John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I take this opportunity at the end of the 2008 sittings to thank all senators for their cooperation and assistance this year. My thanks, also, to my colleagues the temporary chairmen of committees for their contribution to the work of this chamber. I would particularly like to thank the Deputy President and Chairman of Committees, Senator Alan Ferguson. Senator Ferguson was President for much of this year, and I know he would join me in thanking the many staff who support the operations in this place.

There are many people in the Department of the Senate whose hard work deserves our thanks, including the Clerk of the Senate, Harry Evans; the Deputy Clerk and the other clerks at the table, for their support and advice; the Usher of the Black Rod, the Deputy Black Rod and the senators’ services staff; the chamber support staff and, in particular, the attendants and the mail attendants; staff of the Committee Office, the Table Office, the Procedure Office; and all other Department of the Senate staff, including Senate IT, printing and transport.

I would also like to thank staff of the Department of Parliamentary Services, led by Alan Thompson, including the staff of Landscape Services, Art Services, Facilities management, the guides service, and IT, Broadcasting and Hansard staff. My thanks also go to the Parliamentary Library, under the direction of Roxanne Missingham; to the Parliamentary Relations Office and Parliamentary Education Office; to those who work in security and for Protective Services at Parliament House, in particular Superintendant Mark Andrews of the AFP, who has been Protective Security Controller at Parliament House and who will be retiring after five years of service in that position; to the Health and Recreation Centre staff; to the Speaker and his staff; and, of course, to the staff of my own office, including those in Queensland.

On behalf of all senators, many thanks to all the other people who work in Parliament House and in electorate offices right around Australia. I wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas period, and look forward to seeing you all at the next sitting, in 2009.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—Mr President, I want first of all to add to the thanks you have provided. But I also want to say thank you from the government to the staff—the people who make this chamber work—and particularly to the Usher of the Black Rod. I know that she is heading off into new waters and I wish her well. But also I want to say thank you to the many others—the Clerk and the deputy clerks and all of those people who make this place tick over. It has been an interesting year, I think you could say, for us all. It has had its challenges. My thanks to all, and I wish you a happy Christmas and a safe New Year.

I also want to recognise the opposition, the minor parties and the Independents—Senator Fielding and Senator Xenophon—and say thank you for the work that you have done to ensure that this place continues to operate in the principled way that its has always done. This year has, I think, demonstrated that for all to see. In conclusion, I say to the opposition and the Greens, to Senator Fielding and Senator Xenophon, and, of course, to the government: happy Christmas and a safe New Year.

Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—Mr President, can I begin by thanking you very much for your wise stewardship of this chamber in the period in which you have presided over us. You have done it, I think, with great wisdom, calmness and patience for the period in which you have been there, despite some duress. Also, on behalf of the coalition, I particularly want to thank the former President and now Deputy President, Senator Alan Ferguson, for his great service to this chamber throughout 2008, a service which we all honour and respect. I also want to add my thanks along with yours and the government’s to our Clerk, Harry Evans, and all Senate officials, particularly Andrea, who is of course leaving us this year. Again, it has been a remarkable display of professionalism and loyalty to all that is best about this chamber from our Senate officials. And, of course, to all Parliament House staff: we thank them.

It has been my observation in my time here that the Senate displays a level of decorum and civility unfamiliar to the House of Representatives. While we might not always be perfect in our behaviour, I think the behaviour in this chamber is far superior to that of our colleagues in the other place. I think that has been on display in 2008 and I look forward to that continuing in 2009. As part now of the non-government side of the chamber, I thank the other non-government senators for their cooperation on a range of issues that have come before the chamber throughout the course of this year. In conclusion, I just want to wish every senator a very happy Christmas.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—Mr President, I join in the salutations that have been expressed by you, by the Leader of the Government in the Senate and by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. I want to say on behalf of my colleagues that we enjoyed being here. We are much honoured and are grateful for all the work of the Presiding Officers, the clerks, the attendants, Hansard, the Parliamentary Library and the great depth and spread of people throughout this enormous parliament building, which is the fulcrum of our democratic society in Australia. I join with the previous speakers in wishing everybody here a happy, safe Christmas and a bountiful New Year, and I extend that same wish to all the people of Australia.

Ron Boswell (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—Senator Joyce is not here at the moment, so I will place myself in his position. I would like to wish all my colleagues in the Liberal and National parties, the crossbenches and the Labor Party and you, of course, Mr President, and Senator Evans a wonderful break, which we so much deserve at the moment. We have gone hard for 12 months, and I hope that we can all take a nice holiday, spend it with our families, our children and our grandchildren and make up for the time that we have been down here. I would like to wish everyone a happy, holy Christmas and a great New Year.

Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—Ditto.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is the best speech tonight, Senator Xenophon.

Steve Fielding (Victoria, Family First Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I also on behalf of Family First want to wish everybody a very safe and merry Christmas and New Year. I again thank the Black Rod, chamber support staff, the clerks and deputy clerks, committees, the library, my own staff, the President and colleagues. I thought I should give a highlight for the year: I suppose it was taking my shirt off in Melbourne for the pensioners. I would probably do it again if I had to. It has been a very tough year. My wife has not been at all well and I would like to thank those who have given me support through the year.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I do not wish to upstage Senator Ludwig, who I am sure did a terrific job in my absence. I am sorry I was out of the chamber when this started. Thanks to all who contributed to the working of the Senate. I wish everyone a peaceful Christmas break. I think everyone deserves a decent break. As I say, I wish everyone all the best for the festive season and we will see you all back here far too soon, the first week of February.