On this day the most representative house in the federal parliament lost three great members. I would especially like to take this opportunity to thank Senator Aiden Ridgeway for his efforts in relation to Aboriginal issues. I would also like to thank John Cherry for being a tireless advocate for regional Australia. I also thank Brian Greig for his efforts to make Australia more equal in terms of recognition of same sex relationships.

Without these fine individuals we not sink into the political equivilant of what Winston Churchill described as "A new Dark Age".