I could not miss this opportunity to spread some Christmas cheer and thanks. As a relatively new member, I am so impressed by the dynamic and professional staff who keep this old institution running like a well-oiled machine, day in and day out. Independent members with no party behind them are very reliant on parliamentary staff.

As a newcomer, I am in awe of all of them. As the last speaker, I will not go on, but I do extend a massive, heartfelt thank you to the Legislative Assembly staff, committee staff, Clerk, Deputy Clerk, clerk assistants, Chamber staff and Hansard. They all rock. I thank the Speaker and his staff. What a year it has been. We have also had four by-elections—just for the hell of it. The work that comes with that, on top of the normal workload, is extraordinary.

I thank the member for Lake Macquarie and the member for Sydney for the time they invest in newbie Independents, including me. I thank the cleaners, particularly the fairies who visit our offices every morning and leave them spick-and-span. I thank the cafe and catering staff, who are so helpful and generous and provide great food—that is a bonus. I thank Parliamentary Counsel staff for their exceptional support of the crossbench, bringing our legislative dreams to life. I thank the IT staff. It is the best IT department I have ever encountered. They are actually responsive and proactively come to see me when I have any problems.

I thank the security staff and police, who greet us with us with a smile every day and keep watch. They are amazing. I thank the Government and Opposition members for indulging me. I thank my Greens crossbench colleagues. I thank my fellow Independent colleagues. They are independent in spirit as well as in politics. They are all courageous individuals who are treading their own paths, bringing extraordinary passion, dedication and depth of personal experience to their work. I thank Helen Dalton, Judy Hannan, Joe McGirr, Greg Piper, Alex Greenwich, Roy Butler, Phil Donato, Gareth Ward and, most recently, Jacqui Scruby.

All the Independent members are supported by research officers who contribute a wealth of wit and wisdom. Not least of them is my very own Ishbel. I am reliably informed that if you take them all to dinner, you will hear stories about growing up in the circus, reporting from war zones and publishing books on notorious Australian bushrangers. Ishbel and Susie from my office are a true dynamic duo. They are a breath of fresh air in this place. I thank them for supporting me in the way they do and what they do for our community. I sincerely thank my handlers in government, Omar and Sachin, for their responsiveness, patience and, more importantly, humour.

Every member of this place is surrounded by others who support them. I give a shout-out to all the partners of staff and members. The hours spent in the House are long. For those who have to travel from the regions and stay for the week, they are even longer. I can only imagine what it is like for the partners and families. I sincerely thank the partners and families who support our staff. I single out my wife, Bronwen Regan. She is a superstar in her own right. In fact, I am convinced that if she put up her hand to run, she would easily beat me. Bronwen has been my long-suffering partner in crime since I started my journey in public life way back when I ran for mayor in 2008. That election night, my life and the lives of those around me changed forever. Suddenly, I was out every night at events. Every weekend was spent at community events. As often as possible, Bronwen was there. At dinners we would sit side by side or with our backs to each other as we engaged with the community. At some gatherings and community events we would be separated, eventually seeing each other at the end. But Bronwen was there.

I am sure that sounds familiar to many members. When our partners are not by our sides, they are taking care of things at home, raising families and forging their own careers. There are so many examples. I thank them all. I recognise my wonderful electorate office team in Dee Why. They are motivated by a sincere desire to help others, bring the community together and make the world a better place. They are very tolerant of me bounding around with my latest idea, my persistent teasing and me sometimes completely derailing team meetings—what a shock that is! But there is no doubt about how much I love them all and how grateful I am to each of them. I thank Sean Moran, my senior electorate officer, for keeping the fires burning on the home front. He is a natural leader, always looking to bring out the best in everyone around him. He is reliable, proactive and competent. What makes him exceptional is his selfless spirit. He is brimming with generosity, joy and compassion for others. Happy birthday, mate!

I thank Gypsy, who wrestles my calendar. All members will know that is the job that enables everything else. The dedication Gypsy brings to her casework is inspiring. She is Gypsy Bryant, but some day she could be "Gypsy Brockovich". She brings her forensic mind and commitment to social justice to issues big and small. I thank Paul Murphy, the latest member of our team. He is an excellent addition, pursuing cases and working with constituents with such clarity, patience and good cheer. I thank Sally Carmody for the passion she brings to Independent politics on the Northern Beaches. Her insights and connections to the local area are invaluable to all of our work. I wish the entire parliamentary community an extraordinary, wonderful and refreshing Christmas and summer break. Love your work! Merry Christmas.

21 November 2024, 16:08.