Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I was in this place, in the other chamber, when both Nick Minchin and Sprat Ferguson arrived. I suppose there are not many of us who know Alan as 'Sprat'. I want to say a couple of very quick words. Nick Minchin brought to the job a remarkable legacy of people management. People management is something that a person is not, in my view, born with. I think it is something that is acquired with experience, and Nick is the best people manager that I have seen in my time in politics. He managed some difficult months some 12-plus months ago with great dignity, and the fact that our friendship survived that means that it can probably survive anything, I suspect.

I have fought a lot of battles with Alan and his close mate, former President Calvert. When I was chief whip in the other place—the stories can probably never be told—I remember that on many occasions we had massive fights. Sprat said: 'You'd better come over to the Senate barbeque. We have got to sort this out. They all hate your guts over there, and we want to get this sorted out.' So I came over for this peace offering, and I will not say who it was or exactly the words they used, but it was made quite clear to me that I was not welcome. When I asked about it, I was told, 'Sprat said, "As soon as he walks in, give him a payout."' To his credit he did come back and get me. To Anne I would like to say: you have been a very loyal partner to Sprat.

I want to farewell my colleague Russell Trood. We are in some respects strange bedfellows, but we will maintain a friend­ship. His nickname, of course, is a similar colour to the chamber we sit in at the moment, and I will very much miss Russell. I am absolutely sure that Guy Barnett's time in politics is not finished, and nor should it be. I will quickly say: for those who know Nick well, to see what he and Kerry went through with Oliver was, I suspect, one of those defining moments in Nick's life. We all have those and they are never pleasant, but I think we come out of them better people at the end of it. I know the effect that it had on Nick.

I want to talk finally about Julian. There are some who, foolishly, have under­estimated Julian over the years. When he was a member of the National Party there was no better campaigner against the Liberal Party than Julian McGauran. He ran some sensational campaigns and he was very, very good. I watched Jules during his speech tonight as he said he was 'pleased that the wounds had been healed'. I saw the look on your face, Julian, when you said those words. I know what you went through. Helen Kroger, Mitch Fifield and I know the absolute angst that you went through with that changeover. You brush it off, but we know it was an enormous decision for you to make. Our party quite frankly has been a lot better for you coming to join us. I offer all of my departing colleagues my very best wishes for the future.