Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I would like to make a short statement.

Leave granted.

I too want to thank the Clerk and the Clerk's office, all of the Senate staff, the Hansard staff, the Comcar drivers and, in particular, the gardeners. I really enjoy the gardens in this building. As you walk around during the year, being out there is something that brings joy to our lives. I want to thank them particularly. Of course, I want to thank all my colleagues and their staff, particularly my whip, Rachel Siewert, who has done a great job.

I want to wish everyone from all political parties and their staff a happy Christmas, and peace and goodwill. But I have to say I am struggling with the upbeat mood that has suddenly come over the chamber because, as we extend the compliments of the season to one another—and so we should—I struggle with the fact that we have denied peace and goodwill to some 30,000 people, and I feel very sad about that.