Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

I will make a short contribution because I am sure that there are others who would like to contribute today. Trish, I pay tribute to you for many reasons. As senators from Northern Australia, we have a different way of looking at the world and we were able to do that together. Joseph and I came into the parliament very shortly after you did. So our time here has been matched up in many respects, and I call you 'the sort of class of 98', although you were a couple of months early.

Trish is an extraordinarily generous and thoughtful person. When I was elected, Trish was one of the first people to contact me—a person not even from my state, but I think recognising the fact that we are Northerners and we can talk another language. When people were talking about throwing the wrong bag out of the freezer, I knew they were talking about the toads not the crabs. I got that one.

Trish, the principles that you brought to the Senate are principles that have stayed the same—and I have observed that over a long time. You sent me a t-shirt that said, 'A woman's place is in the Senate,' and that has stood the test of time. You have shown great feminist values and principles that have never wavered.

Within some months of coming into this place, we established an inquiry into the operations of the Northern Prawn Fishery. I think that was a bit of a baptism of fire for both of us, but we got through that. We established that committee—and it was a bit of fun. Trish, your knowledge and your passion was brought to bear on many committees, and I particularly refer to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Native Title, where we did a lot of work in those early years around the observance of how the Native Title Act was operating.

You are a straight talker—you call a spade a shovel. I think a lot of people have said that tonight. I value that, and I think we all value the frankness and decency that you bring to the deliberations you have made. Politics is a tough game. We know that—you know it more. But you can be very proud of the contribution that you have made over many years—as can your family be very proud. I know that contribution will continue to flow and I hope that we continue to maintain a strong friendship across that border.