Good to see some contributions in the Senate yesterday acknowledging former Senator Colin Mason. Originally in the Australia Party, he played a key role in founding the Australian Democrats, & alongside Don Chipp was the 1st Democrat directly elected to the Senate in 1977

Mason’s Parliamentary legacy includes playing a pivotal role in stopping the Franklin Dam. He introduced the first legislation to protect World Heritage areas, which passed the Senate in 1982 with the support of Labor (the then-opposition) + 4 Liberals who crossed the floor.

That Bill didn’t pass the Reps, but as @KKeneally noted yesterday, it did “pave the way for the newly elected Hawke govt to pass legislation in 1983 which ... ultimately prevented the construction of the dam.” Protection of world heritage areas has remained in our laws ever since

Mason also:
- set up Parliamentary nuclear disarmament group
- was 1st to propose laws requiring Parliament to approve sending Australian troops to war
- rather than seek to be Leader on Chipp’s retirement, supported Janine Haines to become 1st female leader of a political party

- was an early strong supporter of having Lindy Chamberlain’s murder conviction re-examined
- pivotal in blocking the Lib govt’s attempt in 1981 to extend sales tax to essential items (esp ironic given decisions by other Democrats nearly 20 years later to support the GST).

He was key in drafting the Democrats’ very 1st formal policy, to end uranium mining & eliminate nuclear weapons. As @KKeneally also noted, “he was a staunch advocate of renewable energy” who continually fought to protect the environment.

As importantly as all of the above, he was also widely seen by those who knew & worked with him as a kind & compassionate man.

He also did many other things outside politics (including being the ABC’s 1st correspondent in Asia in 1956).

Worth acknowledging I think. #auspol