Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—On behalf of the government, I want to note with great regret on our part that an esteemed and highly respected member of the Senate staff, Mr John Vander Wyk, has announced his retirement from the Senate to take effect on 22 September, after some 32 years of fantastic service to the Senate. On behalf of the government I congratulate John on his extraordinary dedication to the task of serving one of Australia’s great institutions, the Australian Senate. I want to thank him on behalf of all coalition senators, past and present, who have served with John in the roles he has performed in those 35 years and to say, on a personal note, how much I valued his guidance and assistance when I first came here as a somewhat younger, junior and fresher opposition backbencher and found his help and guidance invaluable.