Senator WONG (South Australia—Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (18:30): by leave—I join with Senator Abetz and with you, Mr President, in wishing all senators and staff a safe and happy holiday season and the very best for the Christmas season. I for one am looking forward to a break. I suspect that, if I were to put that to a vote, there would be almost unanimity. Senator Abetz: You've got the numbers anyway. Senator WONG: I have the numbers on this one. On occasion we get them. It is an understatement to say that this has been a big year. Political contests are generally difficult, but this year has been even more so. What we saw in this election, as you always see in any election, is the great workings of the Australian democracy. As a result of that we now have different roles in this place. Our acknowledgement and congratulations of those opposite is more than matched by our determination to ensure we hold them to account and, hopefully, best them in this chamber on many occasions. I also extend my Christmas greetings to Senator Abetz, as Leader of the Government in the Senate, and to all senators and staff. I want to thank my colleagues for their support and the manner in which they have taken the fight to the new government. I particularly want to thank my deputy, Senator Conroy, and give special thanks to Senator Moore, who has taken up the role of Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate and has done an outstanding job. I also want to thank Senators McEwen, Urquhart and Bilyk, who do a fantastic job whipping. I extend my thanks and seasons greetings to them and also to you, Mr President. I hope you have a good break over the summer. You deserve it. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator. Senator WONG: On behalf of the opposition, I echo the thanks of the President. He went through an exhaustive list, which I will not replicate, but I do want to make special mention of the opposition's thanks to Rosemary Laing, the Clerk of the Senate, and other staff of the Department of the Senate. We thank you for your wise counsel and your assistance. I do believe—and I believed this even when I was on the other side and perhaps was a little irritated at what I was being asked to do—that this is one of the great institutions of Australia's democracy. I want to also thank the staff. I acknowledge the extraordinary role that the clerks and other staff of the Senate play in ensuring this institution works as well as it does to play the role it does in our nation. I also thank the staff of the Department of Parliamentary Services. I have become much more reacquainted with the Parliamentary Library now we are on this side. What a wonderful resource it is. I thank Hansard and broadcasting. Thanks to the gardener who at my request pruned the walk—I think it is known as Faulkner's walk—between the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate's office and the chamber. I also want to thank many others in the department who assist us. I want to make special mention of the staff of all senators. I have often said that as a politician you are really only as good as your staff. I particularly want to thank those staff who have made the transition from government or joined the new opposition. Again, I echo the thanks to Comcar. Where would we be without them, literally! Finally, I say to the many Labor members across Australia and people who are supporters of the Labor Party: thank you for your passion, commitment and hard work in this election year and in every year. I promise you that your Labor Senate team will return in the new year and continue to take up the fight on your behalf and on behalf of every Australian who believes in a fairer and more progressive Australia. In conclusion, on behalf of the Labor opposition I extend our warmest Christmas greetings for this holiday season. May we all spend time with family, may we all remember what it is like to not have to have as little sleep as we have had and may we also enjoy the peace, harmony and joy that this holiday season brings.