Wendy Askew (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I apologise for not being here for the contributions of my colleagues, but I would like to associate myself with them because I'm sure they were absolutely brilliant.

I want to add my thanks to Apolline Kohen, the committee and the committee secretariat for making that trip such a wonderful trip for us and for ensuring that things ran so smoothly despite the hiccups along the way—especially in Atlanta. I want to thank the President and the Senate for the opportunity given to the community affairs committee. It's a real privilege for us, as committee members, to be given that opportunity. While we were there, we met with so many wonderful organisations, departments, individuals and not-for-profits, and each and every one of them were so welcoming and so giving of their time and their experiences. It was a real opportunity for all of us across a wide range of issues and topics, and it all reflected the work that we're doing back here, in Australia, within our committee.

I'd also like to express my thanks to IPRO—the International Parliamentary Relations Office—and the embassy contacts in Brazil and the United States. They were fantastic and they stepped in when we needed them to help out, especially regard to urgent accommodation and travel. It was a great honour for all of us, I think, to have the opportunity to travel and to represent the Senate on this trip. I thank my four travelling companions—Apolline, in her absence, and the three in the room—and thank everybody for making it such a worthwhile and memorable trip.

Question agreed to.