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Christmas Felicitations

Published on: November 2024

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-148687

Christmas Felicitations

Ms PRUE CAR (LondonderryDeputy Premier, Minister for Education and Early Learning, and Minister for Western Sydney) (12:23:34):

— On behalf of the Premier: I move:

That this House take note of Christmas felicitations.

It is a great privilege to be here on behalf of the Premier to offer Christmas felicitations, as is the tradition of the House. When members of both Houses are in this building, they might be tempted to think that they are the stars of the show. But to do this job is to be constantly reminded that we are only here to support the real stars. If we can do that then we will have done our job as members of Parliament. With that in mind, on behalf of the Premier, I start by acknowledging the State's emergency workers, who will not get a chance to stop this summer, even while the rest of us are winding down for the year. I say to all the police officers, firefighters, paramedics, doctors, nurses, SES workers and everyone who will be on call over the break preparing for the worst, we can only hope that call does not come.

In terms of my parliamentary colleagues, I begin at the top and pay tribute to you, Mr Speaker. Not many people can say they enjoy universal respect, but in this Parliament you are universally respected. Every sitting day you show the wisdom of Solomon, the dignity of Queen Elizabeth and the weary patience of a childcare worker.

The SPEAKER:

I don't know what to say.

Ms PRUE CAR:

Someone in the Premier's office has done a beautiful, prosaic job with this. I am sure everyone joins me in wishing you a very quiet and peaceful summer break in your beautiful electorate, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER:

Thank you.

Ms PRUE CAR:

In the same spirit I also acknowledge Ben Franklin in the other place. To Mark Speakman on the Opposition front bench, on behalf of the Labor Government I wish you and your family a very merry Christmas in beautiful Cronulla. Labor has been there; being in opposition is not easy. It is a lonely gig, but it is an important one, and our system relies on it. Enjoy the time off. I acknowledge the Leader of the House, the one and only Ron Hoenig. There is no-one quite like him. His staff, starting with Omar Rodriguez, do incredible work in a very stressful and fast-moving environment. I thank the Labor Whips in the Legislative Assembly, Nathan Hagarty and Janelle Saffin, as well as Colleen Symington in the Whip's office, for literally keeping the show together.

On the other side of the House I acknowledge Alister Henskens, the Manager of Opposition Business; and Adam Crouch, the Liberal Party Whip. I also acknowledge Dugald Saunders, the Leader of The Nationals. Dugald, in the spirit of Christmas, the Premier has told me to say that he is sorry for saying you had fleas. That was unparliamentary of him. To Dugald and all the Liberal and Nationals MPs and staff, I hope you enjoy a well‑earned break with family and loved ones.

One group I want to mention is the crossbench. There has been a real attempt during this term of Parliament to work across traditional lines through some pretty unlikely friendships, and I think our politics is undeniably better for it. Crossbench members have brought new ideas, raised new perspectives and welcomed us into their very diverse communities, including Roy Butler, who welcomed us all to beautiful and historic Broken Hill. Helen Dalton has taken many of us to the Deni Ute Muster through the years; Phil Donato continues to hunt us down; and Jeremy Buckingham keeps trying to get the Premier to Nimbin for some reason. Maybe next year, Jeremy.

In many ways, 2024 has seen a changing of the guard in this Parliament. We have said goodbye to a number of colleagues who are moving on from parliamentary life. Dom Perrottet has moved on to bigger and better things in America, Bronnie Taylor has gone home and Matt Kean has finally joined the Federal Labor Party. It is the end of an era and our Parliament will not be the same without them. I wish them all well.

From one House to the other, I thank the Legislative Council and its leaders, Penny Sharpe and John Graham, and the Labor Whip Bob Nanva. I acknowledge the parliamentary staff supporting that team: Peta Waller-Bryant, Harry Gregg and Max Kennedy. We all know that Parliament is a very large production. Like any serious show, the annoying divas are up on stage while the real professionals are behind the curtain making sure the whole thing does not fall apart. They include the Clerks of the Legislative Assembly—Clerk Helen Minnican and Deputy Clerk Carly Maxwell—the Sergeant-at-Arms, Simon Johnston; and the Chamber support staff and attendants, led by Ian Delahunty. I give a special mention to Danny Heldal and April Lowndes, who both retired this year. Members all rely on staff at the Parliamentary Counsel's Office, led by the amazing Annette O'Callaghan, who write the bills and translate the amendments, all in real time, just like we depend on the brilliant Table Office and committee staff, who keep the wheels of policy moving in this State.

We thank all the hardworking people from the Department of Parliamentary Services, who care about this building and support the work we do in it. That includes the long-suffering Hansard staff who, for better or worse, turn our daily words into permanent history. I honestly do not know how they do it most of the time—or even hear what we are saying. I thank everyone at the Parliamentary Library, who are custodians of 180 years of service to our democracy; IT support, who answer all our questions with the patience of Greg Piper; security and the special constables, who look after us and act with great professionalism at all times; and to the cleaners, who do a very hard day's work in the Parliament building as well as in the ministerial building and in our electorate offices too—we do notice and we do appreciate it for we could not do any of this without them. I also thank the catering staff and the restaurant and cafe staff, with special mention to Gary Chan, who is a legend of the public cafe and bar.

I thank all the staff in the Premier's office and the ministerial officers—they have really hard gigs and give of themselves each and every day—led by the Premier's chief of staff, James Cullen, all our chiefs of staff and all of our ministerial advisers and everyone working in the offices who keep government going. I also thank all our electorate officers. I ask for the indulgence of the House to give a big thank you to my Londonderry electorate office in St Marys. My senior electorate officer, Lois Fisher, was recently given an award for almost two decades of service. Lois has worked for both former member for Penrith Faye Lo Po' and I. Without Lois, I definitely would not have been re-elected twice. Particularly since the election of a new government and with my ministerial roles, she has literally kept the electorate going. I thank the team for that.

I give thanks to our drivers. I did not know it would happen but now I understand, and most Ministers would say the same thing: My drivers are basically my family at this point, and I trust them with my children. To the Government departments and a frank and fearless public service, led by Simon Draper and Kate Boyd, I give thanks. I also give thanks to my own department, the Department of Education, led by the indefatigable Murat Dizdar, who has the biggest heart for what he does of anyone I have ever met. I thank him for everything he is doing. I thank all the teachers of New South Wales. It is a pretty special privilege to be your Minister. I am never not blown away by everything they do for our kids. I look forward to doing it all again with them next year. To my electorate, I love my community so much. Every year it gets better. We are doing some great things together. It is the honour of my professional life to represent my electorate in this place as we change and grow and the challenges that we confront change and grow.

Without being too personal, I think on this day we should also acknowledge all of our families. Being in the family of a member of Parliament is an all-consuming exercise. That is particularly so for members who, like me, have young children who are growing up as we are in Parliament. So to our husbands and our wives, our nans and our pops, and everyone who helps with our kids so that we can represent our communities, I take this opportunity to say thank you. I particularly thank my husband, who is no stranger to service. He served the nation in Iraq, so his service, especially to the country, is more than I will ever do in my lifetime. At the moment, he is the only thing keeping my family together, and I am really grateful to him and his ability to help me do this job. The only political thing I will say in this contribution is about what happened prior to question time today. Using the memorial bill in a political way was particularly hurtful in that context, and particularly hurtful to the families of veterans.

Christmas is a happy time, though for many people it is a difficult time. If money is tight, Christmas can be stressful as there are lot of extra costs and pressures, and high expectations to meet. As politicians, we have to acknowledge that we are lucky because we are elected to represent our communities in this place. It is up to us to use the good fortune that we have, and the privilege given to us by the community, to help the people we represent. Families in our State have been through a hard couple of years; it is a slog. I hear that from my own community every day. It is our responsibility to do what we can with the resources we have to continue to lighten that load in 2025. So today, as we break for Christmas—we really break to go to school presentations—we recommit ourselves to that task, as we look forward to a new year and hopefully better times ahead.

Mr MARK SPEAKMAN (Cronulla) (12:35:28):

Having the opportunity, with my fellow members of Parliament, to offer my Christmas wishes is one of the fine traditions that has developed in the New South Wales Parliament, Australia's oldest Parliament and the heart of democracy in our State. Christmas is a time of reflection, a time—hopefully—of rest, a time of joy and a time to give thanks. First and foremost, I extend my greetings of the Christmas season to the people of Cronulla. I am the luckiest person in this Parliament to represent such a wonderful community in such a wonderful part of New South Wales. I have been privileged to do so now for over 13 years. The community has entrusted me to be in this place to undertake my role as an MP and as the Leader of the Opposition.

My service to my community is enabled by my dedicated and empathetic electorate staff team. My long‑serving—and some would say long‑suffering—senior electorate officer, Michelle Lawson, has been with me now for over 10 years, supported by the dedicated Pete Leate, Cecilia Falson and Hendrix Cunnea, and watched over most days by my extraordinarily social and loveable golden retriever, Lucy. The indefatigable Cheryl Gwilliam, my chief of staff as Leader of the Opposition and formerly as a Minister, has been my trusted and loyal adviser for 5½ years. She is a calm voice of reason, whose advice and wisdom are always succinctly delivered and gratefully received. I thank my loyal, energetic Parliament House office team. Clem Hall, who operates on minimum sleep and maximum Coke Zero, is the first to text me before dawn and the last at night. In recent welcome developments, Sue Finn has returned to the fold. Sue brings extensive media and communications expertise from the public and private sectors.

Nicolle Nasr is our policy and social media expert extraordinaire; Nick Johnston simultaneously impresses with his policy work and joie de vivre; and my office manager and executive assistant, Kit Hale, keeps me and the entire office super organised. Yianni runs Economou Economics, for anything that involves a dollar, a percentage sign or legal analysis. Liam Kiss burns the candle at both ends during sitting days, as the business program is updated and shifts from time to time. Andrew Humpherson expertly supports the Manager of Opposition Business in the lower House when the Parliament is sitting to ensure the efficient running of the Legislative Assembly. I thank drivers Steve O'Keefe, Dean Simpson and Tim Dwyer for their continued professional and diligent service during the past year. They get me across the length and breadth of Sydney and into the regions—down tight, urban, one‑way streets and along dirt roads—when I am not zooming around the electorate in my ever-reliable 2013 Honda Jazz.

I extend my thanks and appreciation to all the parliamentary staff, including the Clerk, for their patience and goodwill. The stalwarts of our nation's oldest Parliament, they are simultaneously attuned to and good natured about the boisterous nature of this Chamber. While members of Parliament may be the public face of democracy in our State, we are all aware of and grateful for the work of the behind‑the‑scenes team in Parliament House who work to provide professional services and support through the various units, including Hansard, Library and Research; Catering; IT Services; Communications, Engagement and Education; Financial Services and Governance; People, Property and Security; Capital Works, Strategy and Delivery; and Digital Transformation. They have had a busy year with all the additional work associated with the celebrations and events marking the bicentenary of the Legislative Council, including a visit by His Majesty Charles III and Queen Camilla as part their official visit to Australia. The Parliament House staff are exemplar public servants and critical to the success of this place.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your refereeing and for your hospitality towards all the guests we have had through the year. I recognise and thank the Coalition leadership group: Liberal colleagues Natalie Ward, Damien Tudehope, Robyn Preston and Alister Henskens; plus Nationals colleagues Dugald Saunders, Gurmesh Singh and Sarah Mitchell; as well as my entire shadow ministry team. I thank the Opposition Whips, Adam Crouch and Chris Rath, for their continued astute attention and diligence in keeping us on track and fed during the legislative program over the past year. Corralling us all to be where we need to be when we need to be is crucial to the smooth and proper functioning of this place, and the thoroughness of the Whips is testament to the respect that we should all have for this Chamber. I thank all my parliamentary colleagues in the Chamber from the Premier and his Government to the Opposition and the crossbench for their contributions this year, whether that be speaking on legislation, bringing the perspectives of their electorates to this House or speaking more generally on motions or speeches.

The scourge of domestic and family violence has sadly shadowed much of this year. I acknowledge all the families and communities for whom this will be the first Christmas without a loved one, and the separated and splintered families across the State. Peace and goodwill to all is a central tenet of Christmas, a poignant message in times of conflict and tension in communities in New South Wales. As we celebrate Christmas with family and friends, we have to be conscious of those near and far facing hardship or adversity. It is a time to celebrate the blessings we share, to extend a hand to those in need and to strengthen the bonds that hold us together.

I am always heartened by the acts of service I see every day in electorates across New South Wales and I am grateful for the countless community members who give selflessly to help others. Whether through organising food drives, reaching out to isolated neighbours or simply bringing some holiday cheer to those who need it most, those actions reflect the true spirit of Christmas. Christmas brings us the gift of reflection, allowing us to look back on the year that was—its challenges and its triumphs—and to look forward to the year ahead with renewed hope and purpose. This time of year calls us to appreciate simple but profound gifts in life: family, friendship and the communities we call home. St Luke's Gospel speaks of shepherds living out in the fields near Bethlehem keeping watch over their flocks at night, and records:

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

I wish everyone in this place and across New South Wales a safe and merry Christmas.

Mr DUGALD SAUNDERS (Dubbo) (12:43:01):

I echo some of the comments that have already been made and add my thanks to those who keep this Parliament, the oldest in Australia, functioning effectively. I will not re-mention every single one. But, given you are about to leave the chair, Mr Speaker, I will skip to the thanks that I had for you. Even though you have put me on far too many calls and removed me from the Chamber on too many occasions, I thank you for your judgements this year. I wish you and your family all the very best for Christmas and the new year. I reflect on the many people in this place who help us each day. Literally from the time we walk in, which is sometimes very early, to the time we walk out, which is sometimes very late, we are well looked after by the staff, who make this place work as smoothly as it does.

They include the guards manning security when we walk in the front or the back door to the Clerks, who are with us in the Chamber every time and who do an amazing job and sometimes explain what we regard—or certainly I regard—as fairly complicated bits and pieces in the simplest of ways. We thank them for what they do. I give a massive thanks to all of the attendants, who do an amazing job—we have some new faces in the Chamber now replacing some amazing former attendants—all of the parliamentary staff; the reception staff; the cafe and restaurant workers, who feed us at all sorts of weird hours; the cleaners, who we mostly see every morning; the library staff; the special constables; Hansard, who, as mentioned, do an amazing job; and the countless others who work in this place for all that they do. We can only do what we do because of their work behind the scenes. Trust me, it does not go unnoticed. It is worth us all reflecting on that today.

I reflect proudly on the work that we have done as a Coalition over the year. Part of that is focusing on keeping the Labor Government accountable. I recognise every one of my NSW Nationals colleagues in this place. Each one of them works particularly hard for their electorates and regional New South Wales. I thank my deputy leader, Gurmesh Singh, the member for Coffs Harbour; Kevin Anderson, the member for Tamworth; Steph Cooke, the member for Cootamundra; Dave Layzell, the member for Upper Hunter; Geoff Provest, who is 100 per cent for the Tweed; "Tooley", Paul Toole, the member for Bathurst; Michael Kemp, the member for Oxley; Tanya Thompson, the member for Myall Lakes; our Whip, Richie Williamson, the member for Clarence; and, of course, our newest member, Brendan Moylan, who won a by‑election in the Northern Tablelands earlier this year and is fitting right in as part of the team.

What we do in this Chamber is backed by our colleagues in the other place. We have a small but formidable crew in that Chamber that has, again, been amazing in 2024. There has been a bit of change in our upper House team this year. The irrepressible Bronnie Taylor—"the Bombshell"—has called it a day and has been replaced by the returning Scott Barrett. I welcome him back. We are also about to farewell Sam Farraway, who delivered his valedictory yesterday. We wish him all the very best at the Federal level. In the next couple of weeks his replacement will be elected. Leading the charge for the Nats in the upper House has been Sarah Mitchell, who is a great friend and has done yet again an amazing job—well done, Smitch—along with Fes Wang. I mean, Mr Wang. I mean Wes Fang, who has once again fought tirelessly for the people of regional New South Wales. Well done to him.

Each of our MPs has been fantastic in their own way but all work to represent the regions and ensure the best outcomes for the bush. I say a big thank you to the staff in the offices of all of those Nationals MPs for what they do. Their work is invaluable to ensuring a strong party and a strong opposition. I also take the chance to thank our Liberal colleagues, led in this House by Mark Speakman. It is great to work with him. There is also Robyn Preston in this place and Damien Tudehope and Natalie Ward in the other place. It has been almost two years since the last election. While I admit that opposition is not quite as nice as government, we are working together as a unit to keep the Labor Government accountable on behalf of the communities that each one of us represents.

Let us be honest. MPs, party leaders and even Ministers are only as good as their staff. I thank all of the staff that I have worked with over the past 12 months across our team. It is a small but pretty amazing team that punches above its weight. That has included Emmy G, who has now sadly left us; Jaydos; Becko; Mills; Kate and Sal; Barnsley; G; Bridgey; Firmy; the big man, Johnnie Walks; Candy; Corey; and Rory. I particularly thank Candy and Cory for all of those incredible late-night discussions where we have solved so many world problems. Then there were those early morning calls, most of which I left unanswered. Sorry, not sorry. There has been caramel slice, to be fair, but not nearly enough. There have been too many ponytails to think about and a very memorable kilted occasion that the King decided to base his entire Australian visit around. One golden memory that I will mention is "pelicans".

There is also the straight-shooting Susie Rowley and Emily O'Dea, who do a great job. Very simply, as Jeff Fenech would say, "I love youse all". One of my highlights of the year involves Dubbo and the King. During his visit to regional Parramatta I was able to present him with a king-sized and a queen-sized "I LOVE DUBBO" T-shirt, which he loved, honestly. I have had reports, in fact this very morning, that he has been spotted in his "I LOVE DUBBO" T-shirt doing a bit of gardening—long live the King!

I also hugely thank my "electorate office angels", as I call them. They are literally the team at the electorate office that helps keep the show on the road. That is the saying but it is literally what they do: allow me to be on the road when it is needed. I thank my lead angel, Jane Diffy—otherwise known as Biffo or just the Biff—for what she does. Jane brings everything together and helps hold the fort with the other amazing angels, Laura Dunkley, who is the socials genius, and Sally Everett, who has added a whole new dimension this year. I thank them for what they do for me.

As I mentioned, I thank the Speaker for all his help this year, even though he removed me too many times. We need to recognise and acknowledge all of the staff in the Speaker's office who help do all of the things that need to get done and the staff in the offices of the Whips, of all political persuasions, who also make sure that this place keeps work tirelessly to keep running smoothly. I acknowledge Premier Chris Minns, Deputy Premier Prue Car and their teams, who we know go above and beyond to make sure that they can function as they need to. I also give a shout-out to all of the crossbenchers in both Houses. Being in government is allconsuming at times, but to all members and their families I wish you all a happy and safe holiday period.

Lastly, and importantly for me, I thank my family. I said it last year, but with another full year under my belt as leader I am much more aware that along with the honour of a role like this comes quite a bit of sacrifice from others. I know that is something that everyone in this place would recognise. To my wonderful wife, Karen—who works full-time herself—thank you for everything you do to make it possible for me to do this role and for the way you support me in this role. A lot goes on in our lives, in my life, that most people donot ever know about.Thank you for your understanding and support. I am so proud of our daughters, Georgie and Charlie. They are growing into amazing young adults. I hope that what we are doing now will help contribute to regional New South Wales being a better place to live. I finish by wishing everyone in this place and across New South Wales a restful, peaceful and happy Christmas period, no matter what they are doing, hopefully spent with family and friends. Drive safely if you are travelling. I look forward to seeing you in 2025.

Mr RON HOENIG (HeffronMinister for Local Government) (12:51:42):

— It is a privilege to close out another year in this place and the second year of the Minns Labor Government. First and foremost, I thank the people of Heffron for entrusting me to be your local member for the past 12 years. As long as I am in this place, I will continue to do all I can to improve your lives and ensure that Heffron remains a wonderful and enriching place to live. As we come to the end of the year, it is a pertinent time to reflect on the wins we have shared in our time in government thus far, as we continue to inspire and move towards creating a better New South Wales for the people of this great State. I thank the Premier, my friend Chris Minns, for his steadfast, compassionate, thoughtful and strategic leadership as leader of the Government. Since Labor was returned to office, the Premier has demonstrated time and time again this Labor Government's commitment to build a better future for the people of New South Wales. Despite facing his own personal challenges this year, he has always put the people of New South Wales first. I thank him for his friendship and the confidence he has instilled in me as a member of his government, and as Leader of the House.

I acknowledge the Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Early Learning and Minister for Western Sydney, Prue Car. Her deep commitment to the Labor cause, to her community and to the children and students of New South Wales is all encompassing. She is an amazing education Minister. To my ministerial colleagues, by now we have come to learn that being a Minister is undoubtedly a challenge, and a job that comes with enormous responsibilities. I have a great appreciation for the tenacity of my Cabinet colleagues, and I am proud of the work we have done as a collective. Every day we have the immense privilege of being a government that is delivering a fresh start for the people of New South Wales. I also acknowledge my counterparts in the other place, the Hon. Penny Sharpe, the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, and the Hon. John Graham, Deputy Leader of the Government. To my fellow parliamentary colleagues, each of you is instrumental to the Labor cause. Thank you for your support and generosity as we continue to journey together as a united team.

I acknowledge the Leader of the Opposition and member for Cronulla, Mark Speakman, who read with me when he first came to the bar when I was a public defender, a man whom I know is a deep thinking and honourable man, engaged in the most difficult job in politics in this State. I also acknowledge the shadow ministry and all those opposite. Having had the experience of being in opposition for 12 years, I know it is not an easy job. I think it is fair to say that this year has been a particularly difficult one for the Opposition, losing some formidable members of the Liberal Party. As long as you are in opposition—which I hope will be a very long time—I ask that you continue to challenge the Government and keep us accountable. Robust democratic debate in this place is a cornerstone of democracy and as an effective Opposition it is fundamental to honest, good government. At the end of the day, I have confidence that irrespective of our political affiliations we are all in this place because we want what is best for our communities and for New South Wales. Let us never let name-calling and finger‑pointing get in the way of this.

I acknowledge the member for Wahroonga and Manager of Opposition Business, a highly regarded silk who succeeded in his profession before coming into politics. The parliamentary process is much the better for his addition to it. I also acknowledge the Opposition Whip, the member for Terrigal, whose cooperation this year in my capacity as Leader of the House and previously when I was Manager of Opposition Business is appreciated. I greatly appreciate the cooperation and support that you have always provided me as we have worked across the aisle. I acknowledge the member for Goulburn and shadow Minister for Local Government, the Hon. Wendy Tuckerman—as she still has that honourable title—for her collaboration on a number of pieces of work this year. I thank her for approaching local government reform in a bipartisan way. I know she has a deep-seated experience and shares with me a commitment to improve local government, its functioning and its reputation. I believe that her approach has to this point and will continue to have stronger outcomes and our communities will be better for it.

Speaking of collaboration, I sincerely thank the members of the crossbench for working so openly with me, the Premier and the Government this past year. When Labor was elected, we came to this place as a minority government. We knew we would have to work with the crossbench if we were to have any hope of pushing legislation through this House. I say to all the crossbenchers, you are tenacious advocates for your communities, you force us to become a better, more considered government. I thank you for your genuine engagement, for bringing informed policy positions to us that strengthen the legislation that moves through this House. You challenge us and, while we do not always agree, without your perspectives and lived experience, the Government would not have passed some of the most important and impactful legislation this year. Thank you, and I hope we can continue this respectful working relationship.

Being Leader of the House means I get to see the inner workings of the parliamentary process that the rest of elected members are not always privy too. For that, I extend my deepest thanks to the people who work incredibly hard behind the scenes not just on long sitting days well into the night, but often seven days a week. The work you do ensures that the Government and the House can continue to deliver for the people of New South Wales, as we were elected to do. From my office, I particularly thank Omar. How Omar has put up with me all these years, he probably needs more than just a medal. I sincerely thank him for his loyalty, his dedication and assistance. I simply would not have been able to function over the years without it. I thank Sachin and Cara from the Premier's Office for their support and assistance. Without their dedication and support I simply would not have been able to get the bills through the House. You are instrumental to ensuring that things run smoothly and navigating the complexities of the parliamentary process, which is a supremely difficult challenge in itself.

This also would not be possible without the many people who do the work that often is not acknowledged but enables the rest of us to look good. I thank and express my appreciation to the Clerk, Helen Minnican, our constitutional officer, the Deputy Clerk, Carly Maxwell, and all the team in the office of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. You provide advice and counsel independently, and we could not operate without your professional input. The Clerk has provided advice to me on so many occasions, and I am grateful for her patience, professionalism and knowledge. Many of us would be lost without Helen's guidance and the guidance of her staff. I also acknowledge the Government Whip, the member for Leppington, Nathan Haggarty, and the Deputy Whip, the member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin. She knows more about what it takes to be an effective local member than anyone else in this place. It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge Colleen in the Whip's office. Colleen worked with me initially. You are one of the most dependable and hardworking people I know, and you are invaluable to maintaining the stability of the Government.

To the Speaker, the member for Lake Macquarie, Greg Piper, thank you for upholding the dignity of this Chamber. I appreciate the professionalism and gravitas with which you approach the chair every day. It was important to the Minns Government, not just because you are an Independent, that you were selected for the role. The Premier genuinely believes in the independence of the office of Speaker. We are delighted that you accepted the role. I know that from time to time both sides of the House get a bit overzealous, and you have the unenviable job of keeping the House in order. Thank you for adjudicating with fairness and for the cordiality you have afforded me, the Government and the Opposition. I thank you, Deputy Speaker, the member for Wallsend, and the Assistant Speaker, the member for Strathfield, for your contributions when taking the chair. I also thank the Temporary Speakers, the member for Sydney, the member for Cessnock, the member for Parramatta, the member for Drummoyne and the member for Oxley.

To all the other staff at Parliament, cleaners, caterers, cafe staff, special constables, IT and facilities management, you quietly and diligently keep this place running for us. You make sure we are safe and well fed. We probably do not say it often enough, but thank you for the respective jobs you do. To the staff at the Legislative Assembly Table Office, Hansard, the Serjeant-at-Arms and the Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms, thank you for the roles you carry out to maintain the great legacy of this Chamber. I also acknowledge the work done by the Parliamentary Counsel's Office, led by Annette O'Callaghan. Drafting legislation is an immensely difficult challenge. That comes from someone who was at the bar and my opposite number, who was a senior member of the bar. We know how difficult it is. The talented and professional people in the Parliamentary Counsel's Office do a remarkable job turning the Government's intentions into legislation that can pass through the Parliament. To the press gallery, you keep all of us accountable and honest. You do an incredibly important job and it is vital that freedom of the press is never stifled or diminished. We may not always like it, but you play a central role in the democratic process, and it is a role that deserves respect.

To my ministerial staff, you continue to navigate the treacherous waters of local government as we work through the immense challenges in the sector. I thank my very capable and level-headed chief of staff, Peter McCabe, for leading my team, who I know work tirelessly to fulfil my wishes. I assure the House that if any member needs a level-headed chief of staff, it is me. To the whole team—Brendan, Clare, Brianna, Phil, Jennifer and Omar—and the department liaison officers, thank you for your commitment to me and the Government. I also thank my electorate office staff, Dorothy, Aidan and Tracy. While my ministerial duties keep me busy elsewhere, my staff do a tremendous job having to carry me and ensuring that the issues that are brought to our attention are resolved promptly, efficiently, professionally and expeditiously. Thank you for going above and beyond when dealing with my constituents and ensuring that every resident who raises a concern is treated with dignity, respect and compassion, as they deserve to be.

As the face of my electorate continues to change, encompassing one of the most densely populated areas in Sydney, I will continue to fight for my constituents to ensure that they have the best quality of life. Last but not least, I thank my wife, Christine, and my two sons, Ben and Matt. They have had to endure many sacrifices and by now are well accustomed to the demands of my work life. I make the observation that my children have never known me out of public office. As they grow up in an area where I represent the local community, they themselves can never be out of the public eye because of their surname. I know that, at times, that has been a burden, and I thank them for their sacrifice. This year Christine and I celebrated our thirty-nineth wedding anniversary, and I am eternally grateful to have her by my side. I will never take her unwavering support, love or affection for granted.

To those who celebrate, I wish you a very merry Christmas. To those who do not, I hope you use this opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months and spend some quality time with your family, friends and loved ones. I wish everybody a safe, happy and prosperous 2025.

Mr ALISTER HENSKENS (Wahroonga) (13:06:15):

I must say that I greatly enjoyed the Christmas felicitations speech made by the Leader of the House. It reminded me of what people often say to us in this place, "How do you actually get on with the other people in the Chamber?" All they see is the argy-bargy of question time and sometimes members getting a little hot in debates. I often say to my friends who live very close to where you live, Madam Deputy Speaker, that the member for Wallsend is a great person and always seems to have her heart in the right place. It is sometimes forgotten that we are all human beings. We are all working in this place, as the Leader of the House said, with the best interests of the community in mind, notwithstanding the fact that from time to time we may have different views on how that can be achieved. I thank the Leader of the House for his kind words.

As the Manager of Opposition Business, it is a great privilege to be given the opportunity to deliver a Christmas message to the people in this building, our staff members, the people of New South Wales and the people of my fantastic electorate of Wahroonga. The Leader of the House ended his contribution by acknowledging his family. My family is in a slightly different position because my children did know my life before I entered this place. When I was preselected, my 16-year-old daughter said, "This is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to me, Dad." My 14-year-old son showed the great loyalty that he has always shown me and said, "You'll be great, Dad. Good on you. You're really stepping up your community engagement by becoming a member of Parliament." I have been very fortunate, as has the Leader of the House, to have the support of those close to me, as well as my brothers, sisters, mother and now departed father, who was still alive when I was elected to this place. They pay a big penalty in the time they get to spend with us so that we can be in public life. It is important to acknowledge them.

This is a hard time for many people at the moment. The economy ebbs and flows, and times are not easy for a lot of people. The cost of living is a massive issue in the community. We must acknowledge that Christmas will not be an easy period for many people. Many people will not be able to enjoy Christmas in the way that they have in the past. We are thinking of them and we acknowledge their hardships and struggles. People think my electorate is universally full of people who are very well-off, but there are many struggling seniors on fixed incomes who are asset rich but income poor, as they say. Many people are struggling not just in my electorate but all over the State. We must acknowledge that.

I note the Speaker has entered the Chamber. I thank him and know that his is not an easy job. We all know the Speaker always does his absolute best in that job. He does his best to be fair to everyone, and we all respect that. We thank the Speaker for doing that and for taking on the burden of that very important job within Parliament. I thank also the Clerk, Helen Minnican, Deputy Clerk Carly Maxwell, Jonathan Elliott, Simon Johnston and all of the Legislative Assembly team for their diligent advice. We do not have many staff in Opposition, so their assistance is particularly important. I thank the staff from Hansard, the Table Office and Parliamentary Counsel.

I thank the security officers, cleaners and hospitality staff. I thank our IT staff, whom I bug a lot because, despite the fact that I was the former technology Minister, I always seem to have technology issues to trouble them with. I have a brother who is a retired professor of computer science. I love technology; it is very logical. We just have to work out how to use it. We need help from people from time to time. To all the staff who keep this Parliament going, I thank them very much for their work and acknowledge what they do and how important that is to our role as MPs.

I thank the Leader of the House, Ron Hoenig, for working with me this year. We have had the opportunity to work in each other's former positions. I am glad that we are able to work cordially and cooperatively together. I acknowledge all the MPs in this Chamber. I acknowledge my other opposite number, the Attorney General. The Attorney General has an incredibly important role in the Government of this State and to protect the rule of law. I thank him for the way in which he is discharging that important position. As another year in Opposition passes, and as the Leader of the House correctly identified, it is important to good government that we have good oppositions. I thank the Opposition leadership team, which meets early every morning on parliamentary sitting days and at other times from time to time.

I thank the Leader of the Opposition, the member for Cronulla. I thank the member for Hawkesbury, our Deputy Leader of the Opposition in this House. I thank the member for Terrigal, our Opposition Whip, and all our parliamentary colleagues. I thank Andrew Humpherson, a former member of this place, who assists me in my role as Manager of Opposition Business. Of course, I acknowledge my great electorate office staff. Deanna Turner has been with me every day that I have been an MP. She is my most senior electorate officer. She is not only a highly intelligent and experienced person but also one of the most compassionate people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. She is great with people, which is so important in a people-related occupation like working for a member of Parliament.

Macquarie Street Matters

I thank Fleur Findlay. She is an exceptional lawyer who has come into my office and is doing great work. I thank Steph Le Bas, who is in the Speaker's gallery. She is my communications employee and does a great job in so many different ways, including with the much talked about podcast. I thank Mitch Karadinovski, who is also helping us with social media and other digital content. I thank also Emily Kerris. She formerly worked for me full time but now fills in from time to time. I acknowledge the counsel that my former ministerial staff give me from time to time when I get myself into trouble and need advice. I thank them very much for their assistance during the year. It is great to catch up and keep in contact with them. I assure all members that we will continue to keep working hard in Parliament to keep the Government accountable. Oppositions are incredibly important to good government, democracy and the freedoms we enjoy.

Every year that we get to serve in this Parliament, in whatever capacity, is a great honour and privilege. I am so glad that the people of Wahroonga have put their faith in me to represent them in this place. I thank all of them. I thank the schools, sporting clubs and volunteers. My electorate has some of the highest levels of volunteerism in the entire State. That includes many of my constituents who volunteer in the Lifeline centre at Gordon. That 24/7 centre looks after people in need. There are many other organisations that look after and take care of people, whether they be the SES, the RFS or Easy Care Gardening—it does not matter. I have a fantastic electorate. I thank all of them for being the people they are. I conclude by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah and happy new year. I look forward to seeing everyone again next year to resume our important work.

Mr GREG PIPER (Lake Macquarie) (13:16:33):

It has been a very interesting first full year of the Fifty‑Eighth Parliament. From a political point of view, a lot of business has been transacted in this House, albeit in only 15 full weeks of parliamentary sittings. But as the Leader of the House referenced earlier, a lot has certainly been achieved. The Parliament itself has seen a lot of activity. It is 200 years since the embryonic parliamentary system was established here, not just in New South Wales but in Australia, with the Legislative Council sitting in the Wentworth Room just behind this Chamber.

It is an honour for us all to be elected to this place at any time in its history, but especially to be here at a time when we celebrate 200 years since the establishment of parliamentary democracy. It is a great privilege for each and every one of us. I am very proud of how the Parliament has responded to the pressures upon it through that period. The Legislative Council's bicentenary celebrations required an awful lot of resources and incredible expertise and commitment from our staff and members right across the Parliament. In the lead‑up to the celebrations, we also had the first visit by a male monarch, King Charles III, which went off without a hitch. That was only delivered because of the extraordinary work that went on behind the scenes.

Many people make significant contributions to ensuring the Parliament runs on a daily basis so that we can open, operate throughout the day, close and then start again the following day. Our staff, in particular, do that with exceptional professionalism. I believe our members assist and guide this place to be a professional, diverse and generally happy workplace. I thank the members of the crossbench. I spend a lot of time with them, even though I have mostly separated myself in my role as the Speaker. But I thank all of those crossbench members for their collegiality. I call out the new member for Pittwater. Having just come into this Parliament, I imagine she was wondering just what she had got herself into as the parliamentary year came to a bit of a climax. I know she has hit the road running and got lots of good advice and certainly lots of energy. I am sure she will do well.

I acknowledge the Speaker's panel. Madam Deputy Speaker, thank you for everything you do to make sure that this place can run. The Speaker's team is really important to running this place, particularly when we have some of those extraordinary long days, which happens from time to time. So I thank you and the member for Strathfield, the Assistant Speaker. We have a number of Temporary Speakers, being the member for Sydney, the inimitable member for Cessnock, the member for Drummoyne, the member for Parramatta and the member for Oxley. The latter four members are relatively new into this place and took up those roles. Unless you have been here for some time, it is hard to understand how the Parliament works. Most members who sit on the backbench, and even perhaps some members who have been Parliamentary Secretaries or Ministers, might not understand the details of how Parliament works as much as the Leader of the House and the Manager of the Opposition Business and those on the Speaker's team do. But a lot of work goes on, and I thank them for that.

I thank the leaders of the Government and of the Opposition. The Premier and I sometimes have differences of opinion in the Chamber during question time, but I really appreciate the way in which he has been so considerate of me in my role as Speaker. He has always listened to me—though not so much in question time—and we have had really productive and collegial discussions on a regular basis. I thank the Premier and wish him and his family, particularly Anna, a wonderful Christmas break. It was lovely to hear the Deputy Premier's words earlier. I thank her.

The Leader of the House had some eloquent words for how he feels about the Leader of the Opposition. Nobody would ever meet the Leader of the Opposition and not immediately realise that he is an honourable person. It is a tough gig. I have never been in opposition, but I do get to see it and I appreciate how hard it is. I was disappointed to have to send the Deputy Leader of the Opposition out of the Chamber yesterday and he missed out on the Parliamentary Friends of Seafood event. It is noteworthy that we all have a good working relationship. I acknowledge all the Ministers, who work so well to try to help everybody, even members of the Opposition. My observation is that where there is an important, legitimate issue, the Ministers are always there. They take it objectively. The Ministers are not there to serve their side of the House. They are there to serve the needs of the community.

The Leader of the House and I spend a lot of time together. How we have resolved many of the issues in this House has been quite extraordinary. It is not the first time. In the previous Parliament, the Fifty-Seventh Parliament, the roles were reversed. The member for Heffron and the member for Wahroonga, as Manager of Opposition Business, and I have dealt with each other for some time. I thank them for the collegial way in which we do it. I thank the Whips. It is wonderful to work with the member for Leppington and the inimitable member for Lismore. I thank the member for Terrigal, the Opposition Whip, and the new revelation, the Nationals Whip. What a decent person the member for Clarence is.

I thank the people of Lake Macquarie. Of course, I would not be here making this contribution if it were not for them re-electing me. I really do appreciate that. I do not understand why I maintain such support, but it is very much appreciated. One of the reasons I know I maintain such support is my staff. I acknowledge and thank my senior electorate officer, Belinda Pevy, as well as Kim Williamson, Alex Freeland, Debra Dennis and Francesca Arciuli-Matar, who I poached from the Legislative Assembly committees team. She is fantastic. I send my sympathies to the Legislative Assembly staff and Clerks, but she is a fantastic addition to Lake Macquarie. I have also picked up Jake Foster, who is working as a temp in my office. I do a lot of community engagement. I thank Madeleine McKell and Trudy Craig, who are responsible for all the visitors I get. Every now and then I have visitors in the public gallery.

I acknowledge the staff of the Legislative Assembly. I thank Clerk Helen Minnican for everything she does. The sage advice she provides is greatly received. I thank Deputy Clerk Carly Maxwell, Simon Johnston and Todd Buttsworth—or "Mace Man", as I call him. I thank also Jonathan Elliott, John Young and all their staff. I thank Rohan Tyler, whom no-one has mentioned today. He has been backing us up here for a long time. I thank the attendants, including, of course, Ian Delahunty, who is a legend around this place. I really do appreciate Ian, Monica, Matt, Chris, Blake, Eve and Nathan, and it was wonderful to farewell Danny Heldal just recently.

We have a lot to do with the Legislative Council, although there is sometimes some contest between the Houses. The team of the Speaker and the President has been very collegial and beneficial to the Parliament. I acknowledge President Ben Franklin and his chief of staff, Will Coates. I thank Rebel Neary, Dave Smith and Damian Spinks. I thank Legislative Council Clerk David Blunt.

I thank the staff of the Department of Parliamentary Services. I acknowledge CEO Mark Webb, Melinda McIntyre and the leadership team for the parliamentary division: Julie Langsworth, Matthew Dobson and Janson Hews. I thank Will de Vos, Toby Loo, Helen Gors and Margaret Palmer, who run the corporate services division. I thank Rob Nielsen and Danielle Schefer, who lead the branches making our capital works and technology projects come together. I recognise Rob Nielsen and his team for the amazing work they have done to restore this building and bring it up to a standard that can hopefully survive another 200 years.

There are so many people to mention. I thank the IT and digital transformation crews. I give a big shout out to Helen Johnston and her husband. The reason her husband will remain nameless is thanks to Stephen Smith. If Helen is listening, she can blame Stephen for that. I thank building services and the capital works team. I thank catering, including Lee Kwiez, Carlos Andrade, Vanessa Harcourt and the rest of the team, especially Kim, Anong and Mai. I thank the cleaning team, particularly Carmen, who looks after this Chamber—she is amazing—Gusti and Jon Vega.

I acknowledge the finance and governance team, and members entitlements and Tass. I acknowledge human services and Michelle Bartolo. I thank our security team. Security was a big issue for us this year. We have been talking about it a lot. I want members to know that it is taken very seriously, particularly by our security team. I thank Anthony Macvean and Ralph Ewen. I thank the library and research crews, including Deb Bennett and Nicola Dunbar. I thank the media team, including Ingrid Lane and Taylah Ribarovski, and the education and engagement team, including Jeannie Douglass. I thank the Hansard team—I will not be able to name them all—led by Vanessa Schlenert. I also thank Lisa. I acknowledge the audiovisual team, led by Mick Kennedy. I thank our Aboriginal engagement team, including Joe Stewart and Damon Goolagong.

I thank "Team Speaker". The person who keeps the place going and deals with all the difficult, complex issues is Jason Gordon. Jason is a legend with a huge capacity for work and can get his head around complicated matters. I thank Shu-Fang Wei, Jodi Rahme and Ally Hawes. I thank my drivers, Gerry and Floyd, for everything they do, as all drivers do for all members.

I thank all members in the Chamber. The members treat me very well, even if I do not always treat them very well. I do try. Most people are very surprised at how well we all get along when we come into his Chamber to say nice things about each other at Christmas. But it is the reality, and we do treat each other well most of the time. It is generally the exception when we do not. I thank all members for their collegiality, their friendship and what they do for their electorates and democracy in New South Wales.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

It being 1.30 p.m., in accordance with the resolution of 13 November 2024, business before the House is interrupted. I shall now leave the chair. The House will resume at 2.30 p.m.

Mr NATHAN HAGARTY (Leppington) (14:30:04):

As I give my felicitations, I note for those in the packed gallery and those watching at home that, thankfully for them, we have gone from a 10-minute limit to a five-minute limit on speaking time. We have had our share of spirited debates in this Chamber this year; I have probably been over-represented in some of the more controversial incidents in this Chamber. I extend my best wishes to all of my colleagues in this House and in the other place as we wind down for another well-earned break with family and friends.

First of all, a big thank you to the Speaker and the Speaker's panel for all their hard work and dedication. It is a difficult job at the best of times, and I genuinely appreciate the tone and the culture that you bring to this place, as do the other Speakers on the Speaker's panel. I acknowledge the Government leadership team: the Premier, the Deputy Premier and the entire front bench. I have had the immense privilege of being promoted to Whip relatively quickly in my career. One of the great privileges of being the Whip is being in the tactics meeting every morning and seeing the brains trust of the Government at work. I get to see the intellect, hard work, compassion and dedication of the team to serve our great State.

After nearly two years—20 months—in this place, the effect still has not worn off that each and every day we vote or speak on an issue that a friend, family member or colleague has raised with me in one of my previous careers. They said, "This is a problem that we should fix," and now I work each and every day to make this a better State and to make Leppington a better electorate. It is an immense privilege, and I am pretty sure that that special feeling never wears off as long as we are in this place.

Where would we be without the backbone of this place? I send my best regards to the parliamentary staff. They ensure that this place runs smoothly, day in and day out, despite the attempts by mainly members opposite—occasionally this side too—to cause havoc and chaos. I thank the Clerks, the Legislative Assembly team, Hansard, committee services, the library, IT, corporate services, building and facilities, security, food and catering and, of course, our wonderful cleaners. I give a special thanks to Gusti, who is the cleaner that comes in every morning and makes the Whip's office look prim and proper. An extra special thank you to her for bringing in a big container of homemade rendang during Ramadan this year. It is one of my favourite dishes, and it was delicious. It was very special.

As we talk about things running smoothly, I extend my deepest thank you to Colleen Symington in the Whip's office. She is exceptional in everything she does, from guidance to her dedication, expertise and support, both in a professional and a personal capacity. I cannot thank her enough, but I will try. Thank you, thank you, thank you. She does an amazing job, and I think we all recognise that in this place. To the Deputy Whip, the member for Lismore, thank you for your advice and wisdom. As a newbie to this place and to the Whip's role, I could not ask for a better partner in crime.

Speaking of partnerships, a big thanks to the Leader of the House, and Omar in his office. They are two of the people that I work most closely with. I am pretty lucky as someone who has not been here a very long time to have people who have the experience that they do. I also extend a thanks to the Opposition Whip and the Deputy Opposition Whip and to Bo in the Opposition Whip's office. I do not know how she does it, but she is chirpy and happy and jolly every day of the week. It is a talent; it is a skill. Thank you for your collaboration and efforts throughout the year.

Closer to home, I thank my staff: my senior electorate officer, Sharon; and Nick, Zeli and Shannen. Every minute and every hour I spend doing this job, Leppington is still out there, and they do a fantastic job in that regard. We know our families make immense sacrifices for us in this job. I thank my family: my wife, Christy, and my two amazing children, Evan and Nia. Nia graduated from school this year and already has a job. I came home last night, after we finished here a bit early, and she was on the couch talking to my wife, her mum, about the day at work. You do miss your family, and things go in a snap, especially when we are in this place. We have reached a very big milestone in the Hagarty household.

Christmas in Hollis

I did my first Leppington Christmas card competition this year. I thank Alicia Li from Leppington Primary School, who was the winner. There were some fantastic entries from Sarrinah, Petar, Sai, Advik, Erin, Zaafirah, Inessa and Irene from a whole bunch of schools across the electorate. Mason and Serah also put in some highly commended efforts. The people of Leppington are part of a growing community. It is an immense privilege to be your member and to be your member at a time when it is growing. I have such an important role in shaping and building that community with you. As I said, it is an immense privilege, and it has been fantastic to represent you for one more year. Now, it is a well-known fact that I am a fan of hip-hop, so I would like to end on this note. In the immortal words of Run-D.M.C. from their yuletide classic :

The time is now, the place is here

And the whole wide world is filled with cheer

My name's D.M.C. with the mic in my hand

And I'm chilling and coolin' just like a snowman

So open your eyes, lend us an ear

We wanna say, Merry Christmas and happy New Year

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Ms Stephanie Di Pasqua):

I thank the member for Leppington. That is why we allowed him to go for over five minutes.

Mr ADAM CROUCH (Terrigal) (14:37:05):

It was worth the wait. I am filled with immense gratitude and warm wishes for all who contribute to the life and work here in this Chamber. To every member on both sides of the House—and to the dedicated staff and families who support you—I wish you all a safe, joyful and peaceful Christmas. May this season bring you rest, laughter and cherished time with loved ones. To the many people who ensure the smooth running of this place, their dedication behind the scenes allows the important work of the House to continue uninterrupted.

To the Speaker, I thank him for his leadership in the Chamber and for the good humour it takes to keep a rein on the bear pit. I acknowledge that it was he who threw me out for the first time in almost eight years—for a minute and 34 seconds. If you blinked, you missed it; it should not have been longer. I also thank Jason, Jodi, Shu-Fang and Ally in the Speaker's office for keeping the camaraderie in the Executive corridor going. Many thanks to the Deputy Speaker, the Assistant Speaker and the entire Speaker's panel—in particular, the member for Drummoyne and the member for Oxley. In the words of Temporary Speaker Barr, we will keep it "less words, more brief" in 2025.

Thank you to the Leader of the House for his "Rontent"; obviously we enjoy watching all of it. A special thank you to Omar, who really does keep the place running. Omar, anytime you want a job, you are more than welcome to pop up to Terrigal, mate. You would look great in a blue T-shirt. To the Manager of Opposition Business, keep your content coming as well. Thank you for your advice. I also thank Stephanie and Andrew for the great work they do with you. To the Government Whip, thanks for voting with us this year. We really appreciate that. I also thank the Deputy Government Whip and the Opposition Whip in the other place, the Hon. Chris Rath, and my Nationals Whip, the incredible member for Clarence. Being Whips could descend into madness, but your collegiate approach to this blood sport keeps each sitting day—even Fridays—an experience. Colleen, I absolutely agree with the Government Whip: You are a total rockstar. Keep looking after the Whip; he needs all the help you can give him.

I take this moment to also acknowledge my incredible leader, Mark Speakman—Senior Counsel, Opposition leader and Leader of the Liberals—and his incredible staff. You could not meet a better, more honest or more hardworking man. To his incredible chief of staff, Cheryl Gwilliam, thanks, Cheryl; you know exactly why. Kit Hale, Clem Hall, who never sleeps, Liam Kiss, Nick Johnston, Nicolle Nasr, Yianni Economou and Sinclair Hall, who is the Hon. Natalie Ward's right-hand man, thank you. Mark, your care, compassion and tireless commitment to the people of New South Wales, and your silver Honda Jazz, are truly inspiring. It is an honour and a privilege to be your whip and part of your shadow Cabinet.

To our leadership team, Natalie Ward and Damien Tudehope in the other place, and our Nationals partners Dugald Saunders, Gurmesh Singh and Sarah Mitchell, all I say is two more years. I acknowledge the shadow Cabinet members and their staff, who do an amazing job. Almost two years in opposition has given you the grit, hunger and determination to work for the great people of New South Wales. That could not be done without our staff. They have a tough job in balancing the many and varying demands on their time, especially as shadow Ministers. While it is not possible to name all staff, I particularly mention the following people for their incredible work this year: Rory Cunningham, Emma Toole, Georgia Saeck, Cooper Gannon and Deyi Wu. Thanks for keeping everything ticking along.

I would be remiss if I did not highlight the incredible work of the Clerks, whose procedural expertise is indispensable. The amazing and wonderful Helen Minnican, Carly Maxwell, Simon Johnston, Jonathan Elliott, Amanda Alam, Emma Wood and Todd Buttsworth, thank you for all of the support you give us. I also extend my gratitude to the Hansard team who have the unenviable task of transforming every weird utterance in this Chamber into polished lines. The Chamber attendants, who I will never challenge to a game of poker, Blake, Chris, Eve, Ian, Janish, Monica and Nathan—but I will challenge Matt because that guy has not got Clerk face happening yet—thank you for looking after us. To Danny, mate, cheers, you will be missed.

To facilities, cleaning and maintenance, members entitlements, IT services, HR, security, property, and the incredible research, library, and education teams, the great teams you have here are absolutely outstanding. Our award-winning chefs and catering staff, and the wonderful Kylie down in Cafe Quorum who keeps me caffeinated and fed—your smile, Kylie, is endearing—thank you. To the special constables who work tirelessly to keep us safe every day, I say thank you. Your dedication allows us to carry out our duties with confidence. My whip's adviser, Bo Ok, oh my God, she is an incredible woman who is full of energy and happiness. There is never a day where she does not uplift everyone who meets her. I wish her a merry Christmas and I hope she gets to enjoy a well-earned break.

Terrigal is the greatest electorate in New South Wales, and I have the greatest community in New South Wales. Your never-ending support and love, especially this year, reminds me of why we do what we do every day. Jack, my senior electorate officer and captain of Team Terrigal, you have stepped into the role without hesitation and have created a wonderful team, both inside the office and in our electorate. I could not do this without you.

Thank you to the superb Donna, who looks after every single one of our constituents and always keeps me level‑headed and up to date with all my Christmas cards and new constituent letters. Julie, who always makes sure my diary is filled to the brim with appointments and events and makes sure I am where I need to be, you are truly marvellous. Debra is a master of efficiency in the office and is always prepared to step up to the plate and lend a helping hand when needed no matter the job. The work you all do daily for our community does not go unnoticed. You make a real difference, and I am endlessly grateful and so proud of the work you do and the support you give me.

I also express my deepest gratitude to our local Liberal branch executives and members. Your unwavering support and care have meant so much to me, especially this year. To everyone in this Chamber and beyond, I wish you a very merry Christmas, a safe and happy new year and a refreshing break with loved ones. Let us look forward to 2025 with renewed energy and embrace the opportunities and challenges ahead. Enjoy your time with every one of your loved ones this year. Every moment matters.

Ms JANELLE SAFFIN (Lismore) (14:43:17):

To the Opposition Whip, or Crouchy as we affectionately call him, thank you for everything that you said, but also our thoughts are with him, particularly at Christmas time. I love Christmas because it is a season of joy. It is when we can let go, or we should, of some worries and past grievances to embrace each other as all part of what I call the wonderful human family. Also, we can continue to hold out a hand and our hearts to those who find Christmas challenging and confronting, let them know that we are with them at this time of year and do what we can to make it just that little bit better. Yesterday I was with the member for Clarence and some other members and he said that we develop unique friendships in Parliament. We certainly do, and we are like one big family—sometimes quite dysfunctional. We cannot help but develop relationships, affections and all sorts of things for each other because we spend a lot of time with each other. As some people say, we probably spend more time with each other than with our partners.

Mr Paul Scully:

And they are grateful.

Ms JANELLE SAFFIN:

No comment to Minister Scully. I thank the team around me, particularly as the Deputy Government Whip. Working with the member for Leppington, the Government Whip, has been terrific. It is the first time we have worked together. We have developed a very close working relationship. He is wonderful to work with, along with his team. They are great to work with. I have got to know his wife, Christy, really well—she is a great cook. I also thank Colleen Symington, who is just brilliant. Nothing works without her. The wheels stay on because of what she does. She can focus with everybody in the room talking all at once, being loud and eating lollies and chocolates. They go in and out of the room and she stays completely focused and on track and makes sure that everybody does what they should do. There are a few recalcitrants, but I will not name them.

I thank the Opposition Whip, Crouchy, and his deputy, Richie, the member for Clarence. Richie and I were already friends before we came to Parliament; that friendship prevails. It is really nice that we get to work with each other in Parliament. We worked together when he was a mayor and I was a Federal member. We did a lot together, and we are still doing a lot together and that will continue. The Leader of the House, Ron Hoenig, is wonderful, considerate and kind. He and Omar do a great job in this House. I thank the Manager of Opposition Business in the House, Alister Henskens. It is important that we have a strong government and an equally strong opposition.

I thank the main Clerks at the table, Helen, Carly, Simon, Jonathan, Sam, John, Amanda and Todd. I thank other staff of the Legislative Assembly, including Leon, Stephanie, Rohan, Kieran, Emma, Jenny, Eline, Manuela, Isabella, Hayley, Chris, Alex and Joan. I thank other people in the team who support everyone in the Chamber, including Ian, Chris, Danny, who is retired—we love Danny and will miss his presence—Blake, Eve, Monica, Matt, Nathan, Dave and Janish. I thank Ashlee Dunn from the Table Office—Colleen appreciates her work. To Hansard, thank you for the wonderful work you do. I do not know how you do it. Thank you for correcting our grammar, mispronunciations and all sorts of things. I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas. Merry Christmas.

Mr RICHIE WILLIAMSON (Clarence) (14:48:43):

The year is coming to a close and it is time to reflect on the past 12 months and look forward to both the challenges and the rewards of the 2025 parliamentary year. What that may hold, heaven knows, but I can genuinely say that the members of this House are all on team New South Wales. Both inside and outside of the Chamber, as the member for Lismore said, unique friendships are formed. Those who watch question time probably get the wrong impression of the parliamentarians who work in this place. I wish the Premier, his Ministers and all members of his Government the very best for Christmas. I hope that you all genuinely get time to put your feet up, relax with your family and friends and come back refreshed for 2025. I hope you get the chance to love your loved ones. We should be kind every day, but that should be highlighted at Christmas.

To my fellow Nationals colleagues in this place, led by Dugald Saunders, I wish you all a very merry Christmas. As the only party totally focused on regional and rural New South Wales, it is a tough gig to bring the bush to Macquarie Street. We spend a lot of time away from our families and friends, but together I believe we are making a difference in the cog that is Parliament through the decisions that are made in this place. To my colleagues, I thank you for your support and I genuinely wish you all a very merry Christmas. To the Leader of the Opposition, Mark Speakman, and the other members of the Opposition, I too wish you all the very best for Christmas and look forward to holding the Government to account next year.

I acknowledge that while Christmas is a joyous time for most of us in this place, that is not always the case for everybody in New South Wales. I acknowledge the people and families who are faced with challenges at this time, not only in my electorate of Clarence but all over New South Wales. To the next-door neighbours who offer a cuppa or a chat at Christmas, invite someone who is alone for the first time at Christmas into their home, or donate food or a toy for a child, you know who you are. Collectively, we say thank you. To the police, the doctors, the nurses, the ambulance crews, the Rural Fire Service, the voluntary rescue squads, Fire and Rescue NSW, the coastguards, the surf lifesavers, the SES volunteers, and everyone else involved in the emergency services, thank you. I hope you have a quiet Christmas and you are not run off your feet. All of us in this place sleep easier at night knowing that, when the phone rings or the text message arrives, you are there to support our community.

I thank my fellow Whips. To the member for Leppington, Nath, it has been wonderful to get to know you in my short time in the role; to the member for Terrigal, Adam, thank you for your guidance; and to my friend and next-door neighbour electorally, Janelle, I wish you a very merry Christmas. To the Whips' staff, Bo and Georgia, you make this side of the House tick. Thank you for your ongoing guidance and your support. You make our job so much easier. I particularly put on the record my thanks to the Speaker's panel, the Clerks and Hansard. There are a lot of moving parts in this place, and you all play a very important role in democracy in New South Wales.

To all of my constituents at home, I wish you all a very merry Christmas. A lot of us will be heading to the beach this summer. If you do go to the beach, please stay safe. We want you back next year. I thank my electorate office staff, Debbie, Christine, Melissa, Jodi and Sarah, for their work keeping the wheels turning at home whilst I am here in Parliament. I conclude by genuinely wishing all members in this place, no matter what side of the House you are on, a very happy, safe and holy Christmas. I look forward to seeing you all again in 2025.

Mr DAVID MEHAN (The Entrance) (14:54:01):

At the outset I thank the people of The Entrance electorate. It is an absolute honour to be their representative in the oldest Parliament in the country. I follow that by particularly thanking the working people of the Central Coast and across New South Wales for keeping the State moving. I express my hope that I can be part of a group of people who will continue Labor's historic purpose of building a better world and improving the conditions of the working class more generally. Speaking of the working class, I thank the public servants throughout New South Wales. They are crucial to Labor's aim of making this State better for all its citizens by providing the services they voted for and that they said they need and deserve.

Speaking of servants of the State, I particularly thank the Clerks, who keep this House running; Hansard, who turn my mumbles into fine prose; and all the other staff—I will not name them all—who keep Parliament House running. They are a wonder to behold. It gives me great pleasure to come here and see the place move so smoothly because of their work. I thank my colleagues, who I continue to enjoy working with, as I have since I was elected in 2015. It is an honour to be part of this Labor Government. In particular in that regard I acknowledge the leadership of the Premier, Chris Minns. This is a Labor government to be proud of, and I am super honoured to have been given a small role in the Government as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer. I thank the Treasurer and all the staff in his office for the support they have shown me in the short time we have been in government.

My staff are absolutely essential to the role I perform in the House and in the community. I am well served by Catherine Wall, Alfat Karnib, Dani Atherden and Bridget Wall, who collectively work out issues to do the best they can for my community. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. In terms of the staff who support us in Parliament, I cannot not mention Colleen Symington. When the history of this Labor Government is written, Colleen's role in opposition and in government supporting the business of the House and making sure we do what we need to do from day to day will be part of that history. I also acknowledge the leader's office, Omar and the Whips for the work they do.

I give a special shout-out to some of my constituents for the work they have done in my community, including Josephine Johnston, who has been a tremendous help with the campaign to get lifts at Tuggerah station; Judy Townsend, who has been a really important part of building the Bateau Bay community and making sure it gets what it needs; and Di Willard and the Ourimbah Region Residents Association for the work they have done to make their community an important part of my electorate. I also acknowledge Sidonie Shaw for her work with the Central Coast Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service; Jade Brown, who is the leader of the homelessness network on the Central Coast; and Scott Goold, who is a really important, dynamic and refreshing leader of the local business community at Business NSW (Central Coast). I thank you for your work. I also give a shout-out to the new Central Coast Council councillors. I wish you all the very best. I acknowledge the role that Anne Sullivan played in the Australian Labor Party on the coast in getting them to work together during the campaign, and the role she still plays now that they have taken their seats on the council.

I want to thank my family: Deanne, for her love and forbearance, and my children for understanding the obligations I have as a representative and my ambition to represent the people of the Central Coast and what that has meant for our lives. I want to acknowledge Melissa Norris, the mother of my children. I would not have been able to get here without the sacrifices she made over many, many years. Finally, I wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Ms KELLIE SLOANE (Vaucluse) (14:59:16):

I send my best wishes to the people of my local community this coming festive season. Merry Christmas and also happy Hanukkah, because it overflows this year. May it be filled with love, family, relaxation and joy for all. As we come to the end of the year, it is natural that we all reflect on the year that was. In truth, 2024 has a been a year filled with a lot of heartache for my electorate. In April our State and my community was left in a state of shock by the Bondi Junction attack. That senseless attack claimed six lives and left many more injured. It was an attack on a place central to our community, a place where so many of us meet friends, shop and where our kids hang out during the school holidays. Many families, first responders and retail staff still live with the memories of what happened on that day. Many are still processing the trauma of those events. Some will never be the same. For those who lost loved ones on that day, this holiday season will be especially painful. For any family mourning a lost loved one, the empty seat at the Christmas table is a cruel reminder of that missing part of their hearts and of the person who cannot be replaced but will always be remembered and always be loved.

With the largest Jewish population of any electorate, my community has also continued to deal with the fallout of the 7 October attacks. Overnight we saw that clearly in our community, with anti-Israel vandalism on cars, restaurants and homes, and a car set on fire. They were deliberate acts, designed to intimidate, harass and silence the Jewish community. I have witnessed what 7 October has done to our local Jewish community. It has brought to the fore deep wounds that people did not remember or know they had. Generational anguish is coming back to the surface. That is because of not just what happened on 7 October but also what followed the attack—the rise in antisemitism and the fear for the safety of loved ones and children. I have spoken with so many Jewish constituents who never thought they would see or experience what they have in this past year.

Though my local community has experienced heartache, there has also been hope. At this time of year it is important for us to reflect on the messages of hope and peace that are central to the Christmas and Hanukkah stories, and to remember the goodness in our world. This year we have been reminded that where there is evil and hatred, there is also bravery and good. We saw bravery in the actions of inspector Amy Scott and in ordinary people in our community who raced to help others. We saw it in the police and paramedics who put their lives on the line every day. They rush to danger when others are running away. We have seen it in the countless Australians who have called out hatred and disrespect not just towards the Jewish community but towards any community. They are the people who push for social cohesion and harmony that we cherish and which we hope will come forth in the new year.

People have reminded us that there is more that unites us as in Australia than divides us. In my electorate we are lucky to have so many organisations and individuals who embody the best of our State. I recognise them—from the lifesavers at Bondi and North Bondi who will keep our beaches safe this summer, to the volunteers who help the most vulnerable, like those at Lifeline Bondi, Jewish House, Bondi Beach Cottage and Lokahi. For the work of our incredible churches and shuls, and our principals and teachers—who no doubt will be looking forward to a nice summer break—I thank them. I thank the eastern suburbs local police, led by Detective Superintendent Jodi Radmore: Every year the work she does is incredible, but this year many people of the eastern suburbs would especially want me to acknowledge her for what she has done for our community. To our paramedics and the firies, I thank you. I note that the Minister for Emergency Services is in the Chamber, and I thank him for his work.

To our nurses, doctors and healthcare staff—many of whom will also be working hard this Christmas period—and to the retail staff, I say thank you. I especially acknowledge my electorate staff who do incredible work helping the people of Vaucluse: Dylan Gojak, Nick McNamara, Carol Freeman, Olivia Di Pasqua and also Nan. I thank the parliamentary staff who keep this place running efficiently and deliver for the people of New South Wales, especially those in Cafe Quorum who keep us caffeinated and fed, which is very important— Kylie and the team. I thank our leader, Mark Speakman, for his extraordinary commitment to this State and to our party. I thank my parliamentary colleagues. I thank the Speaker and his team. To everyone in Parliament, from across the aisle, I say Merry Christmas, and have a safe and happy new year.

Mr JIHAD DIB (BankstownMinister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Minister for Emergency Services, and Minister for Youth Justice) (15:04:23):

— It is lovely to continue the Christmas felicitations. This is our time to say thank you for everything that has happened and reflect on the year. I begin by thanking the Premier and the Deputy Premier for their leadership. It is a great honour to be a Minister. I am joined by my ministerial colleague and friend Minister Scully. We spend a lot of time together doing things with the Reconstruction Authority. I have many stories to tell, but I only have five minutes so I will save that for another time. I also acknowledge the leadership of the Opposition. We have been in opposition; it is a tough gig. Leadership in opposition is a really tough job—every day we had to get up, dust ourselves off and give it our best crack. I genuinely say that the Leader of the Opposition is a good and decent man. I wish him and the Leader of The Nationals, the member for Dubbo, all the best.

I also acknowledge the shadow Ministers, including the member for Manly and member for Coffs Harbour. It is important to acknowledge that while Government and Opposition members might sit on different sides of the Chamber and have different reasons for coming to Parliament, we are here for the same purpose. I acknowledge Judy Hannan, an Independent, who is in the Chamber. It is an interesting Parliament. It is the first one with such a large crossbench, and that makes it better. It means we have more diverse voices in the Parliament. I acknowledge the work that the Independents and crossbenchers do, particularly the relationship that we have developed with them. Again, it does not matter what colour members come in as. When they come to this place, they come in with the same purpose, which is to be the best they can be for their local community and, ultimately, for the State. That does not change, no matter where we sit in this Chamber. It is an important point to make.

I acknowledge the Speaker and his team. As an Independent Speaker, he is genuinely independent. He is a good man. Sometimes we give him a hard time—well, the Opposition does; we on this side do not. We are always perfectly behaved. He has good grace and incredible humility. The team that he leads—including Madam Temporary Speaker, the member for Drummoyne—is really wonderful. We try our best as Ministers with our extra responsibilities and we have an exceptional, united and close team that supports one another. I have talked about my relationship with the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces through our work with the Reconstruction Authority, but we all work together, which is clear to the Parliament. That could not happen if we did not have an incredible support network and a cheer squad around us in our ministerial offices. I cannot list all the people in the ministerial office because I am short on time. I do thank Zoë and James for leading the team for me, as well as all the team. I thank Kim, and Belinda before her, for making sure that I get to everywhere I need to be, Mark, Emily, Rabia and Curt—I said I was not going to name them but there are a few more. I also thank all the department liaison officers who have played an incredible part.

I thank a special team that I have had on and off since I began my time in this place, and that is my electorate office. We come here because of our local community. Some of us get to become Ministers, which is an enormous privilege, but our first title is still the member for our electorate. I am the proud member for Bankstown. So to Beryl, Dylan, Alah, Leila and Carissa, g'day, I hope that you're watching! I thank them for everything they do and for always ensuring that I spread the voices of our community. I could not do it without them. I also thank them for making sure I never lose sight of what is important for our community, which has experienced a very difficult year. We will continue to do all we can for our community.

I cannot forget to thank Helen Minnican and the team, who are incredible and exceptional. They give beautiful advice and are always kind—they laugh at my jokes when no-one else does, so I really appreciate them. To that point, Hansard somehow makes me sound more intelligent than I am. I thank them. I thank the table attendants for always helping me when I forget my phone and tags, and also for their politeness and kindness. The team is also made up of the cleaners, the caterers, the special constables and the media. Everyone is part of the ecosystem that makes the New South Wales Parliament, whether they work in an electorate office in Punchbowl or in this building making someone a cup of coffee or cleaning. We are all part of the system. If one part of it breaks down, it does not work.

I thank Colleen Symington. Colleen is the unsung hero for us, and for me especially over the past 10 years. She is an amazing human being who makes sure that she finds time for every person. People in the Whip's office—and it would be the same for the Opposition—do incredible work. They probably do not get enough thanks. I thank Colleen for all that she does. We are here for others. We are all part of the parliamentary ecosystem, as I said, and we all do our bit because we all believe in making New South Wales a better place. While sometimes it looks a little unsettled, we are all focused on making sure that we deliver the best outcomes. I wish everybody—whether they celebrate Christmas or not—a merry Christmas and all the best. I hope they stay safe. I hope my emergency services staff stay safe and I hope the people of New South Wales stay safe. I encourage people to look after themselves. I will see them again next year.

Mrs JUDY HANNAN (Wollondilly) (15:10:47):

I am so lucky to live in and represent the people of Wollondilly electorate, from Warragamba to Burradoo. I appreciate all the things that we have been given and have received, and look forward to future opportunities to fight for. For me, Christmas is a time of reflection and thankfulness. Like previous members who have spoken today, I thank the Clerks, all members, our staff, the people who look after us on committees, the cleaners and the restaurant people. The cleaners helped me during the year by telling me that I had my skirt on backwards. The restaurant staff make sure that my guests get the right kind of food. It has been amazing. I very much thank everyone who makes this crazy place work.

Christmas is different for many people. Obviously, it is one of the major Christian celebrations of the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ and is a celebration of love, joy and kindness. Christians often attend church and follow beautiful traditions. It is also celebrated by people of non-Christian religions and countries—such as India, China, Japan and Korea—as a celebration of love. In the Northern Hemisphere, where some of my friends live, there are log fires, eggnog and cuddly jumpers, and the Family Circle biscuit selection. There are flourishes of holly or perhaps even a traditional tree.

In Australia we are amazing. We decorate our pine trees, we have pretend snow and we try to follow old traditions with roast dinners and puddings, sweating as the temperatures rise on the thermometer. I am not sure why we do that. Hopefully, barbeques and prawns will be on the agenda. Then comes the part that I am really looking forward to: the Santa Claus part. I have two beautiful grandsons and a little granddaughter. Excitedly and eagerly, we wait for Santa Claus to give us gifts—magically, while we are all asleep. For some, it might simply be a day off work and a time to relax.

I acknowledge three groups of people this Christmas. First, we need to remember that on this day, while each of us stop, celebrate and enjoy our brunches, lunches and dinners, there are others who are lonely, homeless and really doing it tough. To them, I say we care. The second group are the people who provide essential services, such as our police, paramedics, nurses, midwives and doctors, who continue to look after us and work all Christmas Day, missing out on celebrations with their families. I encourage people to look after themselves and be kind on Christmas Day because the need for emergency services increases into Christmas night and things can get quite ugly. I thank those people who work so hard for us.

The third group I acknowledge are my amazing staff and the volunteers who work in my office. That includes Louise, Ben, Sandra, Noel, Rose, Erin, Jeremy and Sue, and a couple of other volunteers who pop in and out. I thank them for all their support during the year and the crazy movies that we have just made—making a point about the 30‑minute cities that do not actually work. I also thank my husband, Neil. The office is an amazing place to be. People would be amazed to know we have an incubator, with ducklings coming in the next couple of weeks. Not only do we help each other and everyone in our area but also we say "family first", and that includes every person in Wollondilly, who is very welcome to pop into our office. This Christmas I hope people find love, hope and joy. I wish them all a very merry Christmas. May the warmth of the season stay with us all throughout the coming year.

Ms LIESL TESCH (Gosford) (15:14:38):

I thank my amazing staff and wish them a very merry Christmas. If it were not for my staff, goodness gracious, it would be chaos. They do a fantastic job looking after our community. Realistically, people come to the office of a local member of Parliament when every other system has let them down, so often people are incredibly distraught and upset. But my amazing office team have the patience of saints, an incredible wealth of knowledge and fantastic research skills. They do a fantastic job supporting people in our community and caring for each other. Not wanting to single anybody out, I am going to mention everybody. We are really going to miss beautiful Emily and the incredible work she has done in our team. I congratulate her on becoming a lawyer and wish her all the best in the Federal Attorney‑General's office. I very much thank Ella. We will miss her beautiful writing skills and wish her all the best on her next journey. We have also said goodbye to Nat, who is having a lovely time in Nepal.

We are welcoming some new people in our office next summer. One of the people who has been filling in on behalf of the others is Connor, who is a young person who is keen and diligent and such a great fit for our team. He is wonderful. Han has joined our team. She is so passionate about the community. She has a finger in so many different pies and is great to have around. Jayden is a young man who joined our team before he had even finished the HSC. He is a competent community leader, who is doing great work with his own not‑for‑profit organisation. We love him. Joely, my office manager, is an absolute saint. She knows what I need before I even begin to need it. She has done a million things. She is a great thinker and a great person to bounce ideas off. I thank her ever so much. I very much thank the office team. I very much thank the people of Gosford. Every day it is an honour to be in this job and to work in the best electorate in New South Wales. I see the member for Wollongong nodding his head.

Mr Paul Scully:

It is the second best.

Ms LIESL TESCH:

But we have also had an exciting year. We have seen Gosford change. We have the Gosford Twin Towers, which now has its own identity on the internet and a bit of a cult following. The Premier was there during the topping out ceremony of that Aland development. Having a five‑star hotel and posh apartments in Gosford, with a rooftop bar and a pool as well, is a real game changer for our community. I thank everybody involved in the construction and delivery. There has also been the return of democracy to our council. That is so important. I welcome our new councillors, especially those in Gosford West Ward, whom I will be working closely with. I acknowledge all our councillors. I look forward to continuing to work with our mayor, Lawrie McKinna, in leading our community to a better space.

I thank our teachers. We have seen an increasing coverage of classes and a pay rise for teachers. Hopefully, we will see the pressure come off some of the teachers who are delivering important education in schools across the Central Coast. I thank the nurses, doctors, allied health staff and administration staff in the hospitals and private practices across the coast. Health is the biggest employer on the coast. I thank everybody who works in that sector. As a former teacher, I used to think the job of the police was like playground duty for the whole of society. I really respect and appreciate the work that our police do. I have a good relationship with our local superintendent. I thank Darryl Jobson for the work he does and the leadership he provides. I also thank our firies for the work they do protecting our community.

I thank my NSW Labor parliamentary colleagues for the support they provide and for our great teamwork in the workplace. I also thank the staff of the Labor branches in my community, who are great and have their fingers on the pulse across the community. I thank our surf lifesaving clubs, the RFS, our Lions clubs, our Rotary clubs, our service clubs, our men's sheds, our Country Women's Association branches, our older women's networks, our sporting groups and the people who work with the vulnerable across our community—including the people who work in the domestic violence sector; the people who work at Mary Mac's shelter, the Seventh‑day Adventist Church and Hope Church in my electorate; and the people who supply food to vulnerable people who need it. At Christmas time lots of people work and volunteer at Care4Coast putting hampers together to look after vulnerable people. It is important and appreciated. I wish them, as well as our fantastic parliamentary staff, all a very merry Christmas.

It was a real privilege to be part of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference this year and see the incredible work of our parliamentary staff. I know it goes on quietly behind the scenes in the Parliament, but the work the staff were able to do outside their normal parliamentary roles, picking up the pieces for 750 delegates from across the Commonwealth with joy, dignity, politeness and good management. I know we are fantastically looked after here. In closing, to the women of the New South Wales Parliament, I know our connections and abilities are growing. Bring it on. Merry Christmas to all.

Mr EDMOND ATALLA (Mount Druitt) (15:19:50):

As the year draws to a close and the festive season begins, I extend my heartfelt Christmas greetings to all my parliamentary colleagues across both Houses and Chambers. Christmas is a time of joy, togetherness and reflection when communities across our great State come together to celebrate the season's spirit of love, hope, and generosity. While Christmas is a season of joy for many families, it can also be a challenging time for others. We must not forget those who face hardship, isolation or loss. For some, the festive season can highlight financial struggles, fractured relationships or the absence of loved ones. As leaders, it is our responsibility to ensure that no-one in our communities is left behind. I recognise the dedication of those who serve our communities year round, particularly during the holiday season. This includes our police, emergency services personnel, healthcare workers and volunteers, many of whom sacrifice their own celebrations to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our community. Your commitment is a testament to the values that make our State strong.

I express my heartfelt thanks to our Premier, Deputy Premier and the Premier's office for their guidance and vision, which continue to shape and strengthen our work in service to the people of New South Wales. My appreciation also extends to the Speaker, the Speaker's panel, the Leader of the House and his office—particularly Omar—Ministers and fellow parliamentarians, with whom it is both an honour and privilege to work. A special mention goes to the Whip's office, and in particular to Colleen Symington. Thank you for your invaluable support. I also acknowledge the work of our indispensable parliamentary teams: the Legislative Assembly Clerk's office, table staff, the Hansard team as well as the parliamentary committees. A special mention to my Law and Safety Committee—thank you for all your support and guidance.

I acknowledge and thank the many parliamentary services, including our security personnel, library staff, facilities team, catering staff, cleaners and IT department, whose behind-the-scenes efforts allow Parliament to run smoothly. I am grateful for each of you and for the essential role you play in ensuring that we can serve effectively. I also recognise the parliamentary press gallery. Your commitment to keeping the public informed is invaluable to the democratic process. I express my sincere appreciation to my Labor branch members, whose commitment and support within the community inspire me every day. I am also grateful to the leadership and staff of the New South Wales Labor Party for their unwavering support and shared vision for our community and our State.

To the countless local community groups servicing the community of Mount Druitt, I extend a heartfelt thank you. I also acknowledge the invaluable support of my office team, who work diligently to serve the Mount Druitt community with professionalism and integrity. To my office manager, Sarah Hatch, and my electorate staff—Phil, Yvonne, and Maddie—your dedication, resourcefulness and hard work make an enormous difference. You all bring both professionalism and compassion to your work, and I am truly grateful for your commitment to our community.

Lastly, I extend my love and heartfelt thanks to my family. None of us could do our job as parliamentarians without the support of our families. To my wonderful wife, Dimyana, and daughters, Natalie and Eustina, my son‑in-law, John, and my beloved grandchildren, Elise and Nicholas, thank you for your unyielding support, patience and understanding. You have shown me endless grace in accommodating the demands of my role and your encouragement gives me the strength to continue serving our community. I am truly blessed to have you by my side. May this Christmas bring peace, joy and hope to every home in New South Wales. I wish all our residents a safe and happy festive season and a prosperous and fulfilling New Year.

Mr GURMESH SINGH (Coffs Harbour) (15:24:58):½

I start by wishing everybody in the parliamentary precinct and the building a merry Christmas. I hope this year has been easier than other years. Certainly we have sat less, but I will not get into that today. I thank the Clerks and everybody on the Speaker's panel, which I know can be a thankless job. I thank the Speaker, and member for Lake Macquarie, who threw me out three times this week for a little bit of talking. But that is okay. It could have been more, but it was not. To all our colleagues across the Parliament, it has obviously been an extraordinary year—as they all are. To our leadership team, Dugald Saunders, it has been great working alongside you. We came into Parliament together 5 years ago. It is good to be your Deputy Leader.

To the Leader of the Opposition, and member for Cronulla, Mark Speakman, it has been great to get to know you even better as part of the team. I also thank Sarah Mitchell, the leader of The Nationals in the upper House, as well as Damien Tudehope. It is nice to work alongside both of you. I wish you a wonderful Christmas with your families. To the wider National Party team, we have had a little bit of change this year. I take the opportunity to welcome Scott Barrett back into the upper House and Brendan Moylan taking over from Adam Marshall. Three positions were filled following resignations and I pay particular tribute to the former Deputy Leader of the NSW Nationals, Bronnie Taylor, who not only was a good friend and mentor during her time here, but also looked after us like a big sister and made sure that especially the newer MPs were taken care of.

You make a lot of friends in your life and some of them are work friends, but Sam Farraway is a friend inside and outside this place. We share a love of Indian food and we will miss him in the party room. Often when we talk of retirement it is the oldest person in the party room, but it is rare that it is the youngest person in the party room whose retirement you are toasting. We will definitely miss the members who have left, but we have some great replacements to take their place. To our Liberal Party colleagues, our cousins here in the city, it has been good working alongside all of you. To our colleagues in the Government sitting across from us, I know we give you a bit of grief but we also wish you a merry Christmas as well.

Mr Paul Scully:

You are acknowledging that we are an excellent government.

Mr GURMESH SINGH:

I would not quite go that far. We might have to get Hansard to fact-check that. Also, our crossbench colleagues, we often disagree on many different policies but we are all in this place for the same reason: to make our communities the best possible place they can be. At the start of this year I was the Deputy Opposition Whip, a position I thoroughly enjoyed for the past couple of years. It was great working alongside my colleague the member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, as well as with staff across all the Whips' offices, Bo and the Government Whip's assistant, Colleen. In our office we have had Emma Toole and now Georgia Saeck. Emma is off to the Northern Territory working for the Treasurer in Darwin and we wish her all the very best. I give a big shout-out to Bo. Our junk food tastes are exactly in line and it is a wonder I have not put on 20 extra kilograms since working in this place.

To my electorate office staff, Diane, Mel, Craig and Deb, thank you for everything you to do make the office turn around. To Katie and Cheryl, who are longstanding staff members who left earlier this year, thank you for everything you did for the community of Coffs Harbour over your years of service. Lastly, I thank my family. Being a regional member, we are away from home often five days at a time. I could not do it without their support. I am looking forward to being at home every night in summer. On behalf of my team, I wish everyone a very merry Christmas.

Ms TAMARA SMITH (Ballina) (15:30:07):

On behalf of The Greens, I contribute to this year's Christmas felicitations and extend my heartfelt wishes for a peaceful and joyous festive season for the members of both Houses and everyone in all the communities across our beautiful State. We know that this Christmas many families and people will be doing it tough on every level. We send our heartfelt wishes for a gentler and better world in 2025. Whilst I will not reiterate every acknowledgment made by my colleagues in their contributions, I join them in recognising and thanking those people in this place and across all departments for their dedication and service to the community.

I thank the hardworking staff from this place, including the crossbench support team—Amanda, Emma, Eline and Ashlee—the Clerks, the Serjeant-at-Arms, Hansard, the library team, the education team, the IT department and catering, which is very important. I remember on my first day I was told that there was a hatted chef in the catering team and I was excited by that. I also thank the maintenance crews and the cleaners, who keep our work spaces in such good shape. I thank the teams in the Department of Parliamentary Services and the teams across all the other departments for their efforts behind the scenes. My colleagues the member for Balmain and the member for Newtown join me in thanking the leader's office for its support. We are in a minority government and we are grateful for the support of the leader's office and the Whip's office. I particularly thank Colleen and Janelle because, quite frankly, it is not their job to support us as much as they do. I am very grateful.

I take the opportunity to recognise the extraordinary work of those who are not taking a break this Christmas, like emergency services workers; healthcare workers, including nurses, midwives and paramedics; and all frontline responders, including police. This is a challenging time of year, and we owe our frontline workers and their families a great debt of gratitude. Retail, tourism and hospitality are hugely important for the three Greens electorates in this place and for our economy. Those workers do not get much respite during the festive period. We wish them a happy and successful summer season.

It is a privilege to work with my Greens colleagues in this place, Jenny Leong and Kobi Shetty, and Abigail Boyd, Amanda Cohn, Cate Faehrmann and Sue Higginson in the other place. We work very hard. Seven of us shadow all the portfolios and we all share a vision of a more sustainable future on our planet and true equality for every person. Our staff are not just hardworking but also quite extraordinary. We thank them for everything they do. I was asked to give a shout-out to the dedicated committee staff over the past 12 months on the Select Committee on the Residential Tenancies Amendment (Prohibiting No Grounds Evictions) Bill 2024. That was a wonderful experience for us and an overdue victory for renters in New South Wales. Shanshan Guo was a particular champion. It was a professional privilege for me to serve as chair of the Joint Standing Committee on the Office of the Valuer General. I thank my parliamentary colleagues, along with Leon Last, Kate McCorquodale and the whole secretariat for their contributions to that work.

I also acknowledge my fellow Northern Rivers colleagues, Janelle Saffin, Geoff Provest and Richie Williamson. Despite our political differences, we work closely together. That is special, and our communities love it. Our communities have had a difficult few years and our collaboration has been vital to their support and success. I wish everyone in the Ballina electorate a merry Christmas. They are at the heart of everything I do. Whenever I am in this place, at least 80 per cent of me is still in my electorate. Finally, to all members of the House, their staff and their families, please have a safe and happy Christmas. We all look forward to returning refreshed and ready for important work in 2025.

Mr WARREN KIRBY (Riverstone) (15:35:09):

There is no doubt that 2024 has been a challenging year for many in the Riverstone electorate. Still, as we move toward a brighter future, I take a moment to express my gratitude and acknowledge the incredible contributions of so many within our community. First and foremost, I thank my community at large for entrusting me with the honour of being your voice in Parliament. Our region has experienced unprecedented population growth over the past decade, and the lack of investment in public infrastructure has been the cause of great frustration. I thank you for your patience. That has led to a degradation in liveability for many, and I genuinely appreciate everyone who has worked with me to improve the quality of life for members of our community.

By pointing out the lack of parks and play spaces, the need for more schools, and failures with our public transport system, you have helped to advance my advocacy for funding towards solutions. By providing feedback on the proposed Kellyville and Bella Vista transport oriented development rezoning or offering input into the Riverstone Town Centre, Marsden Park North and West Schofields master plans, you have directly contributed to the future of our area.

I sincerely thank the support services, youth workers and councillors who dedicate themselves to providing vital resources and care during difficult times. Your unwavering commitment makes a real difference. To our doctors, nurses, police, ambulance officers, firefighters, RFS and SES volunteers, and all those who put the welfare of others first, I am deeply grateful for your courage, compassion and tireless efforts in supporting people during their most challenging moments of their lives. To our teachers, who lay the foundations for all other professions, thank you for the diligence you demonstrate each and every day as the educators of our most precious resource—Australia's future generation.

To the thousands of parents, coaches and club committees who give up their weekends to volunteer for sporting clubs throughout the electorate, you provide an invaluable service to help young people get fit, healthy and socially connected. Your dedication to the sporting endeavours of our youth is building a more resilient future generation. To our youth, thank you for your energy, determination and partnership in striving to build a brighter future. Together, we are shaping a better Riverstone. To our vibrant multicultural community, thank you for your warm welcome and for sharing the richness of your cultures with us. You enrich our lives, broaden our minds and strengthen the fabric of Riverstone.

I also acknowledge the passion, innovation, and leadership of the Minns Labor Government. I am immeasurably more optimistic about the future of Riverstone thanks to your willingness to recognise the problems my electorate faces and start the process of recovery for my community and, indeed, the State. Taking the reins in these challenging times is no small feat, and your genuine commitment to steering New South Wales toward a better future is commendable. To the Opposition and to the crossbench, I thank you for your dedication to keeping us accountable and pushing the Government to deliver the best outcomes for the people of New South Wales.

To the incredible staff and management of the New South Wales Parliament, I cannot thank you enough for creating such a supportive and inspiring workplace. It has genuinely been the most positive environment I have had the privilege of working in throughout my career. Finally, to my dedicated team at the Riverstone electorate office, your passion and commitment to serving our community every day is nothing short of extraordinary. The work we have done so far and the work that is to come simply would not be possible without your efforts. Thank you for everything you do. As we close out the year, I wish you all a safe and joyous Christmas break. Here is to a positive, productive and promising 2025. Merry Christmas.

Mr TIM JAMES (Willoughby) (15:39:10):

To mark the end of the 2024 parliamentary year, I would like to reflect, give thanks for the year that has been and convey my Christmas wishes to one and all. Completing my third year as the member for Willoughby, I am so thankful for the privilege of representing this remarkable community in our State's Parliament. The people of Willoughby are defined by their cultural vitality, enterprise, work ethic, neighbourliness and community spirit. Meeting countless locals at street corners, bus stops, school fetes, sporting matches, concerts, street markets, pubs, clubs and small businesses across Willoughby, I am constantly inspired by the spirit and energy of our people. The people of Willoughby know how to work hard, play hard and contribute richly to the community we all love so much.

I thank the people of Willoughby for placing their trust in me this year and I will continue to work hard for them every day. I appreciate that this dedication to serving my community is one shared by all in this House, who strive daily to make a positive difference to their respective communities. I am grateful for the many friendships I enjoy with parliamentary colleagues in this place, and I thank all the MPs with whom I am proud to work. I want to thank my shadow Cabinet, the Speaker, the Speaker's panel, the Whip, the Manager of Opposition Business and our party leader, Mark Speakman, for leading an effective and disciplined Liberal team. Special thanks to Beau in the Whip's office, who does an amazing job keeping us all so organised and on schedule.

I would like to thank the many individuals, businesses, industry bodies and other stakeholders who have engaged with me in my shadow portfolios of Small Business, Fair Trading, Work Health and Safety and Building. Their invaluable input and expertise has helped me in my advocacy for more prosperous, successful, fair, safe and healthy workplaces and sectors for all. I want to thank very much my staff in the Willoughby electorate office, especially my senior electorate officer Sue Clark, together with James Mount, Pierre Okosdinossian, Katharine Zhang, Dominic Jones, Michael Opoyan and David Furse-Roberts, who are the first point of contact and have served the people of Willoughby with such distinction. I would also like to thank Margie Malouf, who finished up this year as my office manager after two terrific years together. Her dedication and professionalism have left a lasting impact on our team.

I am deeply grateful to my mum, who volunteers in my electorate office each Wednesday. Her kindness, wisdom and selfless commitment to serving our community is a true inspiration to me. I extend my thanks to the many incredible interns who have worked in our office this year, including Ben, Rishan, Riddhima, Pia, Colin, Corey, Salman, Alvin and Catherine. Their hard work and enthusiasm has been invaluable to our efforts. Beyond my electorate office, I am grateful for the support of all the parliamentary staff, including the parliamentary Clerks and research officers, the Hansard team, the librarians, as well as the security officers, caterers, cleaners, IT support crew and many more. I would also like to thank my local conference executive and leadership—James, Jeffery, Michelle, Olivia and Angelo—for their great guidance and support throughout this year.

A special mention, I should add, to Graham and his team at Advance Press, who are our local printer, and Mel, our graphic designer, for their exceptional work in ensuring our communications and materials are always of the highest standard. I also want to thank the Northbridge Australia Post office for their dedicated service this year. Above all, I am indebted to my loving and supportive family: my wife, Nikki; daughters, Chloe and Madeleine; and son, Xavier. I know they sacrifice so much to afford me the privilege of serving our community. With the festive season upon us, I wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas. It is a magical time of the year for Christians and one and all to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and his timeless message of peace and hope. For people of all faiths and all walks of life, Christmas is the season to share the spirit of giving with loved ones, neighbours and especially those less fortunate than ourselves.

I pay tribute to the wonderful work our churches, charities and service clubs who do so much, reaching out across our community. Through the selfless generosity of their donors and volunteers, they bring Christmas joy to those in need with hampers, toys and other gifts, as well as hosting Christmas lunches for those who are homeless or alone. As Australia's peak holiday season, the Christmas and new year break gives us the chance to relax, unwind and share time with our families. Many of us take this opportunity to explore the beautiful wonders of our State, including our spectacular beaches and national parks. With all the usual risks and hazards that come with summer holidays, I want to particularly thank our police, fire brigades, paramedics, nurses, doctors and other emergency workers who work so hard and make so many personal sacrifices to help keep us safe, including over the holiday period.

I want to encourage everyone in Willoughby and across New South Wales to take care on the roads this summer and, indeed, to be very careful around our waterways and, indeed, to take care right across the State, wherever you may be enjoying a break with your loved ones. Thank you once again to everyone in this place and beyond for your friendship and support this year. I wish one and all a merry Christmas and all the very best for 2025. May God bless you all this Christmas and always.

Dr JOE McGIRR (Wagga Wagga) (15:44:03):

At the end of another year, it is timely to reflect on recent events and turn our thoughts to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Globally, 2024 has been a time of unrest, with great events beyond our control sending ripples of influence into quiet corners of our State—quiet corners that are half a world away and yet not immune from the ructions across the world, leaving worry and danger in their wake. Those echoes are made louder with the pressures of cost of living, homelessness, health care access, domestic and family violence and the many other challenges we face. At times of such reflection, I am heartened by the robust nature of our democracy in this Parliament and within my electorate.

Hansard

As always, I am grateful to represent a work-together, can-do community that never resiles from hope and rises to meet our challenges. I especially call out and thank our frontline services and volunteers. Our many volunteers make such a difference to the fabric of our community life. I thank them all. As members of Parliament, we are the public faces of our electorates. But behind the scenes, the wheels of democracy turn only because of an army of dedicated staff, community leaders, advocates and commentators who drive the engines of government. I thank the parliamentary staff who turn those wheels—the team that brings us , our excellent library services, those who keep us safe and secure, and those who cater for our events and keep our workplace clean and functioning—as well as the Clerks, administrators and others who ensure that we can do our jobs.

I especially thank my electorate team, including Jennie Burns, Paul Terry, Daniela Gooden, Robyn Rossiter, Jessica Masuda, Marie Adriaenssens, Meg Mundy and Greta Roberts, as well as Rachelle Kell and Mario Olsen for their wonderful work. I also thank the secretariat of the committees I chair, in particular Carty McKenna, Matt Johnson, Lauren Evans, David Rodwell, Rohan Tyler, Patrick Glynn, Shaza Barbar, Holly Rivas and Kieran Lewis. I thank them and the support team. I thank Richard Hurford and his team from the Parliamentary Counsel Office, including Dominic Bowes, who have been professional, timely and supportive in drafting legislation. Once again, I acknowledge my colleagues, in particular the Speaker, the Hon. Greg Piper, who has been simply outstanding this year as Speaker. I also acknowledge his staff, with special appreciation to Jason Gordon.

I thank my fellow crossbenchers for their advice and assistance. Even when we do not agree, we enjoy collegiality and a desire to make life better for our constituents. I also thank the Premier, his Ministers and staff, the Opposition Leader and his team, as well as the Leader of the House, the Manager of Opposition Business and the Whips, Deputy Whips and their staff for their passion and drive. I especially thank Sachin Saxena and Omar Rodriguez for their work with the crossbench in general and myself in particular. They are tireless and their work is invaluable. We are fortunate to be held accountable by a free press. I thank the press gallery for their work. In particular, I thank my local media, who do a difficult job at a time of austerity for the industry but who always strive to accurately report the news that matters.

Politics is a calling that can demand a lot and, as all members know, it comes at a cost to our families—yet it is those closest to us who sustain us. On that note, I express my love and gratitude to my wife, Associate Professor Kerin Fielding, a leading surgeon, tireless advocate for rural and regional health, and President of the Australasian College of Surgeons for the past 18 months. She is a real champion, and I thank her. It has been quite a saga negotiating our work together, but it has been a privilege and she is fantastic. Our children and their partners are a source of love and support, so I thank Lara and Duncan and their daughter Rachel, as well as Natasha, Dylan and Bel, and Anna and Jesse. I could not be prouder of my family.

Finally, I thank the people who sent me here, the people of my electorate, whose passion for their community has made it the best place to call home. Their trust and support are gifts that I work every day to repay, and I feel privileged to represent them. With Christmas and the holiday season upon us, those ructions on the world stage and the ups and downs of life within our own communities will continue to present challenges and opportunities. But at the time of year when we especially hope for goodwill to all men and women, I hope that Christmas is a special time with loved ones for us all and a springboard to a safe, happy and prosperous 2025 for all those we represent. Happy Christmas and God bless.

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (15:48:40):

As we wrap up the parliamentary sitting year and head into my favourite time of year, this is a chance for all members in this place to reflect on the year that has been. We are all extremely privileged to be elected by our communities to represent them in Australia's oldest Parliament. I thank my local community of North Shore for putting their trust in me to be their voice.

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