Hunt Jonathan: Adjournment — Sittings of the House 
Hunt Jonathan: Adjournment — Sittings of the House 
[Volume:614;Page:10779] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Fellow members of Parliament as the first session of the forty-seventh Parliament comes to a close I pay tribute to all the people who contribute to the efficient functioning of this House. 
First I pay tribute to my colleague and Deputy Speaker Ann Hartley and to the Assistant Speakers Clem Simich and Ross Robertson who as a team have been great to work with. I give my profound thanks to the Clerk of the House Dave McGee who is not only respected internationally for his profound knowledge but whose sound advice has been a great support to the House to me personally and in particular this year to all other members of Parliament. Thanks also go to his deputy Mary Harris as she completes her first year in that important role. Tribute must go also to the staff of the Clerk’s Office whose professionalism and administrative services maintain the smooth running of the House. They service the Table of the House compile the  
Hansard  
record process legislation questions and petitions and serve the select committees. 
I thank the general manager of the Parliamentary Service Joel George for his skills and professional advice. I give my thanks to all Mr George’s senior managers to members’ support staff including members’ executive secretaries and the support staff of the parliamentary parties and to the staff of the Parliamentary Library the Chamber and gallery officers the security staff the building services staff the telephonists the travel office staff and the reception and visitor services staff. I would like to pay a special tribute to the VIP Transport people who drive us. I think that of all the services one gets when one is privileged enough to be a Minister of the Crown the Leader of the Opposition or the Speaker that is probably the best. My thanks go to the Serjeant-at-Arms Brent Smith and to all those who serve with him. They are an essential part of the running of Parliament. 
I thank the Chief Parliamentary Counsel George Tanner and his staff for their role in the process of legislation. My personal thanks go to all those who have worked to support the committees that I chair: the Business Committee the Parliamentary Service Commission the Standing Orders Committee and the Officers of Parliament Committee. I would like to thank the Controller and Auditor-General Kevin Brady and his staff for the highly professional services they provide. I thank also the Chief Ombudsman John Belgrave his fellow Ombudsmen Anand Satyanand and Mel Smith and their staff for the valuable role they play. In addition I thank the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Morgan Williams. My thanks also go to the research units for their work on behalf of MPs. I think they make some of the MPs’ speeches worth listening to. 
To the leaders of parties in this House the Leader of the House the Hon Dr Michael Cullen the deputy leader of the National Party Gerry Brownlee and the party whips I give my thanks. I acknowledge the efforts of all members of Parliament who despite enormous workloads continue to serve their electorates to the full and to make important contributions to the select committees. My personal thanks go to my own staff: Sean Rota Pam Reader and Roland Todd and to Helen Kennelly in the Deputy Speaker’s office. In particular I want to thank Debbie Hannan for her very successful service as my press secretary. I am pleased to be able to welcome Bethney McLennan in her stead. My thanks also go to my electorate secretaries in west Auckland Christine Schuster Margaret Sutton and Schibo Zhang for their important efforts on behalf of constituents. I thank you all once again for your support and work throughout the year and for the contribution you make not just to this House but to New Zealand and its people. As I draw this session of Parliament to a close and you go to join families and friends for the coming break I wish you all well until we gather here in February 2004. 
I would like to conclude by repeating the comments that all party leaders have made tonight. I wish every member of this House a very very successful break a very peaceful break and a prosperous new year.