Alex Somlyay (Fairfax, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I do not know whether I should sing Happy Birthday or go on with the valedictory. Congratulations, Roger. It is a great pleasure to support the Chief Government Whip’s comments on my friend and colleague Ian Harris. Ian, you have had a distinguished career in serving the parliament. You and I have a few mutual friends, like Geoff Wilkes from Newcastle. Ian and I discovered, when we first came to Canberra many years ago, that we had played football for the same side. After all these years I serve in the parliament and Ian is in the parliament. I wish you all the best, Ian. I know I chaired the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit inquiry that reformed the Public Service Act, which meant that your appointment was for only 10 years, so I guess it is my fault that you are retiring at this time. I wish you and Erika all the very best in the future. I know that the skills that you have are in great demand around the world. I know that you will continue to serve the concept of parliamentary democracy in Australia and other countries.

Parliament sometimes is like a duck pond. It is tranquil, the ducks are all moving in the right direction, but under the water there is furious activity going on. In the parliament a lot of the furious activity happens in the whips’ offices. As Chief Opposition Whip I have a very close liaison with Roger as Chief Government Whip. We work very, very well together. We trust each other. Roger’s word is his bond. He said about me last year that he could bank my word. I have to say that Roger’s word is also bankable, and the same can be said for his other whips, Chris and Jill.

I would like to thank the two opposition whips on our side, being Nola Marino and Michael Johnson, and of course Kay Hull, who is the National Party whip. A whip’s job is very much like herding cats, with two chambers working. Nola Marino is in charge of the second chamber. I notice she has just walked into the chamber. I have not had to intervene once in two years, not once, in the conduct of the second chamber. I congratulate you, Nola, for the way you run the second chamber, and I acknowledge how valuable it is to the parliament.

I want to make mention of Roger’s staff and my staff because they also have their legs working furiously under the water to make sure that this place works very smoothly. I thank Anna, on Roger’s side. I thank my team, led by Nathan Winn, Denise Picker and Robert Hardie. I thank my electorate staff: Lorraine Fox, Sue Quinn, Gillian Taylor, Judy McArdle and Dr Paul Manuell, who has filled in temporarily for six months.

I also acknowledge the Leader of the House and the Manager of Opposition Business and the work that they do together with the whips in making sure that this parliament runs smoothly in the interests of the democratic process. I also acknowledge Henry Thomson and his team in the Parliamentary Liaison Office. The parliament could not operate without the close cooperation between the whips and the PLO. The PLO is there to serve the parliament and the executive to make sure that government business is handled in an appropriate way. We have a terrific relationship with the PLO, and Henry is an excellent successor to quite a number of parliamentary liaison officers who have had distinguished careers as officers of this parliament.

I acknowledge, as has my leader, Malcolm Turnbull, and as has Roger Price and the Prime Minister, the people who work in the parliament—the ones behind the scenes whom we never see, particularly the clerks and the attendants in the parliament. I particularly want to acknowledge Rosemary, who brings the cold water up to me at question time. Thank you, Rosemary. Of course, there are also the Comcar drivers and everybody else who keeps this place operating.

I also acknowledge my family. None of us can work here successfully without the cooperation of our family. Roger mentioned that I have a little problem at the moment. I was in hospital for a couple of weeks up until last week. Roger had been ringing me every day. My phone started ringing just as I was coming out of general anaesthetic, and it was Roger Price asking, ‘Are you all right, mate?’ That is the type of relationship we have got—genuinely working together and also caring for each other. I might have a bit of a hard time between now and when the parliament resumes. I hope that the treatment might be successful, and I hope to come back in full health.

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