Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—This morning we awoke to the news that an Australian diplomat by the name of Julian Simpson had tragically died in New York. He was a second secretary to the United Nations, and I want to put on the record that I came to know Julian last year when on secondment to the United Nations with Senator Lisa Singh. Senator Singh and I were babysat—that's how I termed it; I'm sure that's not the official term, but it might be how the diplomats regard it. He showed us through the intricacies of the United Nations system. He introduced us to the best coffee places in New York and showed us how to access the subway and was our chaperone and our confidant. He was a thorough professional. He was a credit not only to the Australian diplomatic service but to his family and his wife. He's taken too soon at 30 years of age. It is a tragedy. I wanted to put that on the record because, even though we only came into his orbit for a brief period of time, he left a lasting legacy. To receive the news today is just devastating for those who knew him. My condolences, and I'm sure those of Senator Singh, go to his wife and his family. Julian had a love of the country. He used to enjoy going to Central Park and gazing upon the trees where he couldn't see any buildings, and it took him back to his rural roots. I'm sure he's gazing at the trees somewhere and looking down at us. Vale.