Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—In relation to Mr Julian Simpson: it was a tragic mishap in New York. They were actually celebrating the wonderful news from Australia and had been up on the roof to look at the rainbow tribute to Australia on the Empire State Building when that mishap occurred.

On a lighter note, I just want to say to Mearesy, thank you. The changes, the bending of the rules, the breaking of the rules for photographs to be taken here in the Senate: you were largely responsible for that—you and Mike Bowers.

Honourable Senator:

An honourable senator interjecting—

Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The snappers got me, a former scribbler. They knew they had a sympathetic ear, so I took on their cause. It was the first success I had here. I had to work over Stephen Conroy at the time, I must admit. I want to thank both the Attorney-General and Senator Wong. You both in the end came good on this, and we managed to get it through. I was thinking about this only yesterday, because those wonderful photographs that were taken here—historical moments in the Senate—would not have happened yesterday if that law had not been changed. Of course, if it hadn't been changed, you wouldn't have got me asleep in the chamber on the first day of the 45th Parliament, but that also went with it. Mearesy, good luck with it. I don't know how you're going to walk away from it. You were a gem to work with. The fact that it took nearly 20 years to get it changed and to just get us in line with the other place was fantastic. Good luck!