Country boy Ricky Muir wows them in the Senate

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This was published 9 years ago

Country boy Ricky Muir wows them in the Senate

By Tony Wright
Updated

He may have taken eight months and four days to get around to making his first parliamentary speech, but Ricky Muir, Senator, found the words that could make him a treasure among those who feel sidelined by the political world.

He would, he said, feel far more comfortable wearing jeans and a T-shirt, or the attire of the working class he declared he was proud to come from: Hard Yakka trousers, steel-capped boots and a high-visibility shirt.

But he wore a suit, something he never had any intention of owning before winning a Senate seat.

"I wear this suit out of respect for this great chamber and the position I hold," he declared. "But most importantly, I wear this suit to represent people just like me."

Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party senator Ricky Muir, who was elected with only 0.5 per cent of the vote, was singled out by Mr Turnbull when explaining the need for the changes.

Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party senator Ricky Muir, who was elected with only 0.5 per cent of the vote, was singled out by Mr Turnbull when explaining the need for the changes. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

In short, he was prepared to sacrifice his own country comfort to ensure his own people were heard in the big smoke.

But why, he asked rhetorically, "would a rural-based, family-orientated, timber industry worker, with a love of family time, four-wheel driving, the bush, dirt bikes, and competing in motorsport put his hand up to relinquish his quiet idyllic lifestyle for the fast-paced, highly stressed, and highly scrutinised lifestyle that comes with being in the political spotlight".

Simple. Call it democracy: "Government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system."

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Yes, and he'd discovered he ticked all the boxes required to stand for the Senate, "just as I imagine our forefathers would have intended when creating an independent upper house in 1901". He was aged 18 or more (he's 34), he was an Australian citizen and he was entitled to vote. Furthermore, "our Senate and the decisions which govern our lives should not be solely represented by the political class!"

Senator Ricky Muir gives the thumbs up to Senate Leader Eric Abetz after he made his inaugural speech on Thursday.

Senator Ricky Muir gives the thumbs up to Senate Leader Eric Abetz after he made his inaugural speech on Thursday.Credit: Andrew Meares

More, he was fed up with the two-party system that produced politicians who claimed a mandate to repeal a carbon tax only to reveal that mandate also included "fixing the budget" by hurting the disadvantaged in a barrage of measures that were mute in the election campaign.

Senator Muir had lots more to say on the same theme, and to declare himself more representative than those bound by established party demands.

AMEP Senator Ricky Muir and partner Kerrie-Anne, together with their five children (L-R) William, Tristan, Tarja, Phoenix and Dylan in his office ahead of his first speech to the Senate, at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday 5 March 2015. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

AMEP Senator Ricky Muir and partner Kerrie-Anne, together with their five children (L-R) William, Tristan, Tarja, Phoenix and Dylan in his office ahead of his first speech to the Senate, at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday 5 March 2015. Photo: Alex EllinghausenCredit: Alex Ellinghausen

His proudest moment so far? Preventing 31 children and their families from being forced back to detention on Nauru.

But who could resist his story of love within his own family? He spoke of his children pressing a lucky coin into his hand as he dashed from home at 5.30am to finish writing his speech.

He held the coin as he addressed the Senate and read the message that his children had written.

"Dear Daddy, we know you don't need luck because you are absolutely brilliant and will ace today no matter what," it said. "But still keep this lucky coin on you so you have a little piece of all of us and the faith we have in you with you on this very special day. Lots of love from Wifie, Tarja, Phoenix, Will, Dylan and Tristan."

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There was barely a dry eye in the Senate. The country boy was in town, and he was wowing them!

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