DAVID FEENEY resigns from Parliament

David Feeney’s resignation is a real loss for the Federal Parliament and the Australian Labor Party.

 

In his political career David has held senior positions in Labor’s party organisation, the Federal Executive Council, and the Federal Parliament. He has served in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. He has been influential in Labor’s fortunes in Victoria, South Australia and nationally.

 

David has a unique understanding of the working of politics making him one of the most effective campaigners our movement has produced. Victories for Steve Bracks, Mike Rann and Kevin Rudd stand as a testament to that.

 

As a policy thinker David has an abiding interest in many areas particularly defence. David’s grasp of defence policy is as deep and thorough as anyone in our party. David left his mark as the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence in the Gillard Government and as a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade. To that end David was ever generous and always wise in his counsel and advice to me in my current role.

 

David has been a source of strength and good humour for many in the Parliament and I have had the good fortune to consider him as a dear and close friend.

 

For me, the Federal Parliament will not feel the same without David. It has lost a deeply thoughtful and highly intelligent contributor.

 

I will miss him in Canberra enormously.

 

I wish David all the best with his future endeavours.