I express my thanks to Senator Ian Macdonald for the work he has done as a Minister in my Government since October 1998 and prior to that as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment and Heritage.
Senator Macdonald held the portfolios of Regional Services, Territories and Local Government and in recent years Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation.
He has had a long and very successful ministerial career. I am particularly grateful for the loyalty and dedication he has brought to his role as a member of the team.
Ian Macdonald brought energy and skill to both of his portfolios. He especially understood the complexity of forestry policy. His advice to me, a little over a year ago, in relation to the Tasmanian forests was both balanced and prescient.
He recently handled the difficult task of promoting restructuring of the fishing industry, designed to place it on a more sustainable basis. This involved complex negotiations with many varied interests which he conducted with both patience and understanding.
Senator Macdonald also worked in close partnership with his federal ministerial colleagues to protect Australia's agriculture and environment through a series of valuable natural resource management initiatives.
Since entering parliament in 1990 Senator Macdonald has been a vigorous advocate for the people of Queensland and a hard worker for the Liberal cause in north Queensland. I know that he will continue to represent the people of his state with energy and commitment.