John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

She is the darling from Riverina, yes. Finally, I turn to in-house matters. The shy, retiring Leader of the House who constantly hides his light under a bushel—I do want to pay tribute to him. My personal staff have once again been indefatigable. I particularly mention the death during the year of a wonderful adviser, John Perrin, who was my adviser on health and social security matters. John contracted bowel cancer; it was discovered during the currency of the election campaign in 2004 and he fought a long and courageous battle. He was a person of immense charity and strong faith. His death at the very early age of his late 40s really affected us all a great deal and he left a wonderful legacy. I acknowledge the contribution John made in advising me in relation to such things as the Medicare safety net and the family relationship centres—two very significant policies that I regard as profoundly positive in their effect. He was one of those advisers that you come across infrequently and he made a great contribution to the quality of advice in my office. I honour his memory on this occasion.

Arthur Sinodinos, my chief of staff, has been a wonderful leader of the office and a wonderful leader amongst all of the government staff. Tony Nutt, the principal private secretary, comes from what you might call a very political background. I frequently say of him that he knows where all the Liberal Party bodies are buried from coast to coast. He started in Western Australia and he has been everywhere and he has ended up in Canberra. I also thank Tony O’Leary, my press secretary, and Suzanne Kasprzak, my personal secretary. It is also important, for a Prime Minister anyway, to thank my Australian Federal Police protection team. It has not been too bad this year, but it can be a nasty job on occasions—no matter who the Prime Minister is—and I do want to thank them very warmly. I had an opportunity to thank in the traditional manner Peter Shergold, the head of the Prime Minister’s department, and all the other senior people in the Public Service at the senior officer’s drinks at the Lodge.

I want to thank you, Mr Speaker, for your unfailing courtesy and your commitment to your job and to wish you and your wife a very happy Christmas and a restful time into the New Year. These two absolutely wonderful people who sit at the table, Ian Harris and Bernard Wright, are always very helpful—

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