Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (14:01): I move: That the House record its deep regret at the death, on 1 June 2024, of the Honourable Gary Roy Nairn AO, a former Minister and Member of this House for the Division of Eden-Monaro from 1996 to 2007, place on record its appreciation of his long and meritorious public service, and tender its profound sympathy to his family in their bereavement. Gary Nairn faithfully served his constituents, his nation and his party. As the member for Eden-Monaro it was a service he rendered in so many capacities. He was an engaged advocate for his community, always ready to listen before he acted. Gary Nairn entered parliament on the same day that I did, after the 1996 election—though it's fair to say he was riding a somewhat different political tide. Indeed, in his entire time in this place Gary never knew a single day in opposition. As a member of the Howard government, his multitude of roles and responsibilities included Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Special Minister of State. Informed by his deep interest in the environment and community resilience, he worked on water reform and chaired the inquiry into the devastating Canberra bushfires of 2003. Gary was the son of working-class parents, one who had the doors of opportunity opened to him by a Commonwealth scholarship that let him go to university to study surveying. This was his passport to the world, his work taking him to Europe, Alaska, Indonesia and Malaysia. Crucially, it also opened up Australia to him. It was in the Northern Territory that he became interested in politics, joining the Country Liberal Party and eventually becoming its president. He said those years taught him a lot about grassroots politics and people and, vitally, as he put it, about 'the need to stay part of the people if you want to remain successful in politics'. That stood him in good stead when he came to represent the people of Eden-Monaro. As the current member, the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, can tell you, it is a truly vast electorate. Gary put in a lot of miles in his four-wheel drive. As one journalist who followed him in those years observed: 'He likes to hear problems firsthand. Then, a couple of weeks later, it's either fixed or it can't be.' Just as he served his community before he entered parliament, he kept serving long after he left. Among his roles he was director of the Biodiversity Conservation Trust of New South Wales and chair of the Mulloon Institute for sustainable farming. He chaired the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in Australia and was strategic adviser for Monaro Early Intervention Services, a not-for-profit helping children with disabilities. Over and over, Gary made a real difference in his life. On behalf of the government I extend my deep condolences to his wife, Rose, and daughter Deborah, who've joined us here today, and to his son Ben and his grandchildren, as well as to his friends, his former staff and his broader family in the Liberal Party. In the entire time I served with Gary in this place he was nothing other than courteous and absolutely committed to making a positive difference, and he had the respect of people right across this chamber and right across the parliament. After a lifetime of decency, service and devotion, may Gary rest in peace.