Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I congratulate Senator Wong and Senator Collins on their election as leader and deputy leader respectively of the government in this place. I also acknowledge the role of Senator Conroy, who was Senator Wong's predecessor. He was a worthy opponent. I enjoyed our chitchat across the table when others were shouting over us from time to time and I look forward, albeit I do not know for how long, Senator Wong, to us being able to engage in that as well. I also acknowledge the role of Senator Ludwig. Politics is a tough game—a brutal game—from time to time, and, for those who do suffer as a result of that, I just wish them all the best personally. If I may, I might be as droll as to observe that a man in a blue tie got rid of a female prime minister but note that, in this place, a female replaces a man with a blue tie. But we wish them all the best.