Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

on indulgence—I rise on behalf of my team in the Australian Labor Party. I have already spoken about Chris Hayes—the member for Fowler, the former member for Werriwa and my dear friend—in other fora. The job of Chief Opposition Whip, indeed of all whips, is one of pastoral care as much as other things. I can't think of anyone in our show who is more respected or more trusted to be a confidante, to be someone whom people can walk through the door and talk to about their issues, and to deal with both sides professionally. He is a man of great honour.

He loves the people he represents in his electorate, and I've had the great privilege of visiting both his electorates over a period of time—including visiting the current one, Fowler, as Labor leader. He will be missed. He makes a difference. The fact that in his final speech here he spoke about a Vietnamese Australian who is in prison in Vietnam over human rights issues, and made a heartfelt plea to the government on those issues, says everything about him—as does the way he worked with the minister to make a difference to people escaping from Afghanistan who were vulnerable when Kabul fell, when attacks were occurring against people who had links with our great nation of Australia.

To Chris Hayes: on behalf of the Australian Labor Party, a big thank you. To Bernadette: a huge thank you. It is a fantastic partnership. I don't want to leave out Anna George, who will already be working away, who will leave at the same time. Anna has worked for Labor leaders or in the whips offices for a long period of time. It is the case that if you want to know what's going on and really want to know the line not just of the whip but also of Labor leaders just ask Anna. She knows what's going on. She will be sadly missed as well.

But to Chris and Bernadette, all the best. You are going out standing! There was a possibility, of course, that you would go out in a horizontal fashion in the Federation Chamber, and it is a good thing that you are going out with your health restored again and with many, many more years of enjoyment ahead of you and Bernadette and your lovely family. You are much loved my friend, my comrade and my mate.

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