Senator IAN MACDONALD (Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government) (5:33 PM) — Ever so briefly, but my brevity should in no way lessen the sincerity of my comments, I want to associate myself with the condolences being offered by the chamber and the words that have been said about Robert John Bell. I can relate to a lot of the comments made about Robert as a practical environmentalist. He was not one of those who grandstanded about the environment; he was one who actually did something practical about it.

My best memory of Robert was when we were on the joint committee for external territories and were visiting Cocos Island back in 1993. I remember he had some very practical comments about a boat harbour at Rumah Baru. It is almost 10 years since the time when Robert made some practical suggestions about that, and I would have liked to be able to say to him that 10 years on those suggestions are at last being implemented. He would have been interested to know that what he said then is eventually being implemented by government now. I remember joking with him as we left about a very non-environmental outcome for getting rubbish off Cocos Island. We laughed about that for many a time afterwards. He was only joking, I am sure, but I do clearly remember that, and I remember very well the association I had with him particularly on that trip. I join with other senators in expressing condolences to Robert's family.