John Hogg (President) Share this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Joyce, I am on my feet. I take this opportunity at the end of the 2010 sittings to acknowledge and express my personal gratitude to the following: firstly, the Clerk of the Senate, Rosemary Laing—I would like to thank her for the dedication and professionalism she has shown in her first year as Clerk; the Acting Deputy Clerk, Cleaver Elliott, and the other clerks at the table. I thank all the senior officers of the Department of the Senate for their ongoing support and advice.

I thank all senators, and I would like to make special note of the Deputy President and Chair of Committees, Senator Alan Ferguson. I especially wish to acknowledge the close cooperation between the Deputy President and me throughout the year. I thank the temporary chairs of committees who, on a daily basis, run this chamber.

I wish to thank the Usher of the Black Rod, Brien Hallett, the Deputy Black Rod, and those others who have occupied that position this year—Nick Tate, Glenn Krause, Anthony Szell—as well as the staff of the Black Rod’s Office. I thank the chamber support staff and, in particular, the attendants and mail attendants; you do a marvellous job for all of us. The Table Office and the Procedure Office provide efficient and professional support to make for the smooth running of the Senate. I thank the staff of the committee office who consistently produce substantial and timely reports. I thank all other staff of the Department of the Senate.

I thank those in the Department of Parliamentary Services, led by Alan Thompson, including the Landscape Services staff in particular who, in looking after the courtyards and gardens, make this place such a showpiece for the nation. I also thank those in Art Services; Facilities Management; the guide service; and IT, broadcasting and Hansard staff; the Parliamentary Library and the research service under the direction of the Parliamentary Librarian, Roxanne Missingham; the International and Community Relations Office, formerly PRO, for their tremendous work with outgoing and incoming delegations and in managing parliament’s international relations and assistance program; the Parliamentary Education Office who, this year, in this building, taught over 90,000 young Australians from 1,577 schools about our parliament; those who work in security and for the protective services at Parliament House; Health and Recreation Centre staff; and the Speaker, his staff and other officers of the Department of the House of Representatives.

Finally, I thank the staff of my own office, as well as my electorate office staff in Queensland and all those other people who work in Parliament House and electorate offices right around Australia.

In conclusion, I extend my best wishes to all staff and colleagues for the upcoming festive season. I look forward to seeing all of you back here in 2011. I thank the Senate.