Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

You didn't really think you were getting out of here without hearing from all the Western Australian senators, did you? I don't want to get between our friends and a drink, but it is very important to me to say a few words. I'm not going to repeat your career, Linda. We've heard that. We understand what a stellar ornament to this place and to the WA Liberal Party you have been.

In many ways, my career has followed behind Linda's. Linda and I were rivals in our first preselection battle, in 2012. We both put our hands up. Linda won fair and square. I don't know if she slightly regretted winning it when 2013 happened and I was No. 4 on the ticket. I talked to the then state director, Ben Morton, and I said: 'Ben, you know, we're not going to win four. Do you really need me on there still? It should just be the top three.' But Ben said, 'Oh, I'll think about it,' but then said, 'No, you're going to stay on there.' So we did go through the campaign, where one and two were solid and four was never going to get up, but it was fighting to make sure we retained our third spot in the Senate. It was such an important fight to have. It was a unique election campaign. Literally no-one can say they've been through a campaign like that, except for four people, basically, and I don't think anyone is likely to have to go through it again. I certainly don't envy them if they do.

You've served the Western Australian Liberal Party with such distinction for a long period of time. As I've been able to say in Western Australia on a few occasions when we've been at events together over the last few months, you have gone out at a moment of your choosing; I know it's perhaps not the way you would have liked your career to end, but I admire you for that. I admire you for everything you've done for the Liberal Party of Western Australia and for this place—and for the achievements you've had, which have been talked about by my colleagues. To Rob, to your family, to Michelle and all your staff: it is such a wonderful career that you have had, and you have given so much of yourself to this place, to our nation and to the Western Australian Liberal Party. Thank you.