Adjournment Debate

VALEDICTORIES

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (19:29): I move:

That the council at its rising adjourn until Tuesday 12 January 2010.

In so doing, I thank everyone involved with the 51^st parliament. I thank you, Mr President, for your conduct of the chamber over the past four years and, indeed, all members of this place for their contributions. We have just noted the contribution of our retiring members, but I would like to mention retiring members from the other place: Graham Gunn, Rory McEwen, Trish White, Lea Stevens and Liz Penfold.

I acknowledge the contribution of the whips, John and John, to this session. I particularly want to recognise today the work of the table staff. Today was a marathon effort. I cannot think of a day when we passed as many bills in this chamber. How Jan, Chris and Guy coped with it, I am not sure, but they did it and it was an absolute marathon effort.

I thank the messengers (Todd, Mario, Karen and Antony), the office staff (Margaret and Claire), parliamentary counsel, Hansard staff, kitchen and dining room staff, library staff, building staff and everyone else who works in this place.

Finally, on behalf of all members I thank our respective staff for their contributions during the year in keeping us well informed and keeping this chamber working smoothly. Given it is also the end of the year, as well as the end of the parliament, I wish those people involved with the parliament in any way the compliments of the season. Quite properly, our fate now rests in the hands of the people.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (19:31): On behalf of Liberal members I second and support the motion. I also wish all members here the very best for the festive season and the robust election campaign into which we enter—probably tomorrow morning—as we start the journey towards 20 March.

Mr President, I thank you on behalf of the Liberal team for the way in which you have kept us in order and been very fair and even-handed. I thank you very much for that. I think the whips have done a fabulous job to keep us all corralled and organised so we knew what was happening. Certainly, I thank the staff who have been mentioned, certainly Jan and Chris and the other boys, the messengers and Hansard. I know I am one that Hansard looks after quite a lot. They make sure that what I have said makes sense the next day. I also thank the catering staff and all the staff in Parliament House. This place would not function if they did not go beyond the call of duty most days to make the place function.

Certainly, the Liberal members have a great team of staff and supporters around us. Robert and Caroline have talked about the wonderful service of their two personal assistants, but we all enjoy wonderful support from our staff. I wish all my parliamentary colleagues, in particular the Liberal members, the best for the festive season.

I also pay tribute to the retiring members, especially Graham Gunn for the marathon effort of 40 years—I suspect that Bernie Finnigan is the only one in this place who is likely to outlast Graham Gunn because he started at such a young age—and the other retiring members Lea Stevens, Liz Penfold, Trish White and Rory McEwen. I do not think I have ever seen eye to eye on anything with Rory, but I wish him all the best. I wish them all the best on behalf of the Liberal team. I look forward to seeing members back here next year—hopefully on the opposite side of the chamber.

The PRESIDENT (19:33): I wish all members of the Legislative Council a happy and healthy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. I thank you for your support during the past 12 months and the past four years. I also thank Jan and Chris and the staff for their great assistance to me as President. You all can appreciate how important our relationship is. It must be a good one or things do not work properly—and it certainly is a good one.

I thank the rest of the staff who have worked with the Legislative Council and its members and wish them a happy and healthy Christmas. I want to give a special thank you to the members of the JPSC for their hard work throughout the year—the Hons John Dawkins and John Gazzola and Mrs Robyn Geraghty—and I make special mention of the Hon. Graham Gunn who will be missed on JPSC. He was a wonderful supporter—representing both houses, not just his—of the provisions that members look forward to. He was a great protector of members' rights. We will miss Graham on that committee.

I want to thank the whips and make special mention of the JPSC minutes secretary, Liz, who does a wonderful job. I thank you all. I wish all those other members who are retiring in the other house all the best. I wish everyone a very merry, happy and healthy Christmas.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

Motion carried.

At 19:35 the council adjourned until Tuesday 12 January 2010 at 14:15.