. Mr MORRISON (Cook—Prime Minister) (14:00): I move: That the House record its deep regret at the death, on 30 January 2022, of the Honourable Michael Eamon Beahan AM, a Senator for the State of Western Australia from 1987 to 1996, place on record its appreciation of his long and meritorious public service, and tender its profound sympathy to his family in their bereavement. Michael Beahan's surname is Irish. It is derived from the Gaelic word 'beatha', which means life. When Michael was 17, his family started a new life. Like so many others at the time, they left postwar Europe and embarked on a months-long journey travelling from London to Perth, Australia. For young Michael, his new life in his new country took the shape of an electrical apprenticeship. He would work as an electrician for the next 10 years. Then, sadly, tragedy struck. Michael was involved in an horrific traffic accident near Goomalling. His girlfriend, Leith, tragically, died. There's a line in an Irish poem, On Raglan Road by Patrick Kavanagh, that goes: … let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of the day. And that was true for Michael. That terrible event affected him deeply. It set him on a new course to become a teacher. Active in the teachers union, Michael joined the Australian Labor Party in 1968 and it was the beginning of a long contribution. Almost two decades later, in 1987, Michael was elected to the Senate by the people of Western Australia. In his first speech, there was a theme that followed him throughout his time there; it was about how we should treat each other in political discourse. In that speech, he admonished activists in the peace movement who believed they had a monopoly on principle and morality. He said: You do not have to bleed to show that you have a heart: you do not have to pray to demonstrate the presence of a soul. Michael Beahan understood that two people with different views can respectfully disagree, and that having a different view doesn't make you more moral than the other person. As President of the Senate, one of his proudest achievements was introducing the art acquisition program. He didn't like that the parliament's art collection was static, set in stone, and dominated by the artists of Sydney and Melbourne. So in 1988 he set out for a collection that better reflected the country. He was proud of the fact that, when he left here, there was Indigenous art from urban artists and more art from Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. Michael Beahan admitted late in his parliamentary career—in fact, on the very last sitting day of his time in parliament—that he had been elected to a Senate as a cynic. He said: I was no enthusiastic supporter of the Senate. I can understand that on some days! It was a view that had been informed watching from afar the events of 1975, but it was a view that changed. In part it was because of the committee system, which he loved: You are forced together, working towards common goals, usually finding consensus, travelling together … Michael was very conscious that our debates draw out our best tone and civility in the hours that we keep and our role in contributing to the type of cynicism that he himself once had. It all matters, he said. And we're still grappling with those questions a quarter of a century on—though I should add that Michael passionately argued for an end to wigs and gowns, and that change was achieved by his successor. So progress is indeed possible. Michael left the parliament because he lost a pre-selection. He was defeated by 71 votes 69. It doesn't get much closer than that. But he didn't mope. In fact, the day after he ended his term as a senator, he married Margaret—a new stage of his life was beginning. Senator Beahan's life was a life well lived—from London to Perth, Bunbury, Melbourne and Canberra. From devastation to 'the dawning of the day' he was a gentleman who wanted us to always be at our best. On behalf of the government, I offer my heartfelt sympathy to Michael's wife, Margaret, his children and extended family. May he rest in peace.