Pulling up stumps: Nationals senator John ‘Wacka’ Williams Senate valedictory speech

It was goodbye from the “Wacka” as senator John Williams farewelled the Senate, proud he took on the big banks.

And it’s farewell from the Wacka: Senator John ‘Wacka’ Williams gives his valedictory speech in the Senate Chamber at Parliament House. Picture: Kym Smith

Nationals senator John ‘Wacka’ Williams has “pulled up stumps” with tears in his eyes and in front of the chief executive of the bank he brought untold damage to in exposing its practices and leading the charge for a banking royal commission.

The NSW senator delivered his valedictory speech in front of a packed Senate, including Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn, whistleblower Jeff Morris, ASIC deputy chair Daniel Crennan and Scott Morrison.

Senator Williams, who was elected to parliament in 2007, said he appreciated the representation from the banking sector.

“I have worked closely with the banks,” he told the Senate.

“People might think I am the banks’ enemy. No I am not. Often I say the bank has got it wrong but many, many times I say the customer has got it wrong as well.”

Senator Williams encouraged Mr Morris to take his story of malpractice in the Commonwealth Bank to journalist Adele Ferguson and began advocating for a banking royal commission in 2014.

PM Scott Morrison, right, congratulating Senator John Williams after he delivered his Valedictory speech. Picture: Kym Smith

“It is a bit sad to see the politics being played but if both sides of the chamber had listened to that recommendation in those days in 2014 we would have achieved a lot more a lot sooner,” Senator Williams said.

“However, as they say, better late than never.”

Senator Williams remembered his first dealings with financial institutions as a senator when he met victims of the collapsed financial advice company Storm Financial in 2009.

“It was not a pretty picture I can assure you,” he said.

“People 65, 75 even older, worked all their lives, saved and got some advice and invested in Storm Financial and looked like being kicked out on the street from their houses.

“Way past their working life, could not rebuild, from that all I could promise them was a parliamentary inquiry which we had.”

He led the charge for a parliamentary inquiry into liquidators in 2009 and ASIC in 2014.

“The one sad thing about the Senate is that it works a lot better than the public thinks. When the public looks at the TV they see hand grenades being thrown around the chamber, a bitter atmosphere,” he said.

“It is not like that at all. We work close together on committee work and have achieved so much.”

Senator Williams is congratulated by Senator Doug Cameron in the Senate Chamber. Picture: Kym Smith

He put down his good relationship with the media to honesty.

He retold a story of a radio interview on Britain’s BBC after then Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce told Johnny Depp’s dogs, Pistol and Boo, to “bugger back off to California”.

When the British presenter asked if that was how Australian politicians talked, Senator Williams said: “the English invented the English language but Australia perfected it’”.

Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm also delivered his valedictory as a prepares to run in the NSW election.

He said it could be tough being in the parliament and being a libertarian.

“When I came into this place, my mission was to convince my fellow Australians and their political representatives that our governments should forego their over-governing, overtaxing and overriding ways,” he said.

“I am satisfied that I have now made Australians aware that there is no need to take for granted the idea that the government is the solution to every problem. A growing number of people even agree with me that government is more often the problem itself.”