Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (15:12): As we look back on this year, it is worth reflecting on the great central truth that all of us have an incredible honour in representing our electorates in this place. Each and every day, we should value the privilege that we have of being sent here to make a difference for our fellow Australians. It is a gift and a responsibility given to us by voters, but it's also an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference. I think that, as people leave here for this year, we know that my government has been focused on making a difference, understanding the pressure that so many Australians are under, like people throughout the industrialised world, from global inflation that has made a difference to people 's standard of living. The pressure that people are under is something that was a real focus of all of the leaders at the G20 just last week. The head of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, gave a quite extraordinary speech about what happened with COVID, the long tail that occurred and the fact that inflation, which peaked higher and earlier in most of the other advanced economies around the world, had made a real impact on people. Our focus this year has been very much on making a difference helping people with cost-of-living. While we've been doing that, there's been an opportunity as well, through these valedictories, to thank those people who've helped us and helped me. To the caucus, in the words of a great Marrickvillian, my friend Jeff Fenech: I love youse all. That is something he was inclined to say. It was a big year for me. I got engaged in February to Jodie Haydon. Jodie has brought a great deal of light and joy into my life, and when you're doing a job like this with the hours that we work, that is really important. She has a wonderful relationship with a range of people, including across this chamber and around the world. She represents Australia informally, of course, as partners do at events like the G20. She works in such a dignified way and brings a down-to-earth-Australianness. She's a proud coastie, and that shows very much in her attitude and the way that she deals with people. To Nathan, my son, who's growing into a fine young man: thank you for the support and love you give me. It will be his birthday next week, and I look forward to celebrating that. To the deputy PM, my deputy: no-one could hope for a better, more loyal deputy—and a greater friend as deputy. Tomorrow morning, I will be spending time with the Deputy Prime Minister farewelling his mum. It's been a difficult time for Richard, and it will be an honour to be with him tomorrow, not just as Prime Minister but as his friend. To the Leader of the House: it's a fun job being the Leader of the House. It's much better than being Manager of Opposition Business; I've done both. He did have an enjoyable time today as well. Thank you for everything that you do and the counsel that you bring. To the Senate leadership team, Senators Wong and Farrell: you do an extraordinary job in their portfolios of foreign affairs and trade, and you have made a real difference as well. To the Treasurer and finance minister, Jim and Katy: you make such an amazing economic team. We spend a lot of time together in a small room—more than we do with our respective families, it must be said, so apologies to Laura and the kids for that—but Jim and Katy are a crack team together. They are such great mates as well. We spent a lot of time, the three of us, together as well, making sure that we are delivering positive outcomes but we have also done it in a way that has delivered two budget surpluses. The Treasurer can be so proud of that. To all of my frontbench colleagues: thank you for all incredible work that you do. I'm really proud of the ministerial team, but I'm also proud of the extraordinary capacity that we have outside the ministry as well. People work so incredibly hard in this chamber, and I'm sure that is the case right across the parliament. I thank the Leader of the Opposition. Someone said to me the other day: 'It doesn't seem like you hate each other,' and that's absolutely right. In spite of significant ideological differences that we have—there's no point papering over those—we are able to have civil discourse and discussion. I went into the Prime Minister's office once as the Leader of the Opposition. Peter Dutton has been into my office I don't know how many times—too many from my liking probably, and I'm sure far too many for his liking! But this week we had a meeting over an issue. The thing is that when we talk about issues we don't go out and report it. There are some things you have just got to get done in the national interest, be they national security or other issues. I wish you and Kirilly and the family all the very best over Christmas. To Dave—we also get on extremely well. I can confirm that we have actually had a beer in my office. We haven't done that with Peter Dutton, but you would be welcome some time. David, as leader of the National Party, is also someone you can have a confidential discussion with in order to get things done in the national interest and is, I think, someone of real integrity. There are times when he's had an opportunity to have a swing and he hasn't, to his great credit. To all of the crossbench up there—there are a lot of you up there!—during the 17 days before Rob Oakeshott delayed, for 17 minutes, the simple announcement that need to be made, was that, during the period of 2007 to 2010, I engaged with all the crossbench and treated them with respect when we didn't need their vote. We then did need their vote after the 2010 election. I just believe in treating people who are elected to the parliament with respect. Can I make this point as well: there's no member of the Liberal and National parties that has asked to see me that hasn't had a meeting in my office. A range of you have, and I won't give you up and damage your careers by naming you! Over issues, I am always open. Yesterday morning, I had my regular meeting with all the crossbenchers about no issues in particular. We have regular meetings so that they can raise issues with us. All of the crossbenchers, whether they be members of the Greens political party or the Katter's Australian Party or Independents, I engage with with respect in order to get outcomes. Certainly, the outcomes that have been achieved today in the Senate are a direct result of having respectful dialogue and making a difference. To all the people who make this chamber work, the clerks, Hansard, the ushers, everyone who makes this place hum, thank you for what you do. To my AFP detail, it's a bit difficult sometimes when I say to my AFP detail some of the things that we're going to do—going to Woolies to get dog food for Toto or the various things that we do because I like doing some normal things. Life is more difficult. We are in a much more insecure position compared with when I first came into this place. That is unfortunate, but it is a reality that we have to deal with. I know that that's felt by a number of members around here. To the RAAF, who are exceptional—I'll be hosting both the AFP and the RAAF in separate functions at the Lodge in the coming couple of weeks. They provide incredible service and are always cheery and always helpful. To my department, led by Glyn Davis and all the public servants, thank you for what you do. To you, Mr Speaker, I had something to say about this last night our friend Michael McCormack, you do an extraordinary job. I think you're a great Speaker, and you have the respect of the entire chamber in the work that you do. To my personal staff led by Tim Gartrell—to Marika, Bell, Dan and Anna, who look after the more personal aspects of my diary and make sure I get to the right spot; to Fiona and the media team; to Lachie and the social media team, thank you for what you do. To Tim Murray and my electorate office—I don't want to start a debate here, but they've had a really tough time. They have been abused and harassed and had their physical safety threatened. For months, that went on. It is an outrage that that occurred. They continued to provide service for my electorate from the prime ministerial office at the CPO when they had to, when it simply wasn't safe for them to turn up to work. No-one should seek to blame innocent people who are just going about their job to help constituents for a conflict on the other side of the world that they had nothing to do with. But that is what occurred. That's the truth. They do an incredible job. As Prime Minister, I'm obviously busier than a backbench MP. It is difficult to see as many constituents as I used to. My staff have been absolutely amazing. To the press gallery, I'll host them tomorrow night at the Lodge. I had an exchange with Dennis Shanahan from the Australian. He's informed me that he can't come tomorrow night. He's indicated he's glad because people apparently are going to have a swim tomorrow, and no-one wants to see Dennis in budgie smugglers, least of all Dennis! To all in the press gallery, you have a really important job to do in holding all of us to account. I thank you for the work that you do, and I'll have a chance to do that later on. I'll conclude by saying that I do hope everyone gets a break over Christmas. I said that in the caucus earlier on. These jobs are pressure filled, and it is an opportunity to refresh, to engage with family and friends and loved ones, to watch a bit of the cricket and to sit in front of the TV and enjoy that. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a great new year. Just a final thing, as a former transport minister, I'll say it's always really tragic this time of year that there is a spike in road accidents. So slow down, make sure you get there, not get there quicker. That's the important thing. For people who lose a loved one, of course it impacts what should be a joyous time. For people of the Christian faith, Christmas is a really important time as well. For those people of faith, I wish you very much a holy Christmas. It's a time when many people choose to renew their faith and think about what the birth of Jesus Christ means to them. Have a great Christmas. I'll see you in 2025.