Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That leave of absence be given to every Member of the House of Representatives from the determination of this sitting of the House to the date of its next sitting.

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

Mr Speaker, I support the motion and I want to use the opportunity that's there to thank you and the President of the Senate and the parliamentary staff who've made this sitting possible. I want to give a shout-out not to other members of parliament but to the families of members of parliament. Not everyone who is watching this broadcast would be conscious of the fact that families in Victoria—the whole of the family, not just the member of parliament—had to stay in self-isolation for two full weeks. That's a considerable sacrifice. Other members came to Canberra and self-isolated for two weeks. That includes Brendan O'Connor, the member for Gorton, and his daughter, Una. The member for Bendigo had the special privilege of being locked up with young Daisy for two weeks. It is a real sacrifice that many families of members of parliament make—well, that all families of members of parliament make—on both sides and on the crossbenches, and I do think that it's appropriate that we acknowledge their sacrifice in order to make this parliament function as effectively as it has during the last fortnight.

Question agreed to.