PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION

Senator STERLE (Western Australia) (18:03): I wish to make my contribution to this magnificent episode we've witnessed in a senatorial career. Pete and I have worked so closely together over the last 14 years. In fact, I was sitting here earlier today thinking, 'How long has Pete been here—18, 19 years?' It's because you're that much a part of the furniture.

I just want to say on behalf of government senators, Peter, but, selfishly, for myself, mate, that the 14 years that you and I have spent on the rural and regional affairs and transport committee—and, my goodness, haven't there been some luminaries on there, apart from you and me? With Senator Colbeck—and who could forget Bill Heffernan and Barry O'Sullivan and 'Wacka' Williams, just to name a few?

No, seriously—real luminaries and us. But to sit there, Peter, with your political background, your environmental—I call you an environmental warrior. I apologise—environmental campaigner.

Mate, you're both. In that environment that we did for 14 years, traditionally you were not political allies of ours on certain parts of the agricultural industry. Yet the respect that you drew from every witness—I never, ever saw one witness take you on or want to have a blue with you.

The respect that they showed you, mate, was phenomenal. I wished, and we all wished, that we could have that same respect from a couple of the witnesses, Peter. I've really enjoyed it, mate.

I want to wish you and your lovely wife all the very best, mate. I'm going to miss you on the RRAT committee; make no mistake about that. I'm going to miss you in Senate estimates, mate, at nine o'clock at night, when we've got AFMA there and it's a toss-up between you and Richard as to who's going to be the senator for fisheries from Tasmania—oh, I forgot Bozzie too.

Bozzie was on that committee. There's another luminary. I apologise, Ronnie.

You're in our memories at all times. Mate, we got a couple of things, and I just want to touch on a couple of real quick things. I was in New York.

I've never been one for making big speeches about the environment, but in my first speech I did say, 'We've got to leave it better than what we found it,' because I'm too busy doing another industry that's probably not as clean in the atmosphere as we'd all like it to be. But I was at a lecture with John Kerry, I remember. Peter, I think I rang you.

I heard John Kerry speak, and I'd gone there with no preconceptions: 'Just have a listen; let's see what the great man's got to say.' He talked about the ocean and he led with this comment: 'For every second breath you take, thank the oceans.' I know this sounds a little bit weird and a bit creepy, but, mate, I thought of you. I actually thought of you, to the point where I even came back and said, 'Geez, Pete—the work you've been doing and what I've heard there.' Good on you, mate.

Keep up that great work. I know you will. What a magnificent speech!

To the staff of Peter: you've kept him intact. When I first heard Peter's speech, I thought, 'I like this bloke.' He was a stockbroker, a viticulturalist, a winemaker and a surfer. I think, 'What the hell are you doing in the in the Greens, mate?' I said, 'This is going to be interesting.' You were a pretty snappy dresser back then, Pete, until you decided the tie was—sorry to do that to your family and that.

But he used to wear a tie. Mate, all the very sincere best to you in your semi-retirement or your next few years. You've told me you're going to be buying the Sprinter van, and I tell you what, mate: if I find that you pop out of the desert—if you've been on the Canning Stock Route or on the Tanami—and you pop out in Halls Creek and you're in the Kimberley, in my area, and I don't know that you're there, look out, mate.

I told you: give me a shout when you get there. I'll leave you on one thing, people. I love this bloke, but one of the stories he told me once—I think you're more Western Australian than anything, Pete; come on, let's be honest mate—was about when he actually met—I'll ad-lib here—a Western Australian icon, in Bon Scott, under the old Fremantle Traffic Bridge.

I'm not going to repeat that. That's your story to tell, mate. You had me in giggles.

I've never forgotten it. I'd love to meet Bon Scott too, and you're lucky he didn't punch you in the frigging nose or whatever it was. Peter, all the very best, mate, for you and yours.

Take care, brother. I'm going to miss you.