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

I would also like to report to the House that, last week, the Auditor-General, who had served this parliament extraordinarily well over a long period of time, Mr Ian McPhee, retired. As somebody who worked with him over many years in the public accounts committee and in other ways, I would like to place on record a great deal of thanks to Ian McPhee for the service that he gave to this parliament. I would ask that perhaps the House join me in marking the respect that we hold for him by doing something we do not usually do—a simple round of applause.

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

on indulgence—I would briefly like to endorse the remarks of Madam Speaker. After long years of service, there can be no doubt that Mr McPhee is a distinguished Australian Commonwealth public servant. The opposition does respect the efforts of all of our Commonwealth public servants, but certainly Mr McPhee deserves the support and acclamation of the entire House.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

on indulgence—I would also like to join with you, Madam Speaker, and the Leader of the Opposition in thanking Ian McPhee for his years of service to the country and to the parliament. Governments of neither Labor nor Liberal persuasion always enjoy the reports of auditors-general because they sometimes shine the light of truth on the machinery of government, which is not always pretty, but the role of the Auditor-General is extremely important in ensuring efficacy in government and the correct expenditure of public moneys, which are taxpayers' moneys. We wish Ian McPhee the very best in his retirement.