House of Representatives

Thursday, 1 December 2016 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 9
Sudmalis, AE
Taylor, AJ
Tudge, AE
Van Manen, AJ
Wallace, AB
Wilson, RJ
Wood, JP
Zimmerman, T
NOES
Sukkar, MS
Tehan, DT
Turnbull, MB
Vasta, RX
Wicks, LE
Wilson, TR
Wyatt, KG
Question negatived.
The SPEAKER (09:59): I just want to give members a reminder that they need to take their seats for a
division and, once I have appointed the tellers, to not be moving seats. I am just going to give that reminder on the
last day.
STATEMENTS ON INDULGENCE
Valedictory
Mr TURNBULL (Wentworth—Prime Minister) (10:01): I rise on behalf of the government to bid farewell to
the parliament for another year. As the parliamentary year—and, indeed, 2016—draws to a close, it is important
that we come together to look back on what has been another remarkable year for our most remarkable country.
The level of discourse between our political parties can be vigorous, fierce and, at times, confronting, but the fact
that we can put aside our partisan differences to celebrate the year that was is one of the great features of our
democracy. Australians are always most inspired—and perhaps surprised—at those moments of bipartisanship in
this House. It is when we are at our best.
There was no clearer expression of the strength of our democracy than this year's election. Over eight weeks
political parties and candidates of every size and persuasion presented their vision for Australia to the people. 'Mr
Harbourside Mansion' was surely the epithet of the campaign. Of course, Bill desperately wanted the title for
himself, but like all good socialists he wanted a harbourside mansion paid for by the taxpayer. The campaign was
hard fought, but while our political battles can be bruising, we resolve our differences by casting and counting
votes, not with guns and violence. I know we all take great pride in the way the Australian people peacefully
choose their government. I want to thank the electors of Wentworth for re-electing me this year. It is an honour to
represent them for a fifth term, and I am determined to repay their faith in me as their local member and as
Australia's Prime Minister.
When I reflect on the parliamentary year, I am filled with optimism. In their wisdom the Australian people
elected a parliament that requires us to work together, to talk, to compromise. The decision is proving to be a very
workable one. The 45th Parliament is making and passing good legislation for the benefit of all. Since the election
we have passed 38 bills, including those that took us to the double-dissolution election: the Australian Building
and Construction Commission restoration bill and the registered organisations commission legislation. So, the
parliament is doing the job that the Australian people asked us to do.
Internationally, 2016 delivered both change and, in some parts of the world, a depressing lack of change. We
have been appalled by the ongoing conflict in Syria and Iraq and the atrocities which continue to be committed by
those enslaved by the dark, tyrannical vision of Daesh. We have witnessed with horror the terrorist attacks in Nice
and Orlando, and suicide bombings in many countries—Turkey, Pakistan and Iraq, among many others. It has
made us all the more grateful that we are such a harmonious society with people of all faiths, cultures and
backgrounds living together in peace. Looking around the world, we know how rare it is, and we must never take
it for granted. Australia's strengths are our freedom, our diversity and our security. Those attributes are not
mutually exclusive; rather, they are mutually reinforcing. This is not to say that we do not face challenges;
regrettably, we do. That is why we continue to reform our national security laws, provide our agencies with the
powers they need, and secure our border, just as we nurture and celebrate the diversity that gives us strength and
unity.
This year saw elections in other countries too, with both Britain's decision to leave the European Union and the
election of Donald Trump in the United States leaving pollsters and pundits red-faced. The forces at play and the
political systems in those countries are very different to ours, but we must always be aware of what the public
expects from its government, from its parliament, from its leaders. Many people are anxious about change or feel
that their leaders are not listening, and we should not dismiss their concerns. Across the globe, economies have
struggled with sluggish growth and the inevitable challenges associated with technological disruption and the
transition from the old to the new. We are at a time in human history where the pace and scale of change is
CHAMBER