Before entering this place, I served on Liverpool City Council as a councillor. During this time, I was fortunate to make many friends and also had the benefit of wonderful mentors—in particular, Councillor Ali Karnib. Sadly, Ali Karnib passed away on 20 June this year.

Ali was an Australian success story. He arrived in Australia in 1984 from Lebanon in the hope of a better future for himself and his family. He settled in Green Valley and never left. Ali was a maths teacher and science teacher by profession, and central to his philosophy and approach to life was a commitment to education and social inclusion. Also central to Ali's life was a sense of civic service. Not surprisingly, then, Ali became the president of the Lebanese Community Council and in 1999 was elected to Liverpool council as a councillor. Ali served a total of 26 years on the council and did so with distinction. He served multiple terms as deputy mayor and brought to his role a sense of decency, humility and integrity.

Notwithstanding Ali's achievements in civic life, his greatest achievement was his family. I offer my condolences to his wife, Yousra, and his children and grandchildren for their loss.

Link to Hansard: Full Speech