Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to associate myself with the comments made by colleagues in condolence for the passing of Senator Linda White. We've done this too often over recent times, I have to say. I think it's been mentioned before, but we genuinely have done this too often, so perhaps I'll entreat colleagues: get your checks and look after yourselves. We don't want to be doing this too many more times.

It is very sad to lose someone who was here for a relatively short time but was making such a significant contribution. I reflect on the comments that Senator Gallagher made; that we learn so much more about one of our colleagues on an occasion such as this than we might have otherwise done. This is a busy place and we all work hard. Linda was one of those. She, through all of that work, got the opportunity to touch quite a few of us in this place. I had the fortune to travel on a delegation with Linda. Senator Wong mentioned her wry sense of humour, her dry sense of humour and sometimes her wicked sense of humour, which was always there. I had the genuine privilege of spending a week with Linda in Vietnam. We had a good time—until we all contracted COVID and had to come home. Actually, we found out we got COVID when we got home, fortunately.

Her wry sense of humour and the incisive nature of the way she went about her work were demonstrated in the committee work that I did with her in the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee but also on the delegation. Many colleagues have talked about the fact that she would not back her cart. She was prepared to ask the hard questions when they needed to be asked and, if she felt that she needed to give someone a poke in the eye—and I don't think it really mattered whether it was on her side or someone else's side—she was prepared to be the person who would provide the poke in the eye or lead the process, as appropriate. It was always done with good nature and good humour but seriously and she was happy to ask the hard questions—all in the interests of getting results.

It's interesting to hear more about Linda's background and skill set. It reminds me of the value of the life experience that we bring to this place when we get here. Interestingly, in the context of the Tasmanian election where people's life experience is being discussed—or lack of it, because we're politicians—we don't start life as politicians; we all bring life skills to this place. The importance of that range of life skills in getting the work done on Senate committees and through our parliamentary process was very evident sitting alongside and working with Linda in committees. Senator Scarr has talked about that and other colleagues have talked about that. The values you learn through your life experience that you bring to this place come out during that process. Linda was clearly a child of the labour movement and proudly so. It's an important thing for the way that this place works that we have all these different perspectives and values, so that we can interrogate an issue and come to an appropriate answer. The work that Linda did with Senator Scarr on the NACC is a clear example of the absolute importance of those skill sets and what they bring to this place.

I say to Linda's staff: it is great to see you here in the chamber today; it really is. Because of the work we do and the fact that we are away from home, we probably spend more time with our staff than we do with our families, to a certain extent. Your work in supporting Linda, as has been described, was important. Our teams make a huge difference to the success of the work we do. So, firstly, congratulations. Sincerest condolences for what is a significant loss. It is a really difficult time and, I have to say, I wish that we weren't having to stand here to make these contributions today. I genuinely do.

To her friends and colleagues in the labour movement and in the union movement: again, my sincerest condolences. It is so difficult to lose someone you have worked with for a considerable period of time who you trust, who you know and who you love, so my sincerest condolences to you and, of course, to Linda's family—genuine and sincere condolences for the loss of a valued family member.

The fact that Linda wanted to undertake her treatment in private is a real mark of her as a person. There are so many who want to play these sorts of things out in public. I genuinely express my respect for Linda for the way that she has done this. Senator Gallagher was right—it was a genuine shock when I heard of Linda's passing. I was genuinely saddened by the news of the loss of one of our number. This place does important work. Everyone who makes it here has a contribution to make and they bring something special. As I've indicated, they bring their life experience, and they bring all those skills and talents they have developed prior to coming here to this place. Regardless of which side of the chamber we come from, we come here to make a positive contribution from our perspective and from our party's perspective.

I again express my condolences to the Labor Party, to Linda's staff and to her family. Vale, Senator Linda White.