Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I just want to make a few brief remarks to you all while you're here. Just over six years and three months ago, I had the honour of being elected the 30th Speaker of this House of Representatives. As you know from my announcement when we last sat, today will be my last day in the chair before I rejoin you on the floor as the government member for Casey. As such, my statement today, here, from the Speaker's chair, is not a valedictory. I'll do that separately from the floor of the House in the parliamentary months ahead. For this reason, I'll confine my remarks today to thanking a number of people here in Parliament House who have performed critical roles during my speakership. Without them and their great support and advice, I couldn't have done the job that I've done.

I thank the former Clerk, David Elder, who was there when I was first elected in sudden and unexpected circumstances and for everything else that followed, from lost votes to tied votes leading to casting votes; to the by-elections due to section 44 of the Constitution, including, as many of you would recall, a record five on one day. I thank the Clerk, Claressa Surtees, who's worked with me the entire time of my speakership. I thank her for her equally wise counsel. She has led a hardworking and dedicated team that's ensured that this House of Representatives kept sitting during this pandemic for you and through you for the Australian people. Can I thank all of the House staff, including the Serjeant, the Deputy Clerk and the attendants who have worked directly with me and my office.

I thank the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition for their friendship and support. I think it's helped the House that we've known each other a long time. In the case of the Prime Minister, we became great mates when I was first running for election in 2001 and—we can both now reveal—when I wanted some alternative campaigning advice from him because I didn't quite trust some of the advice I was getting. You know how nervous candidates get! In the case of Leader of the Opposition, we met shortly after that election. From memory, it started with him saying he thought the only thing we had in common was the fact that we were both named Anthony. But we built a strong friendship from there. I thank the Treasurer for his longstanding friendship from our time as advisers, now as colleagues and, as always—as he reminds me regularly—as Carlton supporters. I can tell you he is as loud at the football as he is here, but unfortunately I'm powerless to do anything about that. Can I also say I simply don't have another friend on the planet who texts or apps me so frequently.

See this speech in context