John Madigan (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is my pleasure tonight to speak of the qualities of integrity and authenticity. It was with sadness that I listened to Senator Bullock tonight announce his resignation, because if there is something that this place lacks it is people of conviction and courage. If there is something that this place lacks it is people of conscience and consistency. Certainly Senator Bullock is part of this rare breed.

Senator Bullock is someone who speaks his mind. In an age of political doublespeak and parliamentary deception, Joe Bullock is a man apart. As a former state secretary of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, he proved himself a tenacious fighter for the working man. In the political arena, he has proved himself uncompromising and not for sale. When I think of Senator Bullock I am reminded of the words of Kipling:

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son.

Senator Bullock, you will be sorely missed and the Australian parliament and the Australian people will be a lot worse off for your resignation.