This House is diminished today. It feels empty. Someone very important to this place is not physically with us, and we all feel that devastating absence. Yet this place is full today. It's full of shared respect, of recognition, of fellow feeling. It is the remarkable member for Indi, Helen, who modelled all of that, who has done the seemingly impossible and brought us all together here around what is important, around the reason we should all be here.

I just want to share a little personal story that says so much about Helen. Monday of the last sitting week was my birthday, a dreaded milestone birthday. The very first thing that greeted me here early that morning was a beautiful gift from Helen. This gift from Helen was a lovely, beautifully wrapped and beribboned potted plant with special birthday card wishes—funny and loving wishes. Helen had organised a dinner date for Tuesday evening in honour of my birthday. I thought it was to be a deux, but again, in typical Helen fashion, she surprised me with other guests—many crossbench friends, these wonderful women who surround us here. What a treat—Helen, so hardworking, so committed, so busy but always so caring, getting us all together after another big day for a laugh and hugs. Helen does that. We need that. We need Helen.

There's a particularly cruel joke that claims, 'If you need a friend in Canberra, get a dog.' However, I reckon that, if you find someone who has entered parliament to serve the interests of their constituents, not their sponsors; someone with the integrity, the maturity, the experience, the self-knowledge to prioritise the interests of real people and of nation over self-advancement; someone who looks deep into her community to understand and to truly represent them; someone who works to make real change to benefit all of us; someone with the calm assurance and wisdom that come from a lifetime of diligence, commitment and vision; someone to share in a good joke and some mutual eyerolling, which is so necessary around here—if you find that person, befriend that person. You'll probably find that person is also kind to dogs. Thanks, Helen. We love you. The love and respect in this House here today is absolutely palpable. I am wishing you all the care and love you always bring to everyone else.