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

Firstly, I acknowledge your commitment, Linda, not just to serving the people of our wonderful country, Australia, but also to the betterment of humanity more broadly, with the lives you have saved globally. Many of us have the wonderful opportunity to serve in this place, but few of us get the opportunity to say that we've had such an impact on the lives of so many not just in our country but around the world.

To a first-term senator such as myself, you've demonstrated to me what a conviction politician is—someone who leads with truth and integrity in the face of disgraceful political bullying. I've learned very quickly in this job that you have to pick your battles. On what you've been subjected to by those opposite: many might have run away from that, but you stood your ground because you knew it was the right thing to do. It was the right thing not just to defend yourself—when those of us here know the true character of who you really are—but to stand up to defend those who were also impacted through that and to set a precedent. If you don't stand up for what is right you allow for a standard to be lowered, and those consequences will be felt by all of us in here and those who come to this place for generations to come. It is evident in everything you have done that you have set a standard, a standard for all right around the country—one that we must continue to push to maintain and continue to push higher in this place. That should be part of the legacy you leave behind here. That's a promise I can make to you.

As conservative women in particular, we don't have the luxury of the feminist sisterhood coming to our side in times such as those you've had to endure. Therefore, for me personally, I want to recognise your incredible courage and your commitment. You absolutely should be recognised and commended for that—and so too your family, because we all know that, in this place, we can't do it without our family. And Colin just wanted me to mention this to Robert: thank you, Robert, for demonstrating what a partner, a husband, looks like who stands by such a wonderful woman doing a courageous job for Australians and what family means, because you are just such an important piece of that puzzle. Thank you, Robert.

I just want to say that part of me wishes I weren't losing you after my first term, but I'm also very aware that you've got plenty planned for your future. I know that you have so much more to give as well, and I know that you will continue to give. Thank you for demonstrating to me the kind of woman that I hope to grow up to be.