Macfarlane served as minister for Industry, Resources and Tourism for six years, taking over the portfolio on this day in 2001.

He was a well-informed and proactive minister who believed in the vital role of the petroleum and minerals sectors. But after a widely reported putdown of Al Gore last year Macfarlane was seen as a climate change sceptic and may have contributed to the Howard Government being so comprehensively wrongfooted on global warming.

Known for his forthright manner and dulcet tones, 'Chainsaw' Macfarlane still has much to offer public life. It is to be hoped he will retain his the Resources portfolio as a shadow minister.

Labor’s current Resources spokesman is Senator Chris Evans (WA).

But plenty of new blood is coming into the federal parliamentary Labor Party, including union leaders Greg Combet and Bill Shorten, former ALP national secretary and Woodside corporate affairs director Gary Gray, and former NSW Attorney-General Bob Debus. Some current Labor frontbenchers will have to stand aside.