Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just want to put on the record that I've not been colluding with Senator Hinch. I'd also like to talk about the Australian honours system and honour some very, very important Western Australians. It's never too late to honour the great work of Australians and, indeed, I'm delighted to stand here this afternoon to recognise the outstanding achievement of Western Australians who were recently recognised by the Queen with the Queen's Birthday honours that were announced on 11 June.

The Order of Australia was established in 1975 by the Queen. It is the principal and most prestigious means of recognising outstanding members of the Australian community. Each recipient must have contributed to our great society in one of the following ways: demonstrated achievement at high level, made a contribution over and above what might be reasonably expected through paid employment, or made a voluntary contribution to the community which stands out from other volunteers. To honour their contribution to our community, today in the chamber I'll read the names of each of those Western Australians that have been honoured and the citation.

In the Companion of the Order of Australia category, an award for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or humanity at large, we congratulate Ms Erica Smyth for eminent service to the community through corporate governance roles with charitable, medical research, higher education, nuclear scientific and technology organisations, to the minerals exploration sector and to women in business.

In the Officer of the Order of Australia category, where we recognise distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or humanity at large, we extend our congratulations to Sister Joan Evans for distinguished service to the international community of Thailand through humanitarian assistance programs for the disadvantaged and to improving the lives of women, children and the elderly. We honour Mr Peter Fitzpatrick AM for distinguished service to the community, particularly in Western Australia, through roles with veterans' welfare, business, legal and not-for-profit organisations, and to the causes of social justice. We honour Ms Paula Nathan for distinguished service to community mental health as a psychologist, particularly to understanding mental health disorders, and to establishing specialised treatment and support services. We honour Professor Michael Quinlan for distinguished service to medicine, particularly through strategic leadership in the development of tertiary, medical and social education in Western Australia as an academic and clinician. We honour Professor Christobel Saunders for distinguished service to medical education in the field of surgical oncology and to the diagnosis and management of breast cancer and melanoma as an academic, researcher and clinician.

In the Member of the Order of Australia category, awarded for service in a particular locality or field of activity, or to a particular group, I'm delighted to honour Mr Peter Clive Aspinall for significant service to veterans and their families, particularly through commemorative events in Western Australia. We honour Mrs Anne Patricia Banks-McAllister for significant service to women through roles advancing gender equality, particularly in local government. We honour Ms Diane Elizabeth Bennit for significant service to equestrian sports as a competitor and coach, and to the horse industry as a competitor, commentator and administrator. We honour Ms Danielle Blain—a very special honour—who is known to me personally, for her significant service to business and commerce, to politics in Western Australia, and to women. We also Ms Carol Buckley MVO for significant service to the Crown and to public administration in Western Australia. We honour Professor Jonathan Carapetis for significant service to medicine in the field of paediatrics, particularly the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of rheumatic heart disease. We honour Professor Arlene Chan for significant service to medicine in the field of oncology, particularly breast cancer support, diagnosis and treatment. We honour Ms Carolyn Chard for significant service to the performing arts in executive roles, particularly in Western Australia, and to support for young artists. We honour Mrs Wendy Dowling for significant service to community health, particularly in Western Australia, through support for people living with coeliac disease. We honour Emeritus Professor Bruce Elliott for significant service to sports science as a teacher and researcher specialising in the fields of biomechanics and physical education. We honour Professor David Fletcher for significant service to medicine in the field of gastrointestinal surgery as a clinician, educator, researcher and leader in health service delivery. We honour Dr Charles Goucke for significant service to medicine in the field of pain management as a clinician, academic and mentor, and to professional societies. We honour Mr David Hatt for significant service to hockey as a senior administrator, to Australian Rules football, and to sport more generally in Western Australia. We honour Dr David Hillman for significant service to medicine as an anaesthetist and physician, to medical research into sleep disorders, and to professional organisations. We honour Mr David Hohnen for significant service to oenology, to the development of the Australian wine industry, and as a promoter of the Margaret River region. We honour Ms Rishelle Hume for significant service to the Indigenous community of Western Australia through developing opportunities, promoting leadership and preserving culture. We honour Mr John Inverarity MBE for significant service to education, and to cricket as a player, captain, coach and national selector. We honour Mr Kenneth Jenner for significant service to conservation and the environment, particularly whale research in Western Australia. We honour Mrs Micheline-Nicole Jenner for significant service to conservation and the environment, again particularly with regard to whale research in Western Australia. We honour Ms Teresa Lewis for significant service to the Indigenous community of the East Pilbara, particularly to women and children affected by domestic violence. We honour Emeritus Professor Margaret Nowak for significant service to education in the disciplines of business studies and economics, and to community and charitable organisations. We honour Dr Dominic Spagnolo for significant service to medicine, particularly in the field of pathology as a clinician, and to medical education as a researcher and author. We honour Dr John Taylor for significant service to medicine as a urologist and urogynaecologist, to medical education, and to the community. We honour Mrs Rebecca Tolstoy, a member of the Rotary Club of Perth, of which I'm also a member, for significant service to the community through leadership of social welfare organisations and through support for victims of domestic violence. And we honour Mr Reece Waldock for significant service to public administration, particularly to transport and infrastructure planning and development in Western Australia, and to the community.

In the Medal of the Order of Australia category awarded for service worthy of particular recognition, we extend our congratulations to Ms Carolyn Baird for service to the community through hospital support. We congratulate Mr Creagh Bramley for service to veterans and their families. We congratulate Ms Lois Bramley for service to veterans and their families. We honour Mr Peter Browne for service to education in Western Australia. We honour Ms Lynette May Foreman for service to athletics. We honour Mr Pat Hallahan for service to the community through history-preservation organisations. We honour Brigadier William Drayton Jamieson, retired, for service to Australia-Thailand relations and to the community more broadly. We honour Mr Ronald Johnstone for service to the museums and galleries sector, and to ornithology. We honour Mr Jeffery Jones for service to the community of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. We congratulate Dr Thomas Jones for service to medicine, particularly as a general practitioner. We honour Mr Torsten Ketelsen for service to the Australia-Germany relations, to business, and to the community. We honour Mr Anthony Langer for service to the international community through landmine clearance and charitable organisations. We congratulate Mrs Lynette McKenzie for service to swimming. We congratulate Mr Robert Miniter for service to the Indigenous communities across Western Australia. We honour Mrs Georgina Pearce for service to the community of WA, Mrs Audrey Pearson for service to botanical organisations in WA, Mr Thomas Perrigo for service to heritage conservation in the WA community, and Mrs Barbara Quekett for service to education. We honour Adjunct Clinical Professor John Rosenthal for service to medicine and to the community of WA. We honour Mrs Deirdre Russell for service to the community, particularly through music. We honour the Hon. David Smith for service to the people and the parliament of Western Australia, to local government, and to the community of Bunbury. We honour Mr Hugh Warden for service to primary industry, particularly to livestock management, and to the community. We honour Mr Norman Wells for service to veterans and their families, and to military history. We extend our congratulations to Commander Richard Usher, Royal Australian Navy retired, for service to the welfare of veterans. We congratulate Warrant Officer Brett South for meritorious service to the Royal Australian Navy in the field of submarine marine engineering. And we honour Squadron Leader Christopher Plain for meritorious service in project management as the No. 78 wing transition team manager of the Hawk 127 lead-in fighter capability assurance project.

As Her Majesty the Queen observed on the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings, 'the true measure of all our actions is how long the good in them lasts'. On behalf of all Western Australians, I thank and congratulate the recipients of the Queen's Birthday honours awards for their long-lasting contribution to the great state of Western Australia and, indeed, this great Commonwealth, Australia.