Mr FERGUSON (Bass) – I am also sad to rise to support this important motion in recognition of the late Honourable Sue Napier, a striking Tasmanian, former member of this House, a sister, a wife and mother. I too would like to thank you, Brian, and my other colleagues who have spoken so nicely, so gracefully and in such a special way about a former colleague. I think that there should be more of it. It is a shame that we tend to wait until people have passed on. Sue passed on from this life on 5 August and it was wonderful to see so many pay tribute to her at the State funeral in her honour just a couple of weeks ago.
In speaking as a representative of our wonderful electorate of Bass I know that without exception I can speak for our electors to record our collective thanks to Sue for her dedication to the welfare of Tasmanians also for their advancement. Sue got her start as a Liberal candidate in 1992, and with just 1100 votes was elected first go. Not many others could say that. She held her seat throughout the life of five parliaments, participating in government and opposition. She rose to become deputy premier when in government and Liberal Leader when in opposition. Sue was proudly a member of so many community organisations. Without ever seeking advancement she was offered the prestigious role of patron or number-one ticket holder for so many of them. I have seen the list and it is very impressive. This is something that is never or rarely given to a political figure without some very careful deliberation. In particular, Sue was very closely involved with the Tornadoes, Northern Junior Soccer, Tasmanian Softball, Lilydale Senior Cits – as she would call them – Northern Tasmanian Netball, City of Launceston RSL and Pipes and Drums, George Town Cycling Club and many other organisations. Mr Ron Grant from the pipe band said to me on the day of Sue’s funeral, ‘Michael, we did not have Sue Napier as our patron because she was Liberal or even because she was a politician. We had Sue as our patron because of the person she was’. After her retirement from this place Sue asked to be relieved of several patronages but there was one that she coveted and was singularly proud of, one that she held on to so proudly until her passing. It was number-one ticket holder for the Launceston Tornadoes, the Torns, who will play the Dandenong Rangers this Friday night in Melbourne in the Grand Final of the SEABL. No doubt they will play in tribute to their biggest fan, much as they did in a moment’s silence last Friday night.
Sadly, Sue was denied the opportunity to contest an election as Liberal Leader for reasons which, frankly, do not deserve attention during this motion. Sue’s toppling as the leader of the Liberals was owing at least in part to her using her casting vote against herself, such was her own view of personal integrity and avoiding that human temptation of clinging onto power. When I started teaching in the State Service in 1996, Sue was my minister and, as it would later turn out, despite the fact that I was not politically involved, I can well remember her decision to convert me to permanent along with a number of other maths/science teachers so that we would not be so easily lured away from our government jobs. Sue gave me my first permanent job, something that we would often joke about later; such was her approach as a minister, as a leader, to take pragmatic decisions, to cut through bureaucratic red tape and to preserve our future needs.
Sue’s approach as a local member of parliament, though, was not so much as a leader but more of an advocate, and others have spoken on this. Most of her time as an MP was on this side in opposition, and it fell to Sue often to fight on the issues that are so important to people on the margins of society, those families trying to cope with challenges such as disability, poverty, illness or even disaster. I can remember that so often it was the case that it was Sue I saw at community functions, and she made it a priority to be there with those community causes who had invited us along.
In a question and answer once as to her special skills and attributes that would make her a good parliamentarian, Sue listed honesty, integrity, hard work, being well researched, persistent, policy analysis, communication skills, and a grassroots approach. Last year when Sue was still a candidate for the 2010 election, she published in a brochure – and it was her boast – that she always aimed to be a voice for those who could not speak for themselves. In my view this would serve as probably the best summary of what she stood for as a member of this place, and why she put up with it for so long.
Sue had many areas of policy which she passionately pursued but, as we are all aware, education was certainly her singular passion and focus. As a former teacher, academic and ultimately Minister for Education, pursuing this area with vigour and her trademark stakeholder work was something that really boosted Sue. Although losing her health, her last act as shadow education minister the day before publicly announcing her retirement in February was to announce a Liberal policy to address issues in post-year 10 education, and she worked through her illness until she could see that through to a conclusion.
It is a great honour for me to follow in her footsteps now as the Liberal spokesman on education and skills, and I am thankful for the inheritance I have received through our discussions when she was handing over to me, as well as her research and readings that she had accumulated over many years. In speaking as a friend, an admirer and a person who was being supported by Sue, I just want to say I will always remember that wonderful personality. Others in this place have talked about issues and qualities and a few discussion points on some policy issues. They are all important, and I would never characterise Sue as being at a particular point on a mythological political spectrum.
What I really remember about Sue is that sparkling personality, that warmth of her concern when she was asking you how you really were; the interest that she really did have in other people and in the living conditions and quality of life for people around her. I, for one, loved that wicked grin. No-one has actually mentioned that yet, but now I am sure you all remember that lovely wholesome big smile and the glimmer in the eye. Sometimes you could say it was a wicked grin, particularly if she was being just a little bit on the edge in the subject you were talking about, or just trying to rile you up a little bit or test what your reaction would be. They are qualities at a one-to-one level that I think were very special.
I just want to say as well that I know that even during times when she was under a lot of stress, adversity and even at times disloyalty, she held herself in a way that I am not sure I would, but I will try and we all should, shouldn’t we? She held herself with decency, poise, dignity, and what seemed like impossibly unaffected emotion. I am sure that underneath there was more screaming to come out, but she held it together. For those of us who felt we did get to know Sue well, we can say what a joy it was to enjoy that friendship with this remarkable woman.
I have listened to what the Greens and Labor members have had to say about Sue and on the other side, government members and Greens members have listened to what the Liberals have had to say about Sue, and I think we could learn something out of all this, that maybe we should not wait until we have all passed over for the next generation of politicians to say what a good or bad job we did. I wonder if it could ever be possible for me to say something nice about someone over there without it being seen as letting down my team.
This terrible disease of cancer has claimed not just the life of our dear friend and colleague. In fact, something that Sue knew all too well is that cancer affects half of all men and a third of all women and on average, unfortunately, 40 per cent of those people do not survive five years. Throughout her own illness, which attracted plenty of publicity and an amazing outpouring of sympathy in the community, Sue always knew that there were so many others who were struggling alone in a private battle with this dreadful illness. It was little wonder, then, that Sue’s family asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Holman Clinic at our LGH, a place of wonderful care and treatment for so many northern and north-western Tasmanian cancer patients. I feel sure that this will be just a small part of the legacy she has left for others. Personally, I wish that Sue had taken more time away from her job to concentrate on her treatment. She tried very hard to overcome the disease without staying away at all from her parliamentary role. She thought she had it beat and returned to the spring session last year, even famously entering the Burnie 10. That was a lovely photo of Sue in the pink trackies.
Finally, I would like to thank the Premier for offering a State funeral, which in itself was one of the most amazing moments of my life. It was such an amazing tribute. It showed the rare outpouring of broad public affection, not just support but genuine affection, and the sadness at the loss of not just a politician but a parliamentarian, a politician who knew, cared about and fought for so many of those people who were seated in the hall. That service was very special to me and my wife, Julie, and I want to thank my Leader, Will Hodgman, for so remarkably paying tribute to Sue Napier, for the amazing prayer led by my colleague Rene Hidding, and for the unforgettable message of God’s love and call to all of us given so sensitively by the Reverend David Jones.
We send our condolences to Sue’s sons James and Alex, who in one tragic year have lost both their parents. To them it was not Sue and Drew, it was mum and dad. We should all be very thankful for the fact that, having already shared their mother with all Tasmanians for so many years, they also shared her with us one last time at the occasion of her funeral. I also want to thank her obviously adoring brother Greg and sister Debbie for their moving tributes.
We say goodbye to the Honourable Suzanne Deidre Napier, former member of this place, member for Bass, Deputy Premier but, apart from all that, a woman whose life choices were founded on a sense of vocation, believing in something bigger than herself and helping others to have a fulfilling life.
Members – Hear, hear.
