Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I will be brief. I won't repeat all the tributes to you, Chris, and to Bernadette; they're all very well deserved indeed. I have become good friends with Chris, particularly in my time as Speaker. I was always told that you easily made friends on both sides of the House. As I said last week, when we had the unveiling of former President of the Senate Stephen Parry's portrait—you were there—several days after I became Speaker several years ago I needed to ring the President of the Senate on an urgent matter, and Chris Hayes answered the President's mobile phone and said: 'He can't talk to you right now. We're dealing with something else.' Our offices have worked very closely together and we have worked very closely together, and with the Chief Government Whip, particularly through the course of last year where we had almost daily phone hook-ups on ensuring we could get the parliament to work and what the arrangements would be. As I said, all of the tributes are very well deserved. You're a first-class person in so many respects, but, as Speaker, can I say: you will be remembered as a first-class parliamentarian in every way. We wish you the best for the rest of your term; I know you are staying on in your role as Chief Opposition Whip, and I will continue to work with you in that regard. Thank you very much.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

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