Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Per your wishes, today is not the day when the Leader of the Opposition, I, the Leader of the House and the Manager of Opposition Business will sing your praises. That day will come when we come back in November. But I will simply say this: I believe, Mr Speaker, that we have had the privilege to serve in this House at a time when this House has had its finest Speaker, in you. I know that is a view that is shared widely in this place. You are deeply respected. You have been a close friend—and obviously will continue to be—and a trusted confidant for both of us, and I do want to wish you all the very best. I know you haven't arrived at this decision lightly, and I know what has driven your decision to do it, because you love this place. You love what it provides the opportunity for you to do, and you love doing it for the people you love in your electorate, and you want to return to them and to the forms of this House, as you would say, to be able to express that in the best way you possibly can. So we're very grateful. I'm very grateful for your friendship and your constant guidance and counsel, whether from there or elsewhere, and I wish you and all of your family all the very best, my friend.

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