Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I think all of us in this parliament could see the emotional cost and emotional toll that the member for Fisher has obviously been through in coming to the decision that he has announced tonight. Whatever else people may want to say about the member for Fisher, I think at a human level each of us would wish the best for him and his family at what is clearly a distressing and very pressurised time. I think the words he spoke about his family members—his wife, his children, his former wife, his extended family—will stay with us for a long time and we would all recognise that there is a group of human beings well beyond this place who are feeling some pain and distress tonight.

Having said that, appropriate procedural arrangements will clearly now be made for the election of a new Speaker, and the member for Fisher will resume his role of representing his constituents in the House of Representatives.

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