Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) | Hansard source

I sense Senator Colbeck is about to move into another subject area. I just wanted to, on the reflections that he made about the retirement of Senator Askew, associate the government with his remarks and wish her the very best. This chamber is not a majority chamber, and the more that we do in here to establish modes of cooperation and behaviour that support this Senate discharging its function is in the interests of all of us and Australia's democracy. I wanted to make that point before I sense Senator Colbeck moves to a more partisan set of comments that would make it more difficult for me. So thank you for that indulgence. Senator Askew thinks she's dodged people saying nice things about her. I just wanted to make sure she didn't.