Bob Brown should be remembered as a formidable politician who brought credibility to the Greens, shadow treasurer Joe Hockey says.
Friday is Senator Brown’s last day as an Australian Greens Senator, after resigning of leader of the party in April.
“Bob Brown could be described as a formidable politician,” Mr Hockey told the Seven Network.
“He is a true believer, I respect him for being a true believer.
“He deserves some level of respect for that.”
Senator Brown trained as a GP but found his true vocation in the wilderness after moving to Launceston in 1972.
He entered state parliament in 1983 after four years as director of the Tasmanian Wilderness Society.
Senator Brown was elected to the senate in 1996 and used his position as a key player in Julia Gillard’s minority government to push the carbon tax through parliament.