Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (NT, Country Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Country Liberal Party of the Northern Territory, I would like to honour and pay my respects to Mr Grant Tambling. Mr Tambling was a well-loved and popular man. He served our nation of Australia faithfully and tirelessly. He left no level of government untouched, serving in local government and then both Territory and Commonwealth parliaments. To every position he held, he gave himself wholeheartedly.

Mr Tambling began his time in government as a member of the Darwin City Council from 1972 until 1974. He then moved to the Northern Territory parliament, where he served in a variety of capacities, including multiple ministerial positions, from 1974 to 1977. A few short years later, in 1980, he was elected to the House of Representatives in this parliament, albeit down the road at Old Parliament House, where he was required to share an office with three other MPs.

Despite being defeated in 1983, he returned to federal politics in 1987 as a senator for the Northern Territory. He was subsequently re-elected to that position four times before retiring at the end of his term in 2001. Holding the trust of the Territory to represent them in this House for that long is a testament to the respect he enjoyed.

As a senator for the Northern Territory myself, I know its size can make it a challenging place to get around, but Tambling's devotion to his community saw him travel all across the Territory, always ensuring he was on top of the issues that mattered to those on the ground. His desire to see Indigenous Australians treated equally, as any other Australian, resonates with the reasons that spurred me on to have a career in politics.

Tambling was a man who championed the cause of Indigenous Australians and was not afraid to say things how he saw them. He highlighted problematic aspects of Indigenous land rights legislation and called on the government to review it. He also offered a sober warning against what he perceived to be the manipulation of Indigenous Australians for political purposes, things which we can learn a lot from to this day. Aside from Indigenous affairs, Tambling was also an advocate for efficient government. He wasn't afraid to call out government waste and used his time in estimates to do just that.

All of this was ultimately because he loved his home of the Territory and the nation of Australia. Tambling's life and service demonstrated his dedication to his home of the Territory and the nation of Australia without exception. We honour his life today and remember his contribution to our country.

Question agreed to, honourable senators joining in a moment of silence.