamber that Harry Evans disagrees with, because in some ways we are breaking down standards which he believes we should preserve. Nevertheless, it is good to have those acknowledgements and reminders to understand when we are pushing the boundaries a bit that perhaps we should not push them too much more if we appreciate the values which this place embodies. It has been a great pleasure and an honour to have served with Harry as the Clerk of the Senate and the font of much knowledge in this place, certainly on procedure. I wish Harry well in his retirement. I am absolutely certain that we will hear much from Harry in the future. I look forward to hearing from Harry and I wish him well.