George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. On behalf of the opposition, may I join with Senator Evans in wishing you and all senators the compliments of the season and best wishes for a restful summer break. It is a 10-week break this year, a little longer than usual. Perhaps after the tumultuous year that we have all experienced a long break is needed. I was just observing to Senator Fifield that the circumstances in which the Senate adjourns at the end of this year are very different from the circumstances, at least from my side’s point of view, in which we adjourned last year. This has been a very good year from the point of view of the coalition and a very tumultuous year for everyone involved in politics.

It has been, from the point of view of the Senate, the first year in which we have not had Harry Evans here as the Clerk of the Senate and I want to begin by sending thanks, on behalf of the coalition, to Rosemary Laing, who has filled those big shoes in a very accomplished manner, and to the other clerks, Black Rod, committee staff, the Table Office, chamber attendants, Hansard and those who look after us including the Senate transport office, Ian and Peter, Comcar, the other parliamentary staff, the Parliamentary Library and the other staff too numerous to name. We all stand in your debt and we all wish you a restful and happy Christmas.

Can I make mention of some of my senior colleagues. This is a year which saw the retirement from the leadership of the coalition in the Senate of Senator Nick Minchin. Thank you very much, Senator Evans, for your expression of good wishes particularly for the happy recovery of his son, Oliver, from a terrible accident earlier in the year. Senator Minchin has been a marvellous leader for my side and a marvellous mentor to all coalition senators, and the appropriate statements at greater length will be made next year. We have welcomed a new leader, Senator Abetz, who has taken to the role, if I may say so, with great aplomb. I extend my thanks, my great gratitude and my best wishes for the festive season to him, to the Leader of the National Party, Senator Joyce, to Senator Parry, the Chief Whip, to the other whips and to Senator Fifield, the Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate. As for all of the coalition staff, both those in the electorate offices and those who work with us here in Canberra, all of us know just how important they are to making this place work.

I mention my own staff: Travis, James, Peter, Tanya, Liam and Verity. I am very proud of them and I could not do what I do without them. I am sure we would all have that to say about our own staff in our own office.

In closing, after two days of very willing and vigorous parliamentary battle, it is a great thing to be able to end the year in the best spirit of Australian democracy on a note of good wishes, goodwill and happy Christmas.