Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today is most likely the last sitting day, and it is appropriate that we should reflect on the year that has been and offer some thoughts as to the year that is to come. While every year is remarkable in its own way, for many, 2014 will be more memorable than most. Much has happened over the past year: expected events like the G20, unexpected events like the MH370 and MH17 tragedies and also the emergence of the ISIL death cult in the Middle East and elsewhere.

As the parliament winds down for the year, it is right and proper that we all should acknowledge the families of those lost in the MH370 and MH17 tragedies. Our thoughts are with them at this sad Christmas. The search for MH370 continues in the Indian Ocean. It should be completed by the middle of next year. It is one of the most difficult searches—if not the most difficult search—in human history over a vast area of the seafloor. Nevertheless, it is being conducted with the best technology that we can muster, and let us hope that we are in a position sometime before the middle of next year to resolve what is currently the most baffling and perplexing mystery of our time.

Similarly, the quest for justice for the families of the MH17 victims goes on. It is important that the perpetrators of this unspeakable atrocity be brought to justice. I should also acknowledge the 500-plus Australian personnel who were deployed to Europe as part of Operation Bring Them Home. They were reflecting Australia at its best. On the same note, I should particularly thank Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston who not only coordinated our efforts in the Ukraine but has been coordinating recovery efforts in the Indian Ocean in respect of MH370.

This year a new horror burst upon the world: the ISIL death cult which swept out of eastern Syria into northern Iraq. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people were uprooted and disrupted by the dreadful advance of this barbaric force. We have all seen on our TV screens the beheadings, the crucifixions, the mass executions and the sexual slavery. This is an utterly barbaric outbreak. The ISIL death cult, which I refuse to call Islamic State because it is neither, has declared war upon the world, and Australia, to its credit, has responded. Our thoughts, our prayers and our best wishes are with the Australian military personnel in the Middle East right now, both our air contingent, which is engaging in effective strikes against the death cult, and also our special forces contingent working with the Iraqi security forces.

There has been much contention in this parliament, as you would expect. It is right that the policies of the government be exposed to scrutiny in this parliament. It is right that the government and the opposition fiercely debate the issues in contention. Notwithstanding all the contention, all the controversy and all the political static, I think this has been the year of delivery from this government for our country. The carbon tax has gone, the mining tax has gone, a massive infrastructure spend is underway and three free trade agreements, a decade in the making, have finally been negotiated, and the benefits of these agreements should shortly be flowing for our exporters and for our consumers.

As the year began, our country faced two intractable problems: the boats and the budget. I think we can say that the illegal boat problem has largely been addressed. I do not say that it is finally solved. No problem of this magnitude is ever finally solved. Nevertheless, thanks to the policies of the government and the professionalism of our armed forces, police, customs personnel and others, we have had almost no boats over the last 12 months. Long may that continue.

Another intractable problem, the budget, is being addressed. I cannot say that this problem has been fully addressed—far from it. Nevertheless, a good start has been made, and whatever criticisms people might make of this government, I do not think anyone could question our clarity of purpose and our strength of character when it comes to tackling this particular issue. And it must be tackled. This country cannot go on living way beyond its means, and this government is determined to ensure that the task that has been begun this year is successfully prosecuted next year.

Then, of course, on a high note, there was the G20. Hosting the most extraordinary gathering of leaders our country has ever seen was obviously a great moment for the city of Brisbane. I thank the people of Brisbane for putting up with the inconvenience over that weekend. I congratulate the officials and the Queensland Police for the way the G20 was carried off. Just for a moment, we here in Australia had a chance to see ourselves the way the world sees us—as a country which is as free, as fair and as prosperous as any on earth and, indeed, as a country which is the envy of people all around this globe of ours. It was a fragrant moment for our country, a fragrant moment for all of us.

Madam Speaker, it would be remiss of me to see out the year without thanking you for the work that you do—you have a difficult job and I think that you have performed it with grace and humour. I refrain from talking about who or what might make your life harder than it could otherwise be, but you do your work well. I thank the clerks for the work they do—the clerks are the permanent guardians of the traditions of this House. I thank the attendants for keeping this place running smoothly and the Hansard staff for recording our words, hopefully of wisdom, for posterity. I also thank the guides, who make our fellow citizens welcome and better informed about the workings of this place; the Comcar drivers, who get us around here safely and efficiently; and, of course, the cleaners, who ensure that every morning our offices are bright, sparkling and welcoming—I particularly thank Anna, Maria and Lucia, who look after me, as they have looked after previous prime ministers.

This has been a year when our threat level has risen from medium to high. The impact of that has been felt around this building. I thank everyone who keeps us safe—the Australian Federal Police in particular, our security service and everyone who enables us to do our job as well as we can. I thank the Parliamentary Library for the work they do to make us better informed and sometimes even wiser than we might otherwise be.

I do extend compliments of the season to the Leader of the Opposition and to his colleagues on the opposition benches. Yes, there has been plenty of contention across the table, as you would expect. There are two fundamental tasks of government—national security and economic security—and on at least one of those tasks we have received a great deal of cooperation from the opposition; as I trust, were the positions reversed, a different government would receive from us. John Howard often used to say that the things that unite us are bigger and more important than anything that divides us, and certainly that has been abundantly demonstrated this year on national security.

I thank the Australian Public Service for their work over the last 12 months. I particularly acknowledge the work of my own department. I should, in this place, pay tribute to the just-retired head of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Dr Ian Watt. Dr Watt is perhaps the finest public servant of his generation. He entered the public service 40 years ago and had a brief break in academe before returning to spend 30 distinguished years in the Australian Public Service, 13 of those as the secretary of four departments—Communications; Finance, where he was the longest serving secretary of the finance department; Defence; and, most recently, Prime Minister and Cabinet. He was the quintessential professional public servant. He was careful, cautious and considered but he always got things done and that is the hallmark of the Australian Public Service—they always get things done. He leaves big shoes but I am sure that they will be amply filled by his successor, Michael Thawley—a very distinguished servant of our country who brings to the Australian Public Service the benefits of a decade in senior levels of business. It is good to have this cross-pollination between the public sector and the private sector and that is exactly what we will get from Michael Thawley.

I thank all my colleagues. The Deputy Prime Minister, who sadly is still recuperating from illness, has been a fabulous colleague and friend over the past 12 months; the foreign minister and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party has had a stellar year; my senior colleagues in the Senate—including senators Abetz and Brandis—have all done well; and the Leader of the House, the member for Sturt—who is obviously detained on pressing business—has done the kind of splendid work you would expect of him and I acknowledge his efforts. I thank my staff—led by Peta Credlin, the fiercest political warrior I have ever worked with—for everything they have done. All of us ride on the shoulders of our staff. I thank my family and we should all thank our families because none of us could do any of this without the forbearance and support of those who love us.

Finally, though this is the season of goodwill, it should not blind us to the fact that the coming of Christmas does not protect people from the vicissitudes of life—if anything, life's tragedies are more pronounced at this time of year. This Christmas marks 10 years since the Boxing Day tsunami and it marks 40 years since Cyclone Tracy in Darwin. Of course, it also marks 100 years since the start of World War I and on this centenary I am reminded of the work of Charles Bean, the official historian of the Great War. He was witness to the most bloody and brutal conflict in human history. Yet, the worst of times can sometimes bring out the best in people—we are all aware of the famous story of the British and the German soldiers fraternising in no man's land on Christmas Day 1914 playing soccer and singing Christmas carols together. On Christmas Eve 1916 Charles Bean wrote some words which unite believer and unbeliever, Christian and non-Christian. He wrote:

I am not a religious man … But this day represents the birth of a very precious ideal into the world; and the observance of it is the sign of the attachment … to the highest ideals yet imported on the earth.

This is a significant time. It is a significant celebration. May it be, this year as it is in all years, a time to reflect, a time to be with family and loved ones, and a time to rededicate ourselves to our highest ideals.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I begin by wishing you and all of those who sit in the big chair a very merry Christmas and a relaxing break from standing order 94(a). I am deeply conscious that there is still one more question time!

At this time of year our first thoughts are with Australians who will not be spending Christmas with the people they love. I am talking about our defence forces stationed around the world and our emergency services personnel on duty through the day and night—ambos, firies, nurses and police. And, of course, I am talking about the heroes who do not wear a uniform—everyday Australians who are working unsociable hours to make ends meet and to make our society function. I wish to record my appreciation for the work of all our Commonwealth public servants. We are most fortunate with the quality and calibre of the Commonwealth Public Service. I also want to mention Peter Greste, who is most unjustly spending Christmas in his Cairo prison cell.

Australians began this year celebrating an Ashes whitewash; we approach its end mourning the passing of Phillip Hughes. And in between there was joy and sadness. In an unknown wheat field in Ukraine and somewhere in the remote ocean depths two Malaysian airliners met a tragic end, and our world grieved for all those on board. For their families it was more than a significant international event; it was a life-changing tragedy, and our thoughts are with them now and always.

In Iraq and Syria sectarian hatred and evil threatens the vulnerable, and both sides of this chamber work together in a cooperative spirit because the safety of our people and the security of our nation unites us all. Corporal Cameron Baird from 2 Commando Regiment became the 100th Australian to be awarded the VC. Sadly, like so many of his brave predecessors, it was posthumous. We welcomed a new Governor-General, and we thanked Her Excellency Quentin Bryce and Michael Bryce for their sterling service to our country. You do not need to be their son-in-law to recognise their greatness!

Our athletes did us proud in Sochi, Glasgow and Brazil. Richard Flanagan became just the third Australian to win the Man Booker Prize for his harrowing tale, The Narrow Road to the Deep North. The Hawks went back to back. And, after 43 long years, it was 'glory, glory for South Sydney'.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Hear! Hear!

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well done, Albo, on the redevelopment of Heffron Park. We lost Doc Neeson—an angel who never pretended to be a saint, and the author of one of our unofficial national anthems. A generation of movie lovers mourn the loss of Robin Williams and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and we celebrated no fewer than three Australian Oscar winners. Brisbane shone for the G20, and this parliament hosted a cavalcade of world leaders.

Someone introduced a budget at some stage—but not to worry, we will get a practice run again in a couple of weeks and a re-run in six months!

Madam Speaker, as well you know, managing this House and this parliament depends upon the work of hundreds of intelligent, dedicated people, and none of them are politicians. To the clerks, the Serjeant-at-Arms and their office; the Tabling Office; the Parliamentary Library and Hansard, as well as all the attendants in this chamber, I say that this place runs on your patience, your skill and your good will. Is there really a Facebook page for Luch?

This building, our home for 20 weeks of the year, could not operate without the people who come to work here every day—the security guards, plumbers, printers, switchboard operators, gym staff, nurses and the IT support team. To the Australian Federal Police, who look after MPs and senators—and on occasion our families—I thank you for your dedication. I send a special thank you to the officers who keep an eye on the Melbourne CPO.

I want to thank all of the Parliament House cleaners, especially Joy, Maria, Anna and Lucia, and I wish them well in their campaign for a modest 85c-per-hour pay rise. I thank Dom and his most excellent friendly crew at Aussies, who keep the caffeine flowing as the week goes on. In a building sometimes more known for melodrama and squabbling over the lime light—or indeed problems with the skylight!—to all of you who work backstage to make sure the show goes on, we are grateful.

In the same way, I want to thank all the Comcar drivers. I make special mention of my drivers in Melbourne—Steve Smith, Peter Taylor and, formerly, Bill Foster. They are always willing to listen to my new ideas for shortcuts and navigation—who needs a Navman!—or, when my children are on board, the Frozen soundtrack on repeat. Although Steve was on the wrong end of about five dud tips from yours truly for this year's Spring Racing Carnival he has kept his sense of humour.

I also want to acknowledge our friends in the press gallery. We all benefit from your hindsight! But our democracy is most certainly improved by your diligence and tenacity. And let me not forget the photographers!

In 2014 our party and our nation lost three political giants. In mourning the deaths and celebrating the lives of Neville Wran, Gough Whitlam and Wayne Goss, everyone who shares affection for our movement has been reminded of the timeless Labor values that bind us. To every member of our party—Australia's most venerable political movement—I say: thank you for keeping the light on the hill burning bright.

I especially thank our national secretary George Wright, national president Jenny McAllister and their hardworking team for all their help this year. And I promise every member of the ALP that all of us will give our very best to live up to the progressive, reforming, bold legacy of those who have gone before us, to make you proud to be Labor.

To my marvellous deputy leader, the member for Sydney and her family, thank you very much. Tanya, you mean so much to our party, and your support means so much to me. Thank you.

To our leadership team in the other place, Penny Wong and Stephen Conroy, thank you for the wonderful work that you have done in standing up for Labor values in the upper house. To our shadow Treasurer, the member for McMahon, and the Manager of Opposition Business, the member for Watson, I thank you for your good humour, your ready wit and your wisdom. To all my shadow cabinet and caucus colleagues, I pay tribute to your hard work here and in the community. 2014 was the year that Labor stood strong. We stood strong because we stood together. Every day in this job I count myself lucky to be surrounded by people of such talent, people of social conscience, and I wish you all a relaxing break with the people you love.

As we know, behind every good politician is a surprised and relieved staff member. Work in politics at any level is more than a job; it is a vocation. Our staff make tremendous sacrifices on our behalf and we thank them for that. I seem to have been provided with several extra paragraphs of praise for my own staff. Time will not permit me. Unfortunately, I cannot work through all of it and name them individually. I simply offer a heartfelt thank you to everyone from my office and my electorate office for their effort this year, their energy and their enthusiasm. Even at the most difficult and high-pressure moments, my team can always find a reason to laugh—sometimes it is not even at my expense! I am especially grateful for that.

In his final speech in this place, Kim Beazley said that what our families put up with is the hard secret of public life. Like everyone, I am only here because of my family's support, their patience, their guidance and their love. Chloe, Rupert, Georgette and Clementine, I love you and I cannot wait to see you.

Last week, David Cameron remarked that sometimes this is the place where the brickbats fly. Yes, ours is a chamber of robust exchange. It has always been that way and it always should be. Our democracy depends upon disagreement, on the contest of ideas, on each of us speaking on behalf of the people who elected us. But perhaps in 2015 we can all do better; we can all work harder to separate the personal from the political. In that spirit, I want to acknowledge the work of the crossbenchers in the House of Representatives and the Senate—very important work. In that spirit, I want to wish the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the government and their staff a safe and happy holiday.

Earlier this year I lost my mother—a wonderful woman who taught me and my twin brother, Robert, so much. The Prime Minister sent me a very kind message of condolence. In one of those unscripted moments in public life, Prince William was ahead of the Prime Minister and Princess Kate was behind; the Prime Minister was between. My wife was talking to Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge was talking to Madam Speaker, and there was the Prime Minister and I, within handshake range, as we did. I thanked him for his thoughtful words and his message regarding my mother. I said that, every so often, just when I am at the point of complete frustration with the Prime Minister, he does something nice to surprise me. I think the Prime Minister was sufficiently surprised at this comment, but he paused and said, 'Don't worry. I'm sure I'll find a way to frustrate you soon.' Prime Minister, thank you for your generosity. Please send my very best to your remarkable wife, Margie, and your clever and capable daughters. I am sure that, as you savour a shandy or two this summer, pondering your year of achievement, you will miss us, but do not worry; we will be back. We will be here, ready for the political battle in the year ahead, whatever it may bring.

Merry Christmas, everyone, and a happy New Year. I thank the House.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members, I would just like to add a few words of thanks to all those who make this place run. As I frequently go around the country talking about we do here, I describe this as not a polite debating society and not a classroom but a battlefield. We have given up guns, swords and fists, and we fight with words. It is a fierce and robust place. Indeed, the width of that table there is, I think, two sabre-lengths, which is meant to indicate that we keep our discussion to words.

There are other people who help me in this job that I would like to thank as well: the President of the Senate and his office; Mr Deputy Speaker, Mr Second Deputy Speaker and their staff; the Leader of the House and the Manager of Opposition Business; the whips on both sides; and members of the Speakers Panel. To our Clerk, David Elder, it has been a pleasure to work with you and Clarissa Surtees as deputy, and also other members of your department. I thank the Secretary of DPS, Carol Mills; the Parliamentary Budget Officer, Phil Bowen; and the Parliamentary Librarian, Diana Herriot, who is at the moment the Acting Secretary of DPS; the House Table Office, which is vital to all that we do; the Serjeant-at-Arms; the chamber attendants; and broadcasting and Hansard staff.

You did ask, Mr Leader of the Opposition, whether or not there was a special Facebook page for Luch. I think that after yesterday there is a new title, and that is the Royal Order of the Bearer of the Bucket. Until we have enough money—please listen, Mr Treasurer—to fix the roof, he will have an ongoing capability. We have the committee office and committee secretaries and their staff, the research services of members, the Library and the Parliamentary Budget Office—all indispensable to the work we do.

There is the security effort that we now have to put in because of the increased concerns that we have, and we welcome the AFP as part of our family. The AFP always had a presence on the outer perimeter, but now they have a presence in the perimeter, within the confines of the building. They work with the PSS and the SAA, but they are taking a very leading role in keeping us, and members of the public who come to visit, safe. Our Comcar drivers were already mentioned, but they are appreciated by us all. I thank the IT service people; DPS; 2020; the International and Parliamentary Relations Office; the gardening, landscape, maintenance and art services; visitor services staff; our parliamentary house guides; the switchboard operators; and Hansard. To my own staff, I would like to give a very special thank you. They work tirelessly, very much behind the scenes, but without them this job just would not roll on. I would like to thank my own family who are always there, as both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have said.

I have a couple of stats. We have introduced 212 bills and we have read, for a third time, 188 pieces of legislation. There were 91 committee reports presented to the House. We have met for 682.23 hours. Amendments considered by the House during consideration in detail stage were 171, and amendments from the Senate numbered 177. It has been a busy time.

I would just like to wish everybody a Happy Christmas. I thank the Prime Minister and ministers for the leadership they give the nation. I thank the leader of Her Majesty's loyal opposition for the essential work they do in presenting those ideas that we debate here. I thank also the crossbenchers with whom we have constant contact.

Most of all I think that the people of Australia can be proud of what happens here, even with our argy-bargy. It is a wonderful democracy. It is a magnificent country. May you all have a wonderful Christmas and a splendid New Year.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!