PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION

Senator McKIM (Tasmania—Australian Greens Whip) (18:13): Congratulations, Jonno, on a really outstanding career. I first met you when I was a minister in the Labor-Greens government in Tasmania. You were deputy chief of staff to the then leader of the opposition, Will Hodgman, who later became a long-serving premier for Tasmania.

It's fair to say, it was a bit politically willing during those days. But I do want to say, Jonno, you were always courteous and respectful, unlike, I might add, some of your colleagues at the time. I always deeply appreciated that.

I won't go into too much detail about the rare occasions that we have collaborated together during our political career, because I think they can stay off the record. But I do want to say that I've always found you to be a principled, intelligent and, importantly, trustworthy person. I never had to worry that anything I said to you would be repeated back to me by other people.

I deeply, deeply appreciate that. We haven't always agreed on everything politically, it's fair to say. In fact, now that I think about it, we almost never agreed on anything politically.

I want to say that your decency, your honesty and your humour—because you do have a great sense of humour—are fundamental to your character. I'm sure they'll serve you well into the future. I have one small anecdote about Jonno that I don't think he'll mind me sharing.

It won't surprise anyone to know this. I was down walking my dogs at Marieville Esplanade at Sandy Bay on the waterfront in Tasmania. This would have been 18 months or two years ago.

I was my classic scruffy non-senatorial self, and Jonno jogged past, pounding it out in absolutely impeccable jogging gear—not a hair out of place. I'm sure that won't surprise anyone here. I was like, 'How does he do that?' I'm 100 metres into my jog, with my greyhounds dragging me along, and I'm all over the shop, but Jonno was looking impeccable, as usual.

My last observation before I wish you all the best is that we've heard a lot, and rightly so, about your elegance and your charm, but, I have to say, it can mask a certain political ruthlessness at times—and I say this with utter admiration. The greatest expression of that was you taking a tilt at my archenemy Eric Abetz and knocking him off the top spot in the Liberal Senate ballot in Tasmania.

If you take a tilt at the king, you want to make sure you collect him—and you did, Jonno, so congratulations to me! I haven't always cheered you on, but, oh boy, mate, I was cheering you on hard during that Senate preselection. Of course former senator Abetz is now the treasurer in Tasmania, so I'm not sure who won out in the end, but that was one of your internal political contests for which I was firmly on your side.

Jonno, all the best to you for the future—and your lovely family. I'm glad you get to spend more time with them. I hope we see you around the traps.