Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

First and valedictory speeches are the bookends to our parliamentary careers. I'm deeply appreciative of the opportunity to do this valedictory speech tonight, to have the opportunity to reflect on the things that I'm so proud to have delivered in this place, and to thank the many people—many of whom are here tonight—who have helped me along the journey.

I'm also very grateful to be leaving the Senate at a time of my own choosing—an opportunity I'm very well aware not all members and senators have. But let me be very clear about one thing. While I am leaving at a time of my choosing, the timing of my choosing has been expedited by events that are well known to all in this place. Those events have inflicted deep wounds on so many. However, my wounds do not define who I am. They have not distracted me for a second from what I was elected to do here as a senator and member, but they have made me stronger and they have made me wiser. More on that later.

None of us succeed in this place on our own. We are at our best in this place when we collaborate to deliver meaningful and important reforms for our nation. It is a real shame that more Australians don't get to see this dirty little secret of ours—about how much we do actually work together across the aisle in this place. I've got so many people to thank, which I will do at the end. But I do have a few acknowledgements upfront. Foremost is to my family—my partner, Robert; my father, Laith; my brother Andrew, and his partner, Angela, and his daughters, Octavia and Anastasia; and my mother, Jan, who is so desperately sad that she could not be here tonight but is watching from home in Perth. To you, Mum, I say, 'Thank you,' and, 'I love you.' But I am somewhat comforted that my brother Cameron and his wife, Charlotte, and his two daughters, Olivia and Sophie, will be with her this evening.

As senators, we choose this life, but our families are conscripts. I think it's safe to say that it's never really been that easy to be related to me. I've got to say, what those opposite did to me was so brutal and so deliberate, but they also did it to my family and my partner. For that, I am so deeply sorry that my career choice has done so much damage to those that I love the most.

I'm also more grateful than I could ever express that so many friends, staff and colleagues are here tonight, and I know many more are watching online. I've received the photos of the screen on with the glasses of wine in front.