Western Australia government MP Don Randall has been found dead in his car. He was 62.
Randall, who first entered federal parliament in 1996 and has represented his electorate of Canning since 2001, was found dead in his car on the side of the road in the town of Boddington, 120km south of Perth, at about 3pm on Tuesday, according to a statement by WA police.
He is believed to have suffered a heart attack.
Absolutely shocked and devastated to hear about Don Randall. A very good man. My heartfelt condolences to family,friends and colleagues.
— Joe Hockey (@JoeHockey) July 21, 2015
In a statement released on Thursday afternoon, the prime minister, Tony Abbott, extended his sympathies to Randall’s family and said he was shocked and saddened to learn of the death of a man who “was a mentor to many and integral to the success of our party in the state of Western Australia.”
“It’s hard to credit that this strong voice for Western Australia and servant of our party has left us so soon,” he said.
“All his colleagues will mourn his passing and honour the contribution that he has made.”
Fellow West Australian, foreign minister Julie Bishop, said Randall was a “dear friend” who would be “remembered for his commitment to community service, his wit, his frank opinions freely shared and his abiding loyalty to his friends”.
“Don had a giant personality and approached each day with great enthusiasm,” Bishop said.”
Politicians on both sides of parliament have expressed their condolences. Opposition leader Bill Shorten said Randall was “a thoroughly good and decent bloke”, and that has passing was “a moment that puts daily politics in perspective”.
Vale Don Randall. A good friend and colleague. I will miss him. #DonRandall #auspol
— Christopher Pyne (@cpyne) July 21, 2015
Randall, who was born in Merredin in WA, started his career as a councillor in Belmont and before that worked as a teacher for 20 years.
He was one of the two Liberal MPs who moved a spill motion against Tony Abbott in February.
Terrible news about Don Randall. I'll never forget his committed advocacy on behalf of his local farmers. Condolences to his family.
— Tony Burke (@Tony_Burke) July 21, 2015
The MP was at the centre of two expenses scandals in 2013, when he was accused of misusing his parliamentary entitlements.
He offered to pay back more than $5,000 of public money for a trip to Cairns for him and his wife, where he claimed he had “electoral business”.
Shortly after the trip, the Randalls bought a property in Cairns.
Abbott defended the claims at the time, saying Randall had important business to discuss with then Liberal party whip Warren Entsch.
Questions also arose after Randall claimed a $5,000 trip to Melbourne to watch an AFL match. He claimed he visited the city for “sittings of parliament”.
Don Randall was a great champion for his electorate and Western Australia. We will miss his determination persistence and friendship
— Warren Truss (@warrentrussmp) July 21, 2015
Terribly shocked & saddened by Don Randall's passing. My deepest sympathies to Don's family. He was a great bloke. I'll really miss him
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) July 21, 2015
Devastated to hear the news this evening about Don Randall. His electorate will miss his frank and fearless approach. A great local member
— Sussan Ley (@sussanley) July 21, 2015
The social conservative was one of six Liberal parliamentarians who boycotted then prime minister Kevin Rudd’s apology to the stolen generations, referring to it as a “wallpaper” that would not improve conditions for Indigenous Australians.
Liberal MPs Sophie Mirabella, Wilson Tuckey, Alby Schultz and Dennis Jensen, and NSW senator Concietta Fierravanti-Wells, also declined to support the apology.
Randall’s occasionally impolitic remarks made national headlines such as in 2010 when he referred to the national broadcaster as “Gay-BC”, and again in 2011 when he accused the mining industry of being “pussy -whipped” by Rudd’s successor, Julia Gillard, over the proposed mining tax.
He is survived by his wife Julie and two children, Tess and Elliott.
