PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION

Senator BROCKMAN (Western Australia—Deputy President and Chair of Committees) (18:20): Well, boys, you've got a job to do: when he gets back to Tasmania, you're going to have to deflate his ego a bit because everyone's been pumping him up so much! I think someone needs to bring this down. Sadly, Jonno, I'm not the one to do it, because it has been an absolute privilege and pleasure knowing you for these past—well, nine years for me.

You've been a good friend, and I value you as a colleague more than I can say. I'm going to start, though, with a message: 'Jonno, thank you for your contribution to our nation. Few people have the privilege of doing this difficult work.

Even fewer do it cheerfully, intelligently and with a steadfast heart for service. Few leave on their own terms. You have done all these things.

I'll always be grateful for the friendship we built as colleagues. May your clarity of values continue to serve you well in the next chapter, and may you, Anisa and the boys have every joy.' That is from former senator Amanda Stoker. Amanda, Jonno, James and I spent a lot of time together as junior senators during a certain leadership spill week, bunkered down in our offices for what seemed like hours and hours and days and days on end.

The fact that it was only four days now seems quite strange, because we did spend a lot of hours together that week, and those three people became lifelong friends of mine. Jonno, your wisdom was on display from day one. One thing I will associate myself with, of course, from all the comments that have come previously is something a couple of senators have said: we're sending Jonno back home.

But we're not. We knew where his heart was every single day. He was there.

That was on display and certainly made us feel the distance from our families as well. So, Jonno, it's been an absolute privilege working with you, mate. Stay in touch.