Senator SHERRY (Tasmania—Minister Assisting on Deregulation and Public Sector Superannuation, Minister for Small Business and Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism) (18:18): On an occasion such as this I want to acknowledge the important contributions of the three senators that we honour tonight: Senator Wortley, Senator O'Brien and Senator Forshaw. I want to make some particular remarks about my Tasmanian colleague Senator O'Brien, but I will make some remarks first about Senator Wortley and Senator Forshaw. Senator Wortley is bright, forthright and always on the mobile phone—I certainly noticed that. I have not known her that well or for that long and I deeply regret the fact that she was not re-elected. She would have continued to make a very passionate, knowledgeable and intelligent contribution. You never forget when you have had a conversation with her. All the very best, Senator. I am sure you have a great deal more to contribute. Mike Forshaw I have known for a long time. I agree with Steve Hutchins: Mike always did what he thought was right. And at times that is not easy from New South Wales when you are in the Right! I do acknowledge Mike's application of his conscience on a number of occasions; I have admired that. We had some good times together. One particular trip over in Paris is particular memorable, but now is not the time to go into the details. All the best, Mike, to you and your family. I have known Kerry since 1983. I thought I knew him longer than anyone in this place, but I was not aware that Kerry knew Steve Hutchins in Young Labor in New South Wales. Kerry came to Tasmania in 1983 in unusual circumstances. He became secretary of the Miscellaneous Workers Union. I know all of the circumstances; I am not going to count them here, but there were unusual circumstances in Kerry coming to Tasmania for that union. Quite a few things struck me about Kerry, and he has carried those attributes or observations I made of him right through to this day. He is very intelligent, very diligent, knowledgeable and utterly committed to whatever his task at hand, whether it was with the union in that period or, more latterly, during his Senate career. He is incredibly tenacious and a person of great substance. As he mentioned, he came into the Senate as the replacement for John Coates shortly after we moved into opposition. It is a bit of a tradition in Tasmania, and quite a lot of us know of this, that you are expected to move to suit the circumstances of a party in Tasmania. Senator PARRY: I certainly know that! Senator SHERRY: I know you know it; you have had to do it twice! For Kerry, it is a hallmark of his dedication and commitment to the Labor Party in Tasmania that he moved from Hobart to Launceston to re-establish himself and re-establish a Labor presence in that part of the state. That has always been of particular importance in Tasmania: whether Liberal or Labor, a number of us have had to put the party's interests ahead of where we have been located. I think one of the most impressive contributions Kerry made was at a time we moved into opposition and I was part of the leadership group. Frankly, we were scratching our heads as to who would deal with issues relating to transport and agriculture. There was no real standout, no obvious candidate, I have to say, in that new Labor opposition. But Kerry applied himself to that particular set of tasks. Although not the shadow minister initially, he decided to develop a knowledge and an expertise in the agriculture, forestry and fishing, primary industries and transport areas. They were not issues of immediate, obvious interest to him, but he dedicated himself to those particular areas—although I do note that, in his first speech, he did comment extensively on transport issues. So Kerry focused on that committee work, and, frankly, I do not know what we would have done without him in those areas in those early days of opposition. It was particularly tough and hard, but he applied himself with great focus, diligence and knowledge. You could always rely on Kerry to be across his brief like, frankly, almost no other shadow minister at that time. He was an acknowledged expert, certainly, in that early period and then when he became a shadow minister. As Kerry mentioned, Chris Evans as well, when you work so long and hard as a shadow minister, in opposition, and you do not make the ministry in government, it is very, very disappointing. I can understand how Kerry would have felt. And Kerry did work his guts out in all of the areas he had responsibility for, as well as if not better than most other shadow ministers in the period leading up to the election in 2007. I certainly regret, Kerry, that you did not make it to the ministry. That is never easy. Even though Kerry was not on the front bench as a minister, he kept working diligently and he re-assumed the position of whip until just before the last election. Kerry's other attribute, if it can be called that, is that he has a sporting and racing knowledge that I think is second only to one other senator that I have known in this place, Robert Ray. It was pretty hard to beat Robert Ray on the sporting side. But Kerry has an amazing knowledge of sporting and racing, and I know he has a keen and passionate interest in equine matters. Although Kerry is leaving this place, he is not retiring. Kerry, I am sure you will be able to contribute much more actively to your own areas of interest. I wish you all the very, very best. You have made a very significant contribution. I should also mention that Kerry was a leading figure within the Labor Party organisation in Tasmania for many, many years. He was on the state conference, on the state administrative committee—and you can only grimace, being on that body for an extensive period of time!—and also on the national executive of the party. So Kerry has made an outstanding contribution within the state of Tasmania and, obviously, as a Labor senator but also for and on behalf of the Labor Party. He never forgot his working-class, union focus and ethics; he carried that approach right through his Senate and parliamentary career. All the best, Kerry, to you and your family. Thank you.