Praised by Dutton, the man who almost led Australia says he leaves politics with failures that became the best of him

‘I stand here, lucky to have served, fortunate to be able to say goodbye and thank you’ … Bill Shorten makes his valedictory speech. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

When a political fighter leaves the arena, it’s often an enemy who confers the highest praise.

As Bill Shorten farewelled the parliament just three days shy of 17 years since he arrived, it was Peter Dutton, his weekly sparring partner on Friday morning breakfast TV, who said what the prime minister and Shorten himself could not.