Senator MINCHIN (Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (4:17 PM) —I rise to support the motion moved by Senator Chris Evans in relation to the death of Jack Evans on 2 October. On behalf of the opposition I extend our sympathies to the family of Jack Evans. The Leader of the Government in the Senate has quite comprehensively and very fulsomely described Jack’s great contribution to the Senate, to the Australian Democrats and to Australian politics generally. I, on behalf of the opposition, endorse all his remarks. It was not my privilege to know Jack personally, but I have been well aware of his existence for many years and well aware of his great reputation, one that Senator Evans has properly reflected upon.

It is true that Jack’s very short Senate career belies the extent of his considerable contribution to Australian democracy. He gave extraordinarily long and devoted service to what was for many years the third force in Australian politics: the Australian Democrats. Having followed for several decades the travails of that particular party, its comings and goings, its ups and downs, I believe it must have been a tortuous experience for Jack Evans, but it is a great mark of the man that he survived that and hung on. We all know those who just pass through politics, give it a few years and move on. Jack clearly gave much of his life to ensuring that Australia had a middle-ground party of the kind that the Australian Democrats represented. I guess for that reason it must have been extraordinarily painful for Jack to have witnessed the complete collapse of the party that he devoted so much of his life to and which he helped to create with none other than our former Liberal colleague Don Chipp and, indeed, with some assistance from another great Liberal friend of ours, Steele Hall. I think Jack was actually a member of Steele’s Liberal Movement at one stage. The political process never ceases to amaze me. Steele is one of my best friends.

We can all say that Jack’s family can be extraordinarily proud of his great contribution to public life. We honour him here today. To his wife, Margaret, the children and grandchildren, the opposition also place on record our appreciation of Jack’s great service. We tender our profound sympathy at this time of their bereavement.