Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to be very brief and pass on my condolences to Russell's family. Like your good self, Mr President, Senator Siewert and myself are the class of 2004, that dynamic bunch of new entrants back then. Russell was in our gang. Russell was an absolute gentleman. We can have some argy-bargy across this chamber and we can really get stuck into each other, but Russell was the sort of senator who never had a bad word to say about anyone—not to our faces anyway; I do not know what he said about us while having a beer with George or Brett. It is good to see you too, Brett. From my own personal feelings towards Russell, I miss you, mate. You were exemplary in your behaviour in this chamber. I have to say that if the other 75 of us conducted ourselves like you did, Russell, there would be nothing to talk about in question time. All the very best to his family.