STATEMENTS ON INDULGENCE

Mr TAYLOR (Hume—Leader of the Opposition) (15:19): on indulgence—On behalf of the coalition, I associate with the Prime Minister's fine words of gratitude to Meredith Leigh. Meredith, with almost three decades of service to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel and, of course, five years, as we've just heard, as the First Parliamentary Counsel, is the very definition of extraordinary service to our parliament and to our nation.

Most of us couldn't fathom the volume of bills and instruments that have come across your desk over those 30 years, both those you've drafted personally and, of course, many others that I'm sure you have reviewed. I have no doubt there's not a single area of law that you haven't touched over the course of that time. Thank you most sincerely for the contributions you've made to the security and prosperity of our great nation, be it through tax or corporations law, be it through gambling reform, counterterrorism legislation—and much, much more.

What not only makes our institutions function but builds trust is the quiet and dedicated service of people like you, who love our country. Thank you for your leadership, your work—and for dealing with all of us! Having been a minister for many years and a parliamentarian, of course, we know that the pressure you face often is enormous and you are under enormous time pressure.

We do have the greatest of gratitude for what you have done. Your family should be ever so proud of your service. The very best wishes for your next chapter.