Mr RAGUSE (12:49 PM) —This is the end of my first year in parliament and it is a very important week for all of us in the class of 2007—and I know that my colleague the member for Swan is one of the class of 2007. There were 42 new members elected to the House in 2007 and, if you consider those elected to the Senate as well, it was quite a large intake. It has been a huge honour for me to represent the people of Forde. Looking back on what has been a very fast moving year, the achievements we have made as a government and the work that we have collectively done as new and existing members on both sides of the House, it has been a good year for the parliament on both sides of the House.

I would like to thank the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and the Speaker’s panel for all their work and support and the mentoring we have had in learning about the processes of parliament. I thank the clerks and the clerk assistants for their work as well. I have been learning about and trying to understand the internal machinations of parliament and how this place works, with the support of everyone involved.

The Prime Minister recently visited my electorate. He is one of a number of ministers we have recently had through the electorate. I would like to thank him for his support for members of parliament generally and for visiting my electorate and Beenleigh High School. It was a commitment he made early in the year and he has certainly taken that on board. It was great to see him in my electorate.

Our Treasurer, Wayne Swan, has spent time in my electorate and continues to have a commitment to the region I represent. Minister Albanese, Minister Burke, Minister Plibersek, Minister Ferguson, Minister Elliot and Attorney-General McClelland have all visited the electorate of Forde. I put up a challenge early in the year that they should come and have a look at the beautiful region of Forde. One of the clerks here today would know that I talk a lot about Duck Creek Road. It is good for people to come and experience the enjoyment of the electorate of Forde and get to understand the complexities of the electorate I represent. I thank Parliamentary Secretaries Kelly and Shorten, who have also visited the electorate, and there are five other ministers who have made a commitment to come and have a look and learn a bit about the electorate of Forde. I look forward to continuing that involvement and I look forward to their support.

I would like to thank the members of my staff. Members of parliament rely very heavily on their staff. They put in a huge number of hours and they are just as excited as members are about getting the work done. I have immensely appreciated the involvement of my staff over the last 12 months. I would like to mention the people involved: Maarten Sherrington, who leads the team in my office; Stuart Fenech; Annette Curry; Jason Whitlock; and Colin Foot and Jim Dennis, regular helpers who come and help out in my office. I appreciate the work that everyone collectively has done.

I would like to mention the committee work that we have all been involved in and those who have been on some of the international tours we do as part of our parliamentary duty. I would like to thank the Parliamentary Education Office and, in particular, Roberta Molson, who was a delegation secretary just recently on a trip which Deputy Speaker Kelvin Thomson was also involved in. The work that these people do to support us as members of parliament is very important.

I would like to pay special tribute to my friends and family. We do not do this alone, and our staff are certainly a big part of it. I would like to thank my four children—Aaron, Matthew, Hannah and Emma. They have been a great support, certainly during the election campaign, when all families get involved. My sons are in their 20s and my daughters are teenagers. It has been quite a time for them, but they have worked well to keep us all together as a family. I would like to make particular mention of Marlene, my partner, for her love and support. It is an amazing feat for our partners to be there for us and weather the storm during the time we are away, and I greatly appreciate it.