Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I add my words of thanks to Gerard for his time in this place as adviser to the President. When I became President the former presidential adviser, Don Morris, left after three weeks and Gerard came highly recommended to me by a number of people who had worked with him in this place while he was a parliamentary liaison officer for a period of time before that. I had great pleasure in appointing Gerard to this position. His unbiased ability to be able to give sound advice to the presidents on a number of rulings was something that I came to appreciate very much. We also became very good friends, as you often do with people you work so closely with over a long period of time. So I add my thanks to Gerard Martin for his wonderful contribution to this Senate, both as a presidential adviser and in his previous role. We certainly wish him well as he returns to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, where I am sure he will have a long and successful career.