Page 6278 - Week 19 - Tuesday, 17 December 1991
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We all know that the largest branch of the National Party in Queensland is to be found in Boggo Road Gaol, and I understand that Senator O'Chee's involvement in South American money rackets shows that he is fit to be in that party.
Murphy's outstanding achievements, both as a senator and as a High Court justice, would continue for pages, and we do not have the time to go through them all today. However, let me just refresh members' memories on some of the things that he did by recalling some particular events: The Trade Practices Act; the Racial Discrimination Act; the abolition of the death penalty; the Australian Legal Aid Office; the Commonwealth Ombudsman; the establishment of an environmental law group; the Prices Justification Tribunal; and the abolition of appeals to the Privy Council in London. That is just to name a few of the things that Justice Murphy did.
What is Justice Murphy's most significant contribution to the Australian people? I am sure I cannot answer that, for Justice Murphy, both in the Senate and on the High Court bench, has left all Australians with a legacy of reform and advancement far beyond that of his predecessors, and one which has yet to be equalled. Senator O'Chee is a newcomer to public life in Australia. I gather that he did not even stand for election; he was appointed to the Senate last year.
I suppose that we should make allowances for his youth; but my advice to Senator O'Chee is that, if he must resort to this sort of sordid attack on a great Australian, he should consider retirement at the next election, for I believe that if he had to stand for election as a toilet attendant in Goodooga he would not win even that seat.
I would like to thank the people who have worked in the Assembly in the three years that we have been here, particularly the attendants, who have been most helpful, the secretariat and all the staff. I would like to thank my four Labor Party colleagues who have stood by me through, we could say, thick and thin, and I am very grateful that I had such great colleagues.
For the other members of the house, I suppose I could say that there were times when I thought that they did a reasonable job; but there were times when, of course, I was thinking to myself, "Some of them will not be back here", and I will not be sorry to see that. However, I would like to say what you said, Mr Speaker: I hope that they get what they deserve. I thought that was a very good comment from you, Mr Speaker. As I say, to the staff who have helped us to keep the Assembly on track, thank you very much for that, and may I wish everybody a very merry Christmas.
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