Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) | Hansard source

That's right. I'll miss your curiosity as we ponder how to solve particular tricky vexed problems on a day-to-day. You have a real, curious, open minded way to try and solve problems, which I really love. I will absolutely miss you at Christmas time, when you are always the worst dressed with the best joke. It has been a great privilege to serve with you in the Senate, in the committees together where you were senior one—back then, backbench, you never got to ask a question in Senate estimates unless the shadow assistant minister indulged you—in ministry, in cabinet, on ERC, in prime ministers Morrison and Turnbull and now Peter Dutton's leadership team and obviously as Senate leaders. I think a testament to your strength as a minister is shown by Rosemary's attendance here today. That was a very difficult period, not just for government but for our nation, through COVID, and you absolutely steered the ship.

I think you display the very best qualities of a leader: patience, empathy. You're an amazing communicator, and you're a reformer. You understand that all of us only have this great opportunity for such a short period of time, and we've got to maximise the difference we can make in the roles we have. You've done it in every single role of your career. I'm absolutely confident that that commitment to making a difference and positive change won't change, despite you no longer being in this chamber. I wish you and the family all the very best for the next chapter.