Glasson would've 'adorned' parliament: PM
Federal parliament will be missing an "adornment" without former Australian Medical Association head Dr Bill Glasson, the prime minister says.
Dr Glasson failed in his bid to secure the Queensland senate spot left by retiring Liberal National Party MP Brett Mason on Saturday.
Mr Mason resigned in March after losing his parliamentary secretary role in a cabinet reshuffle a few months earlier.
Principal project officer Joanna Lindgren was the successful candidate.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Tony Abbott admitted he was disappointed his close friend Dr Glasson wasn't going to join him in federal parliament.
"Bill is an outstanding individual and he would be an adornment to the parliament," Mr Abbott said while in Brisbane promoting the budget.
The ophthalmologist was the highest-profile contender in the mix, having clawed back primary support for the LNP to be narrowly defeated by Kevin Rudd in Griffith in the 2013 national poll.
Most recently, he stood against Kerri-Anne Dooley, who has been a serial LNP candidate at state level, scientist Dr Theresa Craig and director Teresa Harding.
Company director Chris Mangan, managing director Nicholas Monsour, lawyer Philip Roberts and barrister Andrew Wallace also bid for the vacant spot.
