PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION

Senator O'SULLIVAN (Western Australia—Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) (18:16): Yesterday, as the Deputy Manager of Opposition Business, when the motion came for us to set up this valedictory, I actually voted no! I didn't have a second voice, unfortunately, because I definitely would have divided, that's for sure. I had been hoping for quite some time that this wasn't actually happening—that our good mate wasn't leaving the Senate—and that it was just some dream.

But here we are. He's obviously delivered his valedictory speech, and it's true: Jonno's leaving us. He remarked on the fact that we are flatmates here.

I've got my own bathroom, and he shares his with Andrew Hastie. Two of the guys with the best hair in parliament having a duel over the hairdryer at five in the morning is no longer going to happen. Andrew now, finally, has the bathroom to himself.

It is a sad moment for us, but I am incredibly happy that you are making this decision for the right reasons. This is of course one of the best jobs you could ever have. It's an incredibly honourable position to represent your state and to do the work that we get to do.

But it is a real challenge. The tyranny of the distance from our families and the time away is a challenge that is pretty full-on. The fact that I've had someone that I could come home to after a day here—we take our ties off, we sit around the kitchen table or on the couches, and we have a hug and console each other—has made this job a delight.

It has made coming over here and being away from family so much easier. So, Jonno, I am going to miss you. I thank you so much for your friendship and the way that you've encouraged me, you've challenged me and you've spurred me on to be the best that I can be in this role.

Boys—and Anisa—you really should be very proud of your dad. While he's been distant from Tasmania, you've never been far from his mind. He speaks so fondly of all of you all of the time.

When we are sitting around having a wine or a beer after a night or having a meal and just shooting the breeze, you are always brought up. The fact that he's made this decision to put you, and to continue to put you, first is something that you should be cognisant of. He loves you.

I was going to say that I've got to see a side of Jonno that maybe many of you don't get to see, but that's actually not true, because he is exactly the same in private as he is here in front of everyone. He's a genuine person and he's a person of great character, of great integrity. Jonno, I am going to miss you immensely.

I know we're still going to keep in touch, because you can't have that sort of friendship and not have it continue, but obviously not being able to work together like this is something that we will deal with. I've been a little melancholy this week thinking about this. Jonno, thank you for everything that you've contributed in this place and to your state.

Personally, thank you so much for being a great mate.