Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to associate myself with the remarks from all colleagues across the chamber in relation to the tributes they are paying to the life of Senator Alex Gallacher. He was somebody who was, without question, true to his beliefs and his values, and they were true Labor values; they were true union beliefs. As Senator Sheldon said, that's what he was respected for, and he was respected for that across the chamber.

I won't share any of my personal stories about him, because they were personal conversations. But they were conversations of fellowship of fellow senators and particular circumstances at the time, and they were very human interactions. They were the things that I really valued about working with Alex. We shared, again, some late nights, both on the same side of the table at estimates and on opposite sides of the table at estimates. If Alex thought you were serving up a load of BS, there was absolutely no question that you were going to be told you were serving up a load of BS—or the officials, for that matter. He just wanted an answer to his question. It was pretty simple.

With Alex you knew what you were going to get. He was deadset straight. You knew where he was coming from and you knew why he was coming from there. Comments have been made by so many colleagues across the chamber about the fact that he didn't forget where he came from and he didn't change: he was Alex Gallacher who became a senator through his time as a member of the union movement and he brought all those practical elements and experience with him to this place and he applied those to policy. And he was a thinker; he really was. He assessed things and he applied those things and that practical knowledge of the work that he'd done to this place.

It's spoken about often that one of the great things about Australia's parliament is that people who come from a really grassroots, practical background can end up in this place. Alex was a great example of that, as someone who came from a different country, became an Australian citizen and then came here to represent his values, his beliefs and his community in this place—something we should all celebrate. For the work he did in respect of a focus on road safety, it's a really fitting tribute that was made to him by his union in naming the training centre in South Australia after him. I think that's an absolutely fantastic thing.

Sterlo—and apologies for not addressing you as Senator Sterle—this was mentioned earlier by Senator McKenzie, and I'm pleased you mentioned it as well in your contribution: the Waldorf and Statler thing. Sterle and Gallacher went together like Waldorf and Statler, in my view. In some of those late-night sittings we'd see them both leaning forward with their chin on their elbows, looking across the chamber, obviously comparing something that was going on over there. They had a synergy and a symbiosis together. They clearly thought the same, and they were a real team. Glenn, I know you would miss Alex immensely, so I particularly express my condolences to you—and to all my other Labor colleagues across the chamber, but Sterlo, I know how much he meant to you, with the conversations and the journey you travelled together over a long period of time. I certainly did think of you a lot when we lost Alex; 67 is way too soon. To Alex's wife, Paola, and his four children and extended family, and to all of those in the Labor family, sincere condolences for your loss. He was a great guy. He made a contribution over a decade in this place. Senator Sheldon talked about him coming here during COVID, with all the things he was dealing with, so he could make a contribution. Certainly I recognised the importance and the significance of him doing that at a time that was a significant risk to him through what we were all facing with the national pandemic. I see his passing as a genuine loss. So, Alex, rest in peace, mate. To the Labor family and his family personally: my sincerest condolences.