PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION
Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (17:31): I rise on behalf of the government and the Labor Party—although I know my friend and your friend Senator Gallagher will make a contribution shortly—and on my own behalf to acknowledge Jonno, Senator Duniam, and to thank him for his contribution to the parliament and his service to the people of Tasmania.
Over more than a decade in this place, Senator Duniam has served in many roles—assistant minister, shadow minister and senior parliamentary leadership roles—and, in these roles, he has brought his trademark courtesy, dignity and humour, as was on display today. He has been a strong advocate for his state. He has approached his responsibilities with seriousness, a willingness to engage constructively and probably the best head of hair in the chamber—sorry, Michaelia!
I have always believed in this place that we are best when we recognise that there are many people of goodwill who come here to make a difference even across political divides. Senator Duniam is absolutely one of those people. He is a proud Tasmanian, raised in the north-west, educated in Burnie and at the University of Tasmania.
As you would have seen, from both his first speech and his last speech, he has a long tradition in his family of public service. I did not know this, but I am told that your grandmother was the first woman elected to Burnie Council in 1953 and she was—I'm pleased to report—a Labor candidate for the Tasmanian Legislative Council. So, at last, there is some evidence of good political judgement in the Duniam family!
Of course, Senator Duniam's mother, who he spoke about today, was the first woman elected mayor in her local council, and his grandfather Tasman predicted Jonno would become a senator. I'm sure he would be enormously proud of what you have achieved. I knew Senator Duniam over many years in the various roles he has worked in associated with the Senate.
I simply wanted to make sure I, again, placed on record my acknowledgement of his approach to working across the chamber. I want to say how much we have valued his courtesy, his willingness to put the national interest first, his very good sense of humour and his good humour even when I have compared him to Hugh Grant. Senator Duniam knows that our first responsibility is to the people we serve and to this institution.
He has spoken movingly, including today, of his family's experience, that of the family of his wife, Anisa, who fled a dictatorship in Albania, and what that has taught him about the importance of our democracy. That is a reminder that the arguments we have in this chamber, however fierce, are a privilege. The right to disagree is the very thing so many have fled to find.
Today, as Senator Duniam prepares to spend more time with Anisa and their three sons, Hugo, Henry and Spencer, I wish all of you all the very best. Senator Duniam, you said that your grandmother's motto was 'deeds, not words'. Your service has honoured that motto.
So thank you, congratulations and may your next chapter bring plenty of family time and far fewer divisions.