Senator XENOPHON (South Australia) (17:03): by leave—I just echo the positive remarks made by all my colleagues. I think it is fair to say that it has been quite a year and a hell of a week. It has been an ugly week, but I would like to think—in fact, I am sure—that all of us are here for the right reasons. We all want to do the right thing by this wonderful country of ours. We have different views, but I think, whatever differences and disagreements we have had this week, we can learn in the new year to make things a little better, because funda­mentally we are a pretty decent bunch. We want to do the right thing. I feel privileged being in a chamber where I think every one of my colleagues works hard and wants to do the right thing by this nation.

To the Senate staff, the messengers and everyone who is involved in the running of this place, and to Hansard: you make us look a lot better than we actually are, so thank you for that. I wish everyone the best for the festive season, and I hope they spend as much time as they can with their loved ones.