CONDOLENCES

Senator COLBECK (Tasmania) (16:02): I rise to associate myself with the words from colleagues around the chamber in relation to the late Senator Kay Denman. I acknowledge the words that have been used to describe her, and the term 'social justice warrior' is one that's been quite prominent, and it certainly was one that was reflected through her work in what I will call our local community on the north-west coast of Tassie.

When I grew up in Railton, my father-in-law and brother both worked at the cement plant up there—in fact, Peter spent some time working in the asbestos sheet plant. Many of us understood the work that Kay did in support of people who were suffering asbestos based diseases all too well. Having worked in the construction industry before 1989, when asbestos was prohibited in building products, I myself was exposed to asbestos as a building material during my time on the tools on the north-west coast of Tassie.

When I first came here, Kay came over to offer me some quiet, gentle advice to a new senator. That was important to me and was something important that I understood. I think that's reflective of the person that Kay was.

It wasn't all about the politics. It was about getting things done for people. If she could create relationships and develop relationships to ensure that she got the outcomes that she was looking to achieve, that's what she would do.

In the years after she left the parliament, she and Mary Binks, who was the mayor of Devonport when I served on the Devonport council, would go to the movies together. They would often call in for a bit of a chat about politics to find out what was going on, as we've just heard, but also to leave a message. It might have been some advice or to suggest something that I might be able to do in support of a particular issue that she was continuing to be concerned about.

Senators have talked about that period in the late nineties when the north-west coast of Tassie was probably one of the toughest places in the country in relation to gay law reform. I remember the rallies. I remember some of the rhetoric that was being driven through our community at that time, and it was really very, very difficult.

It was difficult for so many people. The collective sigh of relief that I felt Tasmanians give when the Rundle government finally changed the legislation to deal with the issues that were impacting on our community at the time was a really important moment for us all. I think the fact that in Tasmania we now have some of the more progressive legislation is a tribute to people like Kay, who was prepared to lead the fight.

Not all had the courage to do that. But Kay was prepared to lead the fight on those particular issues. That courage, I think, should be acknowledged and reflected by those of us who were there and about in politics at that point in time.

It was really important work that she did. She worked in a number of areas. She managed the Devonport community legal centre, making sure that people got access to justice.

Interestingly, she was an inaugural member of the Mersey Leven family day care committee. Here we are today, still talking about support for people to get child care. She was a leading player in that in our region.

It was interesting to go back to the Advocate and the tribute that was published on her and the comments from her Labor colleagues who were asked to comment and the acknowledgement of Kay as a social justice warrior. There were comments from Senator Wong; Amanda Diprose, who's on the Central Coast Council, but also someone who is strong in that area; Lisa Singh; and, of course, Anne Urquhart, whom I acknowledge in the chamber now—all of whom knew Kay well and would receive the calls and the advice and, as we've heard, the conversations within the chamber.

She said she arrived unexpectedly, but she certainly had a plan when she came here. She knew what the issues were that she wanted to focus on, and she made sure that she did go after those things and progress them. As I said, she had the courage, particularly in really difficult times, to deal with some of the issues that were really important reforms for our communities to go through.

In her valedictory speech, she said something that struck me, particularly in the context of some of the conversations we've been having in the last few days. She said: During the week more than one of my colleagues asked me how I managed to remain tolerant during my time here. And she was tolerant.

She was an easy person to talk to. She continued: The answer probably lies in the fact that I never believe in playing the person. To me, it is the cause or the issue that is fundamental.

I accept that there are others who may have, and are entitled to have, a different view. It is important that we respect that. It has therefore been my task to try and convince them as to where they are going wrong.

I think that's a message from Kay, from her valedictory over 20 years ago, that could be useful in the current context. I noted, in a piece in the Canberra Times, that she'd stood for preselection prior to coming here the first time and, like so many of us, wasn't successful the first time. This piece said that she had stood unsuccessfully for preselection in 1989, but, when the vacancy arose, she gained a convincing 70 per cent of preselection ballots as one of four candidates.

I reckon there are plenty of us in this room who would be happy to receive that strength of vote in our Senate preselections. That's probably more of an insider comment, but that's a fair indication to me of the respect that Kay had within the Labor Party at that point in time, having served as branch secretary and branch president in the Devonport branch, served on the national executive and created and generated a series of relationships with people across the party.

Someone who can't say anything here in the chamber today, because she doesn't hold a seat—but aspires to—and has had a couple of preselection moments herself, is sitting in the advisor's box here. Jacqui was taught by Kay, and she came to me this morning with a request to note some reflections of her time when Kay was her grade 3 teacher at Latrobe Primary School.

She remembers Kay like we do: as a warm and kind person who had a genuine ability to make children feel comfortable, encouraged and valued. Jacqui said: 'I especially remember her helping me to understand mathematics. While it may not have been overly difficult for some, it was not always simple to me, but Mrs Denman had the patience and the ability to explain things in a way that I could understand.

She never made me feel that asking for help was a weakness. In fact, she encouraged it and gave house points for having an inquisitive nature. Those early impressions have stayed with me.

They reminded me that sometimes the greatest impact we have on others is not through grand gestures but through kindness, patience and taking the time to help somebody believe in themselves. My sincerest condolences to her family, Paul and Janet and all of those who Mrs Denman taught. How lucky we were.' I would like to offer to Paul and Janet, and their families, my sincere condolences.

We are poorer as a community with the passing of Kay. She was a kind and understanding but determined person here in the Senate, and she continued to do that after she left. As has been mentioned, she wasn't short of a chat, but she would always call with a quiet word and, in the context of things like people suffering with asbestos related diseases, continued to advocate long after she left.

That sort of work, I think, is a real tribute to her. Vale, Kay, and sincerest condolences to Janet and Paul and their families. Question agreed to, honourable senators joining in a moment of silence.