The Senate has lost one of its biggest characters.
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John Madigan’s bid for re-election failed even with his attention-grabbing Ned Kelly suit and inspired ‘Don’t get mad, get Madigan’ tagline.
Since arriving in the Senate in 2010 with the Democratic Labour Party Mr Madigan has worked hard, often behind the scenes, on issues he has said go under the radar. His causes have ranged from recognition for Lyme disease sufferers to backing Australian crockery for parliament house.
It’s been six years of politicking for the Hepburn blacksmith and now party chief (John Madigan’s Manufacturing and Farming Party), and here are some of his greatest hits.
Charity work
Madigan’s disdain for his own pay packet was well known.
In 2013 he got a hefty payrise and decided to give it to Daylesford Secondary College.
He has also made several big donations of equipment to schools in the region during his term.
Wind farms
The crossbench of the last Senate had a strong anti-wind bent, with Madigan and his colleagues’ most recent win the appointment of a Wind Farm Commissioner last year.
Other highlights include his spat with public health academic Simon Chapman and the labeling of wind farm supporters as “zealots” at the announcement the National Health and Medical Research Council would investigate the health effects of turbines.
Lyme disease
While there is still debate on Lyme disease in Australia Madigan has pushed hard for recognition for people who say they are suffering from it.
He has said he’s open-minded about the disease but wants an answer on why some people have Lyme-like symptoms.
“I've got more questions than I've got answers, there needs to be more work," he said.
"I haven't made up my mind, but what I do know is these people are sick. If it's not Lyme disease, what the hell is it?
"What's to say we haven't got an indigenous illness in this country that has Lyme-like symptoms that manifests itself.”
There was a Senate committee looking into it, but its future is unclear.
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