Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the National Party, I'd like to associate us with the comments around the chamber. Like Senator Waters, I started with former senator Alex Gallacher here back in 2011, and I served with him on the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport, of which he was a longstanding and strong contributor, along with the deputy chair—'Sterlo', as we like to colloquially call him.

Senator Gallacher's presence here was very influential. He knew what he stood for, and that was the old-school Labor mould. He was determined to make a difference for the working class men and women of Australia. His grit and determination to make a positive change for transport workers and truck drivers across the nation was limitless. He fought for the rights of hardworking Australians. After 22 years of advocating across different unions, his desire to make a difference resulted in him serving here in the Senate. He pushed for improvements in road safety, to protect the truck drivers that connected Australians right across this nation, and his experience in the industry allowed him to push for the voice of those who were often silenced.

The life of a truck driver can be tough—working long hours, isolated and separated from loved ones. It's a job that not many of us can truly understand, but Alex did, and he spoke to what mattered to them most. He never lost that determination to improve their lives. He was Deputy Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Road Safety and also an outspoken member of the Public Works Committee, which saw him oversee a lot of infrastructure projects that also contributed to positive outcomes for those in the trucking industry.

His passionate endorsement for a fair go and a better chance for all went beyond truck drivers. He fought for what he believed was the best interests of all South Australians, and so we often clashed on water. He was driven by the vision of all Australians having access to fair and secure jobs, and this included equitable pay and working conditions. He did stand against the crowd, and I think Senator Wong mentioned that it didn't matter which crowd you were in—if you were in the Liberal Party or the National Party. He definitely wasn't a fan of the Greens and sometimes not a great fan of some of the Labor Party policies, but that is a man of conviction and integrity, too often rare in this line of work these days.

He also understood the importance of connecting Australians to the regions. In his first speech—and this quote has already been used today—he said:

I firmly believe that all Australians want a better environment and a greater opportunity for those who come after them and I will endeavour to fulfil that obligation in my role here in the Senate.

I absolutely believe Alex did that.

He'll always be admired by all as a hardworking straight shooter who had the best interests of all at heart. My former colleague Senator John 'Wacka' Williams recalls him as a good bloke with a kind nature and always up for a laugh, particularly when he teamed up with his good friend Glenn Sterle and caused a bit of havoc on some of those road trips that the RRAT committee was wont to do.

Just briefly, on Alex's relationship with Senator Sterle: it didn't matter whether they were sharing a wine or a walk, those two were absolutely inseparable. During some of those late-night debates in this chamber that we used to have, when we made ourselves stay here till the wee hours, they'd be like those two old guys on the Muppets, commentating, particularly on Nick Xenophon at times.

Wacka also remembers his time working with Senator Gallacher and praised his dedication to improving safety within the trucking industry.

A husband, brother, father, grandfather and advocate, Alex was respected and loved and admired by all those who knew him. We thank him for his 10 years of service in this place, and our sympathies are with his family and friends.