Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—Mr President, I want first of all to add to the thanks you have provided. But I also want to say thank you from the government to the staff—the people who make this chamber work—and particularly to the Usher of the Black Rod. I know that she is heading off into new waters and I wish her well. But also I want to say thank you to the many others—the Clerk and the deputy clerks and all of those people who make this place tick over. It has been an interesting year, I think you could say, for us all. It has had its challenges. My thanks to all, and I wish you a happy Christmas and a safe New Year.

I also want to recognise the opposition, the minor parties and the Independents—Senator Fielding and Senator Xenophon—and say thank you for the work that you have done to ensure that this place continues to operate in the principled way that its has always done. This year has, I think, demonstrated that for all to see. In conclusion, I say to the opposition and the Greens, to Senator Fielding and Senator Xenophon, and, of course, to the government: happy Christmas and a safe New Year.