Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the government I would like to make a few remarks about each of the three senators who have spoken tonight. I know my colleagues share with me a sense of loss—that we lose so much experience and talent from the government Senate team. There is particularly the loss of two of our most experienced and reliable senators, Senators Forshaw and O'Brien, who I have shared the journey with. They both referred to some fairly tough years in opposition. They were great companions and great contributors during that time. We got to see Dana Wortley serve only one term, ending up in the death seat—winning one and losing one—but I know she has more to contribute. Senator Wortley, it is really good that we farewell you from the government benches. It is a small consolation but an important one, particularly for those like Kerry O'Brien and Mike Forshaw, who spent such long and hard years in opposition. I wish the opposition many long and hard years in opposition. I think they have already learnt how hard they are, but they need more time to really appreciate it. We look forward to them getting the full experience. In the short time available to me, I do not intend to try and canvass the careers of each government senator leaving and I certainly do not want to turn the speech into an obituary. All three have more to contribute to society and the Labor movement, and I am sure that they will all take up further challenges. Senator Mike Forshaw had the unenviable task of replacing Richo, which were big shoes to fill, but he has done it admirably. He came from a long background in the AWU but brought a different sort of experience: not only his law degree but his degree in literature. It was great to hear him quote Huck Finn tonight, because he has often had a passage to recount to sum up a situation. Mike has made a tremendous contribution in the committees of the Senate and on the front bench in opposition. I think he downplayed the role that he played in taking on a heavy load representing opposi­tion spokespeople in the Senate as opposition parliamentary secretary. I always thought he was unlucky not to get more of a chance on the front bench, but I see now that he concedes it was self-inflicted, so I feel less sorry for him on that basis! Never give a sucker an even break, mate—and he clearly made a mistake there!

Senator Forshaw has made a huge contribution to the Labor cause, both on the front bench and in committee work, and I think that has been recognised in recent years when he has been elected by the caucus as chair of the powerful Joint Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee of the parliament. It is seen as probably the most important chair's role in the parliament, and Mike has done it with tremendous aplomb and has developed enormous expertise and contacts in Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. I know he is highly regarded by the diplomatic corps in Canberra and has a huge level of expertise and experience that I am sure he will put to good use. He also, for his sins, was made international secretary of the Labor Party, which I think was a poorly remunerated but highly responsible role, and I know he will continue his interest in those matters.

I say to Mike that I have enjoyed his company and his fellowship, and I acknowledge very much the contribution he has made. He has always been a constructive force in the Senate and in the Labor team. I know John Faulkner and I both, in our times as leaders, have found him to be one of those people who has been a team player and has been prepared to share the load and to do things for the broader common good. He did have a terrible habit, though, whenever I made interjection in the Senate, of claiming credit for it and getting it recorded in the Senate Hansard as him being the author, which I am still to this day peeved about! I assume he used to go up to the Hansard reporters afterwards and claim credit!

Mike, best of luck in your future. We really appreciate your contribution. You have had a very strong career in this place and have made a huge contribution. I know your Labor colleagues will miss you.

Senator Kerry O'Brien, like me, came out of the LHMWU. He went down to Tasmania to be their state official and became a true Tasmanian. He is now as parochial as the rest of you, Senator Abetz, and has developed a real love for and appreciation of Tasmania. Kerry came into the Senate into 1996 and has done the hard yards in a long period of opposition. He played a huge role as opposition whip and on the opposition front bench. Kerry succeeded me as opposition whip and did a fantastic job. He referred earlier to his time in Senate tactics committees, and there were some interesting and memorable times as we sought to make the attack fresh, even though we had had many goes at it. Kerry also talked about his contribution in terms of regional affairs, primary industry and local government and transport. He made himself a real expert in those areas and a go-to man for the Labor Party. He developed the interest there to great effect in terms of the Labor Party.

I do not think it is widely known, but in my view Kerry was one of the best in opposition at using the estimates and questions on notice to great effect. Some others were probably better media performers in that regard, but Kerry always got good value out of his role in estimates, committees and questions on notice and he used those tools of the parliament to great effect on behalf of the Labor Party in opposition. As he mentioned, though, he always made the best decision you can make in politics, and that is to employ good staff. He mentioned a few of them, and they do make or break you in this game. Kerry and others, I know, have paid tribute to their staff.

Kerry, I know you are very highly regarded in the sectors in which you worked. Some people who are perhaps not friends of the Labor Party always sang your praises in terms of the work you did in the portfolios of rural and regional affairs and transport et cetera, and I know they would have been disappointed to lose you if you moved on from that particular portfolio. You are known as someone of strong values and substance and, as I said, you were well respected by the all of the groups that you dealt with.

Kerry, you referred to the fact that you did not make the ministry after the election. In my view, that was a great injustice and should not have occurred. You should have been a minister. You deserved to be one, and you would have been a good minister. I think that was an error. But your mettle was shown when you took on the job of whip and continued to contribute to the government. I think that is a great mark of your personal attributes, and the fact that you continued to serve the government and be a constructive member of the government is a great mark of your commitment to the Labor cause.

On a personal level, I have enjoyed your friendship. They say in parliament, 'If you want a friend, get a dog,' but I regard you, Kerry, as a friend, and I have appreciated your support and friendship over the years. I was a bit surprised when I was having a conversation with somebody once and they said, 'Yes, that Kerry O'Brien; he is the thinking woman's sex symbol.' Then I realised it was the other Kerry O'Brien, but it was good while it lasted, Kerry! I also advise colleagues that he has terrible choice in football sides, and a tip from those who have had experience: never back one of Kerry's horses in a race. They are always beautifully named, with great Labor names, but they are very slow, generally. I have given up backing his horses in races! But, Kerry, I hope you enjoy those pursuits now that you might have a little bit more time.

I know Louise has played a tremendous role in supporting you, and it is great to see Dale and Erin here, even if it might be because of the plane issues. But, as I said, I know you have more to contribute, and we look forward to you continuing to contribute to the Labor cause and appreciate very much your service. The government is very grateful for the contribution you have made in this place.

I would like to acknowledge Dana's contribution over the last six years. She has been a bit unlucky to only get the one term. That is the danger of running the number three, as Mike Forshaw pointed out earlier. It is a bit like being a marginal seat member and, unfortunately, she was not re-elected at the last election. But I think Dana in her speech exemplified the contribution she had made through the passion she brings to issues and the passion she brings to her commitment to the Labor Party, be it in com­munications, education or the environment. I know she has taken the opportunity of being in the parliament to really pursue her interests in those areas and to argue passionately for what she sees as creating more opportunity for people who perhaps do not get the opportunities they should. She has been a very strong advocate for social justice and opportunity in this parliament and has really seized the opportunity that the parliament provides. I think of her as always highly passionate about her causes, and that is a great thing for us and for the parliament.

So, Dana, we will certainly miss your contribution. I think you, too, will have more to offer in coming years, although I note that it will be South Australian based. I know you have had to deal with the pressures we all have with being partner and parent and being away for long periods of time. I know you were very conscious to keep in contact with Russell and Che during his development years. I am not sure he will be so keen on you supervising his homework, but no doubt he will like having you home more.

I note, though, that I have constantly worried about Dana's health while she has been here, because apart from the time when she is actually in the chamber she has a mobile phone stuck to her ear. I do not know if I have ever seen her outside the chamber when she has not been on the mobile phone. If there are any health issues associated with mobile phone usage, Dana will be the first to display that! So, Dana, I hope for your sake that they are as safe as claimed.

We have enjoyed your contribution and your comradeship. I have very much appreciated the contribution you have made and the personality that you have brought to everything you have done.

On behalf of the government, I want to acknowledge and thank Senators O'Brien, Forshaw and Wortley for their contribution. In a sense, doing a job lot is not the best way to deal with these things, but I think each of their careers stands on its own merits and the contributions they have made. I think all three gave really interesting contributions tonight that highlighted their personal strengths and contributions. It was inter­esting to see the way the speeches reinforced what I had been thinking about their contributions and interests and also brought out their own personalities—with Mike particularly keen to display his ongoing humour, which has been one of his great strengths. It is not only the capacity for humour; the capacity to laugh at yourself is very important in this job.

So I thank all three of you very much for your contribution. I pass on the personal best wishes of the Prime Minister, who will come across to our function next week and put her own thanks on the record. We wish you all the best. I am conscious that all three of you have more to contribute. These are not obituaries but farewells, and we look forward to the contribution you continue to make to the community and to the Labor cause. All the best.