House debates

Thursday, 5 December 2019

Statements by Members

Valedictory

1:57 pm

Photo of Russell BroadbentRussell Broadbent (Monash, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Next year will be my 21st year as a servant of the people in this parliament. It's hard to be on the wrong side of every leadership spill for 21 years, but I've done it!

Lyn Barlin was the Clerk of the House when I first came here, and Claressa Surtees and Catherine Cornish had not arrived. But I give them a big shout-out today to thank them, because without them, in all those years, I couldn't have done what I've done. Thanks also to our amazing Parliamentary Library and our parliamentary dining staff and all that goes with that—so, Clerk, if you would take those messages back to them.

I also give a shout-out to the member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, and to the member for Corangamite, Libby Coker, for their help on asbestos; and to the member for Calwell, Maria Vamvakinou, for our successful Parliamentary Friends of Multiculturalism. I thank you all and wish you a very Merry Christmas, including you, Prime Minister.