Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Sterle. Just in summing up, it would be remiss of me not to make some very brief comments. I associate myself with all the remarks and fine contributions this afternoon in honouring a dear colleague. It is great to have His Excellency, former Senator Brett Mason, Ambassador to the Netherlands here, who was such a big part of the campaign. So, welcome, Your Excellency.

It was a great honour for me to represent the Senate at both the funeral and memorial service of former Senator Trood and to personally and publicly convey the condolences of the Senate, and in particular our colleagues, to the Trood family.

The contributions are always heartfelt and always moving. When you do come in, as Senator Siewert and Senator Sterle mentioned, in the same class of 2004, you do have a common bond that lasts throughout your entire Senate career. We do miss him from that perspective. We have lost certainly a great gentleman and a great contributor to debate, and intellectual debate in particular, in this place. But his family have lost him now as a father, as a husband, as a brother and as a good friend to many people in Queensland.

Colleagues, it is a sad day when you lose a Senator who you have served with, and in particular one who was so good. Could I ask all of you to join me in standing to signify the assent to the motion by having a period of silence.

Honourable senators having stood in their places—

Thank you honourable senators. The motion is certainly carried.