Wilson Margaret: Adjournment 
Wilson Margaret: Adjournment 
[Volume:627;Page:22383] 
Madam SPEAKER 
: As the forty-seventh Parliament comes to a close I would like to thank all those who have played a part in keeping the House running so efficiently. As members know I came to this role at a somewhat unusual time—part-way through a parliamentary term. I was then and continue to be most appreciative of the support of my deputy Ann Hartley and the Assistant Speakers Clem Simich and Ross Robertson. 
As of this evening this House has met on 256 sitting days spread over 293 days of real time. This gives a total of approximately 1800 hours including time in Committee—more hours than any of the previous three Parliaments. We have sat under urgency for nearly 400 hours and there have been more than 3500 votes. Members have put up 3063 questions for oral answer about 55000 written questions and have filled more than 22300 pages of  
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. During the 3 years of this Parliament 402 bills have been served up for royal assent not including the four bills we have passed this week. A relatively high number—eight—of members’ bills have also been passed. In the hard-working select committee area there have been 1600 meetings during the session involving members and staff in considerably more than 4100 hours. 
Members would have gathered that the effort behind those statistics is equally impressive. and there are many people to thank. First of course is the Clerk of the House Dave McGee and the staff of the Clerk’s Office for their professional and administrative skills in servicing the Table of the House; compiling  
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 records; processing legislation questions and petitions; and serving select committees. I thank the General Manager of the Parliamentary Service Joel George and the staff of the Parliamentary Service: members and party support staff executive secretaries the staff of the Parliamentary Library the security staff Building Services staff the telephonists messengers Travel Office staff and the Visitor and Reception Services staff. I also thank the Chief Parliamentary Counsel George Tanner and his staff for their role in drafting legislation. Nor do I forget the Serjeant-at-Arms Brent Smith and the Chamber and gallery staff my personal staff earlier in the session as a Cabinet Minister and my staff in recent months as Speaker of the House. I also extend my thanks to members and staff of the bodies that as Speaker I chair: the Parliamentary Service Commission the Business Committee the Standing Orders Committee and the Officers of Parliament Committee. 
Beyond these walls but closely linked to this Parliament my thanks go to the Controller and Auditor-General and his staff; the Chief Ombudsman his fellow ombudsmen and staff; and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. 
I also thank the leaders of all the parties in the House and their deputies; the Leader of the House the Hon Dr Michael Cullen; and in particular the party whips without whom I am sure that this Parliament would not function as efficiently as it does so I have a special thanks to them. My thanks to all fellow members of Parliament for their support and work throughout this year and for the contribution they make not only to this House but also to our country. 
Finally I extend my best wishes for the future to the colleagues of all political parties who have chosen not to stand for re-election.