Senator Wendy Askew says she’s truly honoured to have represented Tasmania over the past seven years as a Liberal Senator.
She was first voted by her party to fill a casual vacancy, that of her brother David Bushby, before being elected in her own right at the subsequent election.
She says there are three significant outcomes she’s particularly proud of from her time in the Senate, all health related and stemming from advocacy from Tasmanians.
“The Rare Cancer inquiry, which I initiated in June 2023 and resulted in 41 recommendations to government to improve the lives and health outcomes of Australians living with rare and less common cancers,” she said.
“This inquiry progressed because of a commitment I gave to Rob Hammond from Bridport who lives with neuroendocrine cancer, and has lost several family members to it.
“The current inquiry into Epilepsy, which is continuing and will report shortly after I leave the Senate.
“I moved the motion in the Senate earlier this year to set up this inquiry, after a meeting with Epilepsy Tasmania’s Paul Quilliam 18 months ago.
“[And] the recent launch of the government’s first ever National Parkinson’s Action Plan which came from an initial meeting and advocacy by Riverside local, Harley Stanton.”
She says Tasmania is a small state, but it punches above its weight to achieve real outcomes of national significance when parliamentarians work together.
“The Senate is often described as difficult, and it doesn’t get the same attention as our House of Representatives colleagues; but it remains a powerful house of review for our Parliament,” she said.
“It is designed to make governments explain themselves. It is designed to achieve consensus. It is designed to require negotiation, patience and persistence.
“I have always valued the important work of the Senate, as a place where government decisions are scrutinised, bills are reviewed and then become law.
“It is difficult. That’s the point.
“Those qualities may not always be celebrated in modern politics, but they are the fundamental secret to this place. I have achieved more working together with my fellow senators than we ever would have alone.”
The Senator highlighting her work in parliamentary committees- taking part in more than 100 inquiries during her time, with nearly half either as chair or deputy chair. She’s also served as the Chief Opposition Whip.
In her valedictory speech to the Chamber, Senator Askew paid tribute to her family – who she said were both the reason she became a Senator and the reason she’s chosen to leave.
“No-one serves alone,” she said.
“Families carry the absences, the late nights, the cancelled plans, the travel, the scrutiny and the emotional weight of public life.
“John and I married just months before I entered the Senate. We have lived most of our married life apart, yet he has been my rock throughout.
“I have known and appreciated his love and support throughout my time here, and we are looking forward to spending more time together in retirement.
“My children, Thomas and Amanda, have both married during the past seven years, and my four grandchildren have arrived—Wally in 2021, Clarke in 2023, Elsie last year and little Rhys.”
Wendy Askew says Tasmania is a small state, but we punch above our weight to achieve real outcomes of national significance, when we work together across Parliament.
“I want to thank everyone who has supported me, and to all Tasmanians for the trust they gave me to represent them in the Australian Parliament,” she said.
“It has been a privilege.”
Taking Wendy’s seat is now former Liberal advisor Chris Gatenby – he was recently voted to be first on the Liberal Senate ticket for the 2028 election.
You can listen to today’s episode of iHeart Tassie “Long-term Liberals Look to Life Beyond Politics” via this link or wherever you prefer to get your podcasts from.
https://omny.fm/shows/iheart-tassie/iheart-tassie-long-term-liberals-look-to-life-beyond-politics
