Roger Price (Chifley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am going to make some brief remarks. I am going to omit so many people whom I should readily acknowledge, so I apologise for that. I particularly wanted to start with the contribution that Dalma Dixon has made to this place. Whips work with the Serjeant in many aspects, but I would never have been able to organise offices and seating arrangements without her unstinting advice and experience. She made something that is quite difficult a very easy exercise. She has a great personality and takes her job very seriously but does it with great flair. I sincerely thank her for her contribution to this parliament. I am still in shock about the fact that she is resigning.

I thank my two other whips, the member for Melbourne Ports and the member for Shortland, and the staff in my office. Without a doubt, it is really Anna George who is the Chief Opposition Whip. She makes all the critical decisions and smooths out all the rough edges. I thank Joy Brogan, Matthew Tredwell and, in my electorate, Barbara Williams and Steve Turbit. I also acknowledge my colleague and friend the Chief Government Whip. My two whips control the Main Committee, but we are required to work closely with one another. Can I say that of the many agreements I have reached with the Chief Government Whip, he has never broken one; it has made for a better and smoother running of the parliament. The only thing that we have to trade is our word, and I must say that has been sufficient. I thank him for his cooperation. Unfortunately, I disagree with the Prime Minister. I think he drives a very hard bargain. My reputation is not quite what it would be, I feel, if he had a more generous spirit towards the opposition.

Lastly, Mr Speaker, I thank your own Chris Paterson, whom I have had a lot to do with. He recently suffered an illness. I acknowledge what a great job he does. He is always accessible, one can always talk to him, and he always does his best to smooth out problems that are within his province. I greatly appreciate it. Last but not least, Mr Speaker, I wish you and Penny all the very best. I wish all my colleagues on this side all the very best. I wish to thank them for their assistance and cooperation, but I do wish all the very best to all members of this House and to all the people who work in this House. Whilst we, the members of parliament, have the focus on us, it is the people behind the scenes who really do all the hard yards. I also mention that Nathan, in the Parliamentary Liaison Office, is temporarily leaving us. Thank you, Nathan, for your contribution.

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