Mr TURNBULL (Wentworth—Prime Minister) (14:12): Mr Speaker, I seek your indulgence to acknowledge the passing of Michael Gordon on 3 February, a few days ago. I want to note the beautifully eloquent and poignant remarks of the member for McMillan just before the beginning of question time. We were, all of us, shocked and saddened—astonished, really—by Michael's death on the weekend. He was gentle; he was wise; he was always calm, in a business not known for calm. A great man, a good man, a great writer and mentor. In the maelstrom of a newsroom, as political stories broke and events moved and shifted, Mickey was the personification of calm. He was able to do that rarest of things under pressure: reflect on what was before him, rather than rush to judgement. There was one exception, of course, when it came to Hawthorn. In all matters football, there was only one way—the brown and the gold. In that characteristic Victorian style, his mood on Monday would depend on the scoreboard at the weekend. It was never far from conversation, and the end of one season was merely the starting point to live in hope for the next. Michael had strong views—very strong convictions—about what was right and wrong, but he was a professional, and his research and interviewing were always designed to draw out from his subject, to learn and understand, not to hector or to trick—even if, in the end, he didn't agree. He took younger journalists under his wing, teaching by example, encouraging them, introducing them to the great and powerful, and sharing the by-line. Despite numerous awards during his career, including the Walkley award last year, Michael Gordon never succumbed to hubris. When he retired last year he attempted to sneak out the back door to avoid the fuss, and in his concluding column he spoke of his immense gratitude to his beloved Age newspaper, to his wise colleagues and 'to the readers who shared in my adventures'. Michael's work was always in service to the Australian people. And it's important to remember, as we're about to embark on question time—many question times, for another year, as the Leader of the Opposition said—that the role of the media and of courageous journalists like Michael Gordon is as vital a part of our democracy as the work that we do here in this chamber. The tributes that have poured out since his untimely death are testament to the quality of the man—the power of his grin and the sparkle in his eye that reminded those who knew him that life was precious and to be enjoyed, no matter how serious or momentous the task before you. To his wife, Robyn; his beloved family; and his many friends and colleagues who mourn his loss, so many of us here assembled today and around the nation, I offer the heartfelt sympathy of this parliament and the nation.