Nova Peris (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I also want to say farewell. I am going to cry. When I came into parliament it was a very daunting experience—shut up, Kate. I say farewell not only to my chamber buddy but also my Territorian buddy. I also want to put on record that the Australian Labor Party is saying goodbye to an incredible woman and an incredible politician. You are going to be a big loss, Kate. Yes, you will be because not only have you been a friend but also you have been a mentor, a confidante and someone who keeps things real. Coming from the Territory, it is hard to lose yourself in this place. So I thank you for the time I have spent with you. We have shared many conversations over a couple of vinos, which has been great. Kate and I have a lot of things in common apart from sport being the obvious. We both left home at the age of 16, but have still been able to have pretty incredible careers as women and we have both, at times, been single mums. I had the privilege of spending time with Kate and her family on a trip to the Northern Territory. Kate had obviously been a senator for 19 years and had spent many times getting off aeroplanes at Darwin airport but had never been beyond Darwin. So she took her kids and we did an outback adventure which is hashtag 'doin' the Territory'. It was absolutely incredible. Entering this chamber as a woman, who has a tribe of kids herself, I thank you for your friendship. What you have been able to provide for me is that you can only make change by being the change yourself. For all the women who are wanting to enter this place: it is sad that an incredible woman like Kate Lundy is leaving, but she leaves incredible footprints. Senator Lundy, you are in the hearts of the sportswomen of this country, whose dreams you helped elevate into reality. I thank you not only on behalf of the sporting fraternity but for your work on multiculturalism and for everything you have done in parliament.