Christmas Felicitations

Mr NATHAN HAGARTY ( Leppington ) ( 14:30 :50 ): I want to start from the top by thanking those that keep the place running. I thank the Speaker and the many members on the Speaker's Panel. I acknowledge that they do not have easy roles. Things can warm up quickly in this place and members get mischievous and heated—more so on the other side of the House—and the order they maintain keeps us on track, even on the busiest sitting days. I give a big thank you to all of them for their work and also for their tolerance for what we sometimes get up to.

I also acknowledge the work of parliamentary staff. They do a significant amount of work behind the scenes at all times and do that with patience. Sometimes I wonder how they do it. We can be fickle at times; we chop and we change. Even with events and things like that, they are able to accommodate changes and requests that other venues certainly would not; I speak from experience. A big thank you to the Clerks, the Legislative Assembly team, Hansard, committee services, the library, IT, corporate services, building and facilities, security, food and catering and, of course, the cleaners. It is always a sign that we are doing well when we see a smile or a giggle from Hansard sitting in the loft.

Mr Adam Crouch: Or a shake of the head.

Mr NATHAN HAGARTY: I do not get many shakes of the head. I say to them: Keep doing what you are doing. You do a fantastic job to make me sound like I can actually string a sentence together, so well done. Among the Chamber staff, I note the efforts of Peter, Nathan, David, Eve, Ainsley, Monica and Harriet, who deal with change, long hours and last-minute demands with good humour and dedication. I give special congratulations to a couple of people who have taken on new roles: Ian Delahunty, a long-time Chamber supervisor, who has stepped into the role of senior parliamentary officer for logistics and protocol; and Blake Russell, who is now Chamber supervisor.

A particular note of thanks from me goes to Gusti, my cleaner, who recently went on six weeks leave. She does a fantastic job and knows my particular quirks. When I come in every morning, everything is spick and span, so I thank her and will maybe speak to her boss about further holidays. I can use many adjectives, but I do not think I can fully describe her—the incomparable, irreplaceable Colleen. She handles the complexity of her job with aplomb. She does run the place. She makes me look good, which, I am sure my wife agrees, is a very difficult job. She does a fantastic job not just for Government members but also for Opposition and crossbench members.

Ms Sophie Cotsis: Hear, hear!

Mr NATHAN HAGARTY: Thank you. Recently, because of the House resolution of no quorums or divisions after 6.30 p.m., we thought we would trial a roster where the Deputy Whip, Colleen or I go home early. On each occasion when Colleen and I went home early, things have gone to the proverbial, so I think that is a sign of how well she can handle those situations. Let's be honest, we cannot thank her enough. I thank the Leader of the House, not just for his "Rontent" but also for the work that he does in the Chamber. I thank Omar for not just putting up with Ron but also the amazing work that he does in the office and for his guidance throughout the year.

I thank the leadership group and the Premier. Like other members who have spoken today, I send a message to the Deputy Premier. It was great to see her via video link this week. I cannot wait to have her back. The Deputy Whip only started recently and is doing a fantastic job. I think we make a fantastic team. Likewise, former Whip Janelle did a fantastic job. I know the Opposition Whip and I have our battles, but when we do the public service seminars, we turn into a fantastic team. I acknowledge his staff. We will most certainly miss Bo, and Anthony has big shoes to fill, but he is doing a fantastic job so far. Keep up the good work.

Back home in Leppington, which is one of the fastest growing communities, I thank everyone there and especially my staff: Sharon, Zeli and Neola. Sharon, my senior electorate officer, does a fantastic job. I cannot fathom some of the things that she deals with. I thank her for the way that she comes in day after day and gets through the amount of work she does. Neola came on this year. She is quite new and quite young but is also a real breath of fresh air. Zeli, who accompanies me to this place, does an amazing job. She does very long hours and puts up with some of my moods and demands during a long sitting day. A big happy birthday to Zeli. It is her birthday today, and I hope she is having a wonderful time.

I cannot forget the family. To my wife Christy and my kids Nia and Evan, you keep me grounded and you are my anchor. I certainly would not be doing this job without your support and tolerance. Watching them grow has been quite special. My daughter started university this year, so she is going very well. She has an exam today, so I wish her all the best. I will have a chat to her later about how that went. I give a special shout out to Cassidy from Kearns Public School. He is in year 4 and won my Christmas card competition. People across Leppington are eagerly waiting for that to slip into their letterbox. I have given thanks to everyone in Leppington, so I will leave it at that.

Mr ADAM CROUCH ( Terrigal ) ( 14:37 :43 ): I am delighted to deliver my felicitation speech as the Opposition Whip. I start out by thanking the Speaker, his incredible office and staff; you, Madam Temporary Speaker; and all those on the Speaker's Panel. I acknowledge all Government members, including the Whip. Colleen needs to start writing his speeches so that he can finish on time. I acknowledge the Leader of the House and all of his team. Omar does a great job holding the place together as well. I take the opportunity to thank the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Mark Speakman. You would not find a harder working person in this place than he, who does a truly outstanding job. It is an honour and a privilege to be the Opposition Whip and a shadow Minister under his leadership. His incredible office is run by his truly outstanding chief of staff, Cheryl Gwilliam, and the team.

My good mate Richie Williamson, The Nationals Whip, is in the Chamber. Richie and I were talking today, saying that we make a great team. It is an absolute joy and pleasure to work with Rich. He is a wonderful person to work with. I also give a shout out to the Government Whip and the Deputy Government Whip, Liesl Tesch, who just entered the Chamber. I also give a shout out to Colleen Symington. Let's be clear: Colleen runs the place. Colleen, you are not allowed to go away or leave early, because every time you do, this place falls apart. I also acknowledge the incredible work done by the previous Whip's adviser, Bo Ok. She will be greatly missed. I look forward to catching up with Bo over Christmas. Welcome to Anthony Radic, who is doing a truly outstanding job with those big shoes to fill. It is a big job, and he is doing it incredibly well. Thanks, Anthony, for looking after all of us.

I also thank all of the team in here that do what they do every single day to make us look better, whether it be the incredible Hansard team behind me, the truly amazing Clerks in this place, led by the incredible Helen Minnican, with Carly and our Serjeant-at-Arms, Simon. I thank all of the Legislative Assembly attendants who keep this place running, including by putting the air conditioning temperature down at question time for me, because it gets very warm in here with 93 people all trying to talk at the same time. I often start a contribution by saying, "I will make a brief contribution", which means I will always go over time, but I will try and stay on message today.

I acknowledge all of my colleagues in the Opposition, both Liberals and Nationals, for the great work that they do for their electorates every single day, especially in this place—a lot of them travel a long way, like my friend Richie Williamson, and are away from their families for long periods—because we are proud and privileged to do what we do in this place. I acknowledge Gurmesh Singh, the new Leader of The Nationals, and the former Leader of The Nationals, Dugald Saunders. I acknowledge the whole leadership team in the Liberal Opposition. They do an incredible job.

I am really pleased that the member for Wyong is present in the Chamber. I thank him, too, for his friendship and camaraderie in what has been a pretty tough year and a half for me. I greatly respect the work that he does. I know how tough it is being in government. I will keep saying to him: "Be an irritant and go for every single dollar." He knows exactly what I mean by that. The member for Wyong is a great representative of the Central Coast—it is a pleasure working with him—as is the member for Gosford.

Mr David Harris: We share views on council.

Mr ADAM CROUCH: Absolutely. I have a deep sense of gratitude to the truly amazing people of the Terrigal electorate. It is a privilege and an honour to represent them and be the voice for our community in this Parliament. I thank them, as their elected representative, for the continued support they have provided me, and for their genuine caring, which means everything to me. They know what that means. Not a day goes by where someone does not ask how I am going. I am very privileged to have 55,000 support workers, and I am very lucky to represent them. They are a truly incredible group of people. It is an awesome responsibility and privilege, which I love doing, every single day.

I thank my incredible electoral office—Jack Robinson, Donna Golightly, Julie McFadden, Debra Beattie and Adam Walton—for doing the best job of looking after a wonderful group of people. I am so proud of what they do every single day. I boast that I have the best team anywhere. I know everyone says that, and we do. We are so lucky to have great electoral office staff who spend so much time caring for the people that we represent. Obviously they take their jobs very seriously. I hope they have a well-earned Christmas break. In general, I wish everybody here a very merry Christmas, and a safe, prosperous and happy holiday time. It is time to spend with family, to have a break and—for those of us from the Central Coast—appreciate that we live in the best region, in the best State, in the best country in the world. We are so lucky to be able to spend time in those electorates and at home with our family, our loved ones and our friends.

Ms Trish Doyle: Wrap it up.

Mr ADAM CROUCH: I hear the member for Blue Mountains. I have not gone anywhere near as far over my time as the member for Leppington did. I am also better dressed than him today. Again, I thank my electorate and the spectacular community of the Central Coast. Have a safe and merry Christmas. It would be remiss of me not to thank our incredible volunteer surf lifesavers for the 100,000-plus hours that they are going to put in on our beaches, keeping 1.2 million people safe again this season. They are true rockstars, and they do their job for free because they want to keep people safe. I thank the team at Surf Life Saving Central Coast and my seven Surf Life Saving clubs for all the hard work they are going to do this season. We know that they go out there to keep everybody safe. Again, I wish everyone a very merry, safe and happy Christmas.

Ms LIESL TESCH ( Gosford ) ( 14:43 :57 ): The Central Coast is definitely the best location in New South Wales, and I wish a very merry Christmas to every single coastie. It is an absolute honour to represent them in the New South Wales Parliament. Christmas felicitations are part of our parliamentary history. It is a lovely honour to come in here as the newly appointed Deputy Government Whip and to have time to felicitate my community and our colleagues across the Parliament. It has been a really big year. It is a privilege: Nearly every day, I come into this place and pinch myself that I am representing the community of Gosford on the Central Coast in the New South Wales Parliament.

We have seen huge changes in Gosford this year, with an exciting time coming up. I think the Premier is coming up to the coast in a few days to celebrate the opening of the fantastic Archibald building. The topping out has occurred. It is ready and it is operating: We have got a five‑star hotel on the Central Coast. To any members who are listening from their offices, we have got a new beautiful destination in the City of Gosford, five‑star service and gorgeous apartments there as well. We also have a new university—I have had a sneak peek, and the students are coming in a few days to have a look around—which will be operating next year as well.

My office has done an amazing job, with over 10,000 interactions with the local community this year, so I start by thanking our office team, and I will come back to them further down the track. Another amazing feat in 2025 has been LIGHT UP. The death of Audrey Griffin was a tragic time, but in true Central Coast spirit we have celebrated her life with an incredible concert in polytec Stadium. The event was a beautiful coming together of the community. It reflects the strength of the Central Coast community.

In felicitations, I thank our public servants. I know this year has been a very important year for our public service. As a former teacher, I thank our teachers and I wish them a very happy holiday. They really deserve it. I thank our hard-working nurses, our firies, our police and everyone who works on the train system. We met with Transport for NSW, who are working hard to improve the trains running on time across our community. We appreciate everyone working on the stations in my home electorate. I thank the people who work in the long service section up there on the Central Coast, SafeWork NSW, Invest Regional NSW, Destination NSW and all the other public servants who live and/or work on the Central Coast. We value you, we respect you, and we thank you for your service.

I also thank my beautiful Central Coast Labor team. The member for Wyong is present in the Chamber. I know the member for The Entrance in the building somewhere, as is the feisty member for Swansea. The four of us getting together on a regular basis to fight for the coast is a really important part of our wellbeing, as well as looking after our community. I also acknowledge the member for Terrigal, who is fighting hard for our community as well. I acknowledge the Premier and wish him a very happy Christmas break. I do hope he gets a rest. I thank him for his continued support of me in this role. I also thank my fantastic Minister, Kate Washington, and her team. It is an honour to work beside Kate, who is so passionate about family and community services, and disability inclusion.

I thank the fabulous parliamentary staff, and I see Hansard waving and smiling up there. We do have a laugh every now and then. I thank our fantastic Chamber attendants. It was lovely to see Dave's little baby in the Chamber today. I thank the facilities group, and the IT group, who I emailed this morning. They try to look after our IT in just seconds, which is amazing. I thank our cleaner, and I know my Whip mentioned Gusti, who does a great job looking after our offices. The library staff are some of my favourites. I like to visit them whenever I can. And I know we all enjoy and appreciate the catering staff. The food we have here in Parliament is always exceptional. I also thank the special constables, who are there as we come to and from Parliament. Many thanks to everyone else who works here in this building.

I thank my beautiful friend, the Speaker, and his panel. He does an amazing job leading the panel. The Speaker's team are really important to us as well. Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I thank the women in the New South Wales Parliament. The cross-party camaraderie of the women in this place is really important as we see the number of women grow in the Parliament. I thank and wish merry Christmas to my community groups. Every electorate has its Lions, Rotary, Country Women's Association and Probus. They do an amazing job in our community, looking after each other but also identifying things that need to happen in our community. I thank everyone in our night-time economy sector. Central Coast Music and Arts, the FunHaus Factory and everyone who works in that sector are so important. We are changing that sector as best we can.

The Central Coast Women's Health Centre, our homelessness interagency group, Coast Shelter, Pacific Link and Volunteering Central Coast all do an amazing job. Before I finish, I would like to tune in on my beautiful office team. Joely, my chief of staff, is having a happy holiday. Good on you, Joely. It is very well deserved. Jayden stepped into her shoes and does an amazing job. Han is in the office today, perhaps waving to us as I speak, and being so nice to our constituents. Erin joined the team this year, and she is so thorough and professional and such a positive delight to have in the team. So is Scott, who is so thorough and has such expertise at writing. The community often thinks I do the job, but my office staff really does all the work, and I just wheel out the front every now and then and wave to people. I have huge hugs for them and also for Kyra and Emily, who left our team this year. One is off to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and one is off to the Federal Treasury, which is delightful.

The branchies in our Labor family on the Central Coast are so supportive and so important in my world. I thank the branch presidents and secretaries and all the volunteers, but also the branchies, for holding us to account and supporting our Labor values. It really is a joy. I thank our volunteer organisations—the RFS, the SES, the surf lifesaving clubs—and any other volunteers across our community. They are too numerous to name. May everyone have a fantastic, safe and happy Christmas, spend some time with loved ones, enjoy the summer and the beaches and, most of all, just be proud to call the Central Coast home.

Mr RICHIE WILLIAMSON ( Clarence ) ( 14:50 :19 ): I offer my best wishes not only to members of the Parliament but also to the men and women who make this place tick. It is a great honour to represent the great people of the electorate of Clarence in the Parliament of New South Wales, but I am sure I speak on behalf of every member of this place and the other place when I say that it is a great honour to collectively represent every corner and every curve of the State. It is a time of year when we can put down our differences in this House. On reflecting over the past 12 months, I believe our differences are really only 10 per cent of our business here. We genuinely come together in this place to make New South Wales the best it can be. Yes, we have differences of opinion. We have a different road map to the same result, which is to make this State the best in the nation. I am genuine about that.

I acknowledge the Premier and the work his Ministers are doing. But it is not lost on me that for much of this year we have been a member short. I have been thinking about the Deputy Premier, and I hope that her recovery is quick and we will see her back in 2026 on the front bench, next to the Premier. We will probably bowl her a couple of deliveries down the wicket, and I am sure that she will either let them go through to the keeper or have a crack at hitting them over the fence for six.

I acknowledge the great work that The Nationals, collectively, do here to hold the Government to account and represent the people of regional New South Wales. We do not carry that burden on our own; other members of this place also represent regional New South Wales. Every member who does the hard yards, leaving home at midday on Sunday to get to the city so that we can start our parliamentary week on a Monday and then sit on Tuesday, knows that it is a tough gig. I acknowledge the member for Dubbo, who for the past three years has led our party; our new leader, the member for Coffs Harbour; and our deputy leader, the member for Tamworth. I wish them all a happy and safe Christmas.

Of course, at this time we are thinking as well of the Clerks, the Hansard staff, the attendants and every other person who turns up here to help us to do our job of making New South Wales number one. My fellow Whips and I work pretty well as a team, I have to say. The text messages come through: "We're one short. We need a pair. Can we make this work?" We are pretty genuine in ensuring that indeed we do make the Parliament and the Chamber work as best we can. I think we have done that pretty well. I thank the Leader of the House and those on the Opposition benches for their counsel and advice. What people see in question time is probably not an accurate reflection of what goes on in this building. There are relationships across the divide. Truly, that is how this place works.

I thank my team at home—Debbie, Chris, Sarah, Mel and Jodi—for making me look good in the electorate. They do a tremendous job. I know that they will get some time off. I thank the Richmond and Clarence Valley mayors and councillors for the work they have done. Local government is important. I wish my Federal member, the member for Page, Kevin Hogan, and Karen all the best over the summer break. As I wrap up, I wish one and all in this building a genuine happy Christmas. They should relax and put their feet up. Collectively, we will be back in 2026 to continue the job of making New South Wales the very best it can be. Have a merry Christmas and a happy new year. I will see you in 2026. Ho, ho, ho!

Ms CHARISHMA KALIYANDA ( Liverpool ) ( 14:56 :02 ): This is my third holiday season in this Chamber, but it is the first time I have had the chance to offer a Christmas greetings. I have to say that 2025 has been another significant year for Liverpool. Construction has begun on our second and third public preschools, at Miller Public School and Cartwright Public School, with two more due to start soon at Cecil Hills and Heckenberg. Moving on to the big kids, for them we have secured upgrades for James Busby High School. Construction on the new Liverpool High School will soon commence, and work at Cecil Hills High School is nearing completion.

Of course our kids and their families deserve the best, be it in education, health or entertainment, so I welcome the $200,000 special entertainment precinct trial now kicking off in Liverpool. It will help set our CBD on the path to becoming a vibrant university city with a large night-time workforce and help fulfil its potential. None of that progress would have happened without a government that was willing to listen. I thank our Premier, our Ministers and their staff members for their openness and readiness to engage with the issues that matter to Liverpool. I particularly send my best wishes to the Deputy Premier. It will be great to have her back in 2026.

I believe that being persistent is a core skill set of this job. Some might say that being called annoying is the highest compliment we can receive. Getting results for our communities often requires effective deployment of the vomit principle: When you are sick of repeating something, others might be starting to listen. I hope that I have been sufficiently annoying for everyone in the Ministers' offices this year. Members are only as successful as the support we have around us. At home in Liverpool, my staff is ably led by my fantastic senior electorate officer [SEO], Christy Nguy. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a good SEO makes our lives so much easier, and I am lucky to have the best. Besides her unwavering work ethic, which included answering emails after surgery, Christy's baked goods are highly sought after by members and others during sitting weeks. Here's hoping for more sweet treats and fewer flat tyres in 2026.

The team also includes our self-described office soundtrack, Liam Thorne, who provides us with daily entertainment whether we ask for it or not, as well as Mel Hadfield, who joined us this year and has taken to Team Livo like a duck to water. I thank them for enthusiastically joining the coffee, Aldi and Sydney Outlet Village runs. I give a special shout-out to the wonderful Hazel Neville. She has taken some time off this year, but I am happy to share that she will be back soon to join us for the holiday season and for a much brighter 2026. The office is not the same without her. I also express my appreciation to all the fantastic relief staff members who step in when we need them: Alaa Ahmad, Kuber Thakur, Nia Hagarty, Tyrone Phornthip, and Jada Kabbout.

Team Livo prides itself on working effectively with government agencies and other local services to ensure that our constituents' needs are met. About 90 per cent of the time, those matters relate to social housing. I thank our local Homes NSW team, led by Genene. Jessica, Maram, Alison, Leanne and Naomi, I know you do not have an easy job, but I respect and appreciate that you all genuinely want to see the best outcomes for tenants in our area. I look forward to working with you all in 2026. That team is a reflection of the approach to our social housing system taken by Minister Rose Jackson and this Government.

As Parliamentary Secretary, I am lucky to have a Minister who sees himself as a mentor. I thank Minister Dib for his support and encouragement. I have been humbled by the many amazing people I have met across our frontline emergency services, those who are the first port of call to access government services, those who seek to enable government to readily evolve with the digital age and those who are responsible for young people that have lost their way. I have developed a better understanding of the work those frontline staff do every single day, and I share that information with pride across the community. I am proud to serve as Parliamentary Secretary. I could not do that without the support of Minister Dib's staff, Zoe, James, Mark, Meagan, Dilan, Dana, Rabia and Caria.

When I was asked to serve as the chair of the parliamentary Labor caucus, I was not sure what I was signing up for. Most days, I do not regret it, and I thank the people who ensure that I can discharge the duties with minimal complaints—Sachin, Omar, Cara, Colleen, Peta and Chiara. Functioning effectively in this place is definitely a team effort. I acknowledge the Government Whip, Deputy Whip and Colleen Symington, who keep this place running. This Parliament would fall into chaos very quickly if not for their work, particularly Colleen, whose expertise and guidance is precious and invaluable to every member of the Government and beyond. Some say her crystal ball allows her to predict the future, but it is actually her superpower that has been honed over many years. They better name something big after you, Colleen.

I thank the many others who make sure we are fed, appear coherent—thank you, Hansard—and can do our jobs effectively, including the Chamber staff, Hansard—thanks for the chuckles and empathy, especially during late night sittings—IT, catering, our wonderful cleaners, the Parliamentary Library and Chanthy, who is the cleaner in my electorate office; she is not allowed to leave. I see them and I appreciate them. I thank my colleagues on all sides of the aisle. We may often disagree, but I have appreciated the camaraderie, conversations and perspectives, especially in this place.

Closer to home, I wish everyone in Liverpool and beyond a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. For the many Christians in my electorate, I know this is a sacred time of year. In that spirit, I acknowledge the fantastic Christian leaders of all traditions in my community. They not only bring people together for occasions like Christmas but have also built strong communities of faith that work every day to support those doing it toughest in our community. At this time of year when we often take family and celebration for granted, those organisations are supporting the vulnerable who may not have access to family and support. I extend my thanks to organisations of other faiths and secular organisations that do similar important work.

Family, friends and those who provide a balance to the days and hours in this place are what life is all about. I have a deep appreciation for my family and friends, who keep me grounded and ensure that I am only slightly unhinged most of the time and who help me consider something different at the end of the day. Over the season, frontline service workers in emergency services, health, police, the Department of Communities and Justice and other services may not have a Christmas break, and I extend my thanks and appreciation to them for putting their family events and activities on hold to support and protect the community. Finally, I thank the people of Liverpool for the trust they continue to place in me. It is the honour of my life to represent the community I call home in this place. I am especially proud to do that as part of a Labor Government that understands the importance of investing in our suburbs and supporting the families who call them home. Merry Christmas and a happy new year to each and every one of you. Unfortunately, I do not have a Santa hat.

Ms FELICITY WILSON ( North S hore ) ( 15:03 :32 ): As we wrap up the parliamentary sitting year and head into my favourite season, I once again offer my Christmas felicitations. And, yes, it is my favourite part of the parliamentary session; it is when Felicity gets to do felicitations. The closing stretch of the year gives us a rare chance to look back not just at the legislation we have debated or the hours we have spent in this place but also at the people we serve and the communities we represent. I remain profoundly grateful to the people of North Shore for allowing me the privilege of speaking and working on their behalf in Australia's oldest Parliament. It has been a full and energising year across the community. We have seen progress across education, local infrastructure and community initiatives, alongside the countless quieter moments that make this job meaningful, like helping a constituent resolve a longstanding issue, meeting with a local club seeking support or simply listening to the concerns and ideas of neighbours who care deeply about their homes and our community. Those conversations, big and small, shape my work every day.

This year has been one of real change and growing pains for our community. Major infrastructure projects, the impact of bus and train service failures, and new policies to fast-track housing have all been felt across the North Shore. Through all of that, I have worked as the community's voice, advocating for practical solutions, protecting local amenity, and ensuring that our community is heard. I heard them loud and clear when they had concerns about service impacts, particularly with buses at the beginning of the year. Thankfully, we have seen them steadily improve throughout the year, and I will continue to work for improved bus and train services for the community.

This year has also brought major progress on projects I promised our community. Works are underway at Berrys Bay to transform the site—which was a disused harbourside foreshore—into a public precinct that balances recreation, heritage and the environment. The Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway upgrade are well advanced, and I have worked to minimise construction impacts and stand up for residents whose homes and lives have been disrupted. A lot more disruption will happen over the Christmas period, and I will work to ensure I communicate that to people. The Sydney Harbour Bridge cycleway will open soon, improving safety and accessibility for all, and I have continued working closely with locals to raise safety and amenity concerns.

As Christmas approaches, I acknowledge the many people who will not be taking much of a break. My very sincere thanks go to the officers of the North Shore Police Area Command, who manage an especially busy period across the harbour. The work they do leading into the new year is very challenging. I always enjoy meeting new police officers. This year we have seen an increase in probationary constables. I welcome them all and thank them for their service. I thank our firies at Neutral Bay—which is next door to my electorate office—Crows Nest, with the big rescue equipment, and Mosman. They are part of the different local villages and communities of my electorate, and I thank them for their service and continued contributions to our villages.

I particularly acknowledge the work that SES volunteers do across the State and not just in our own communities. They are part of a bigger response to the increasing impacts of floods and storm events that continue to occur across the State. I acknowledge that the Mosman SES crossed the boundary and helped out in Cremorne recently when some trees had fallen onto the street. I recognise that the contribution of SES volunteers is to all of us. I thank the Marine Rescue teams. We opened up the new Marine Rescue location at Middle Harbour. They are all volunteers. The number of hours they contribute to keeping people safe and alive is phenomenal. The work that our volunteers statewide—including the RFS—will be doing and their commitment to keep our communities safe are profound, and that is through some of the most demanding weeks of the year. While we hope for a quiet, safe festive season for all, sadly it often turns out that this time of year is when we need to call on those volunteers the most.

I also thank the many supporters and volunteers in my local community who contribute so generously, including in the Liberal Party branches. Whether they are helping to organise events, staffing community stalls and festivals or lending their expertise when needed, their contributions are felt deeply. In particular, I thank my North Shore Liberal Party conference executive, our new president John Davaine, treasurer Mary Blainey, vice‑presidents Jennifer Bicknell and Jess Keen, and secretary Hunter Wardman. I also thank outgoing president Ted Wziontek for his dedicated service and outgoing secretary Marilyn Cameron, who stepped down after decades at the helm as part of her 50 years of service to the Liberal Party. My thanks also go to Efi Carr and Jo Howe. I give a special mention to James Jeffree for his work at Crows Nest Fest.

I extend my gratitude to the staff of the Parliament, who support members and—they would not say it—put up with us. Their professionalism keeps this institution operating smoothly throughout the year. I thank the Clerk and her team, the Speaker and his office, the Whip's office and the Whip for their support and good humour, the Hansard staff, who get the best shout-out on this day of the year, and the people who work to ensure that our democratic institution thrives, including security staff who keep us safe. We know there are increasing threats to all of our safety. I thank the catering and cafe teams and IT who keep the building fuelled and functioning through the long sitting days, as well as our electorate offices.

In the Liberal Party context, I recognise the Leader of the Liberal Party and his office and the Opposition Whip and his office. I thank my electorate office team, who have worked to support me throughout 2025. They are Olivia Di Pasqua, Sandra Armstrong, Chris McDermott, Lisa Forrest and Meg Taylor. They are the first point of call for so many in our community. Their compassion, diligence and reliability shape the experience that people have when they seek help from their MP. I am incredibly grateful for the dedication and heart that each of them bring to their work. They complement each other's skills. Their attitudes are beyond any that members could imagine, particularly the empathy that they each bring. They make sure they recognise the special value of every constituent, particularly those having a hard day.

I also thank those who worked in relief this year, being Melissa Ceccaldi, Harry Bellamy and Chelsea Burgess Hannon. I thank my family—my sisters, my mum and especially my two beautiful children, Eleanor and Henry, whom I did not have when I was elected but who are now getting pretty big. Henry starts school next year. I thank them all for their love and patience throughout another busy year. Their support means everything. Finally, I wish everyone from the North Shore—my colleagues, friends and community—a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. May the season bring rest, joy and a bright start to the year ahead.

Ms MARYANNE STUART ( Heathcote ) ( 15:10 :40 ): This is my first Christmas felicitations speech, even though it is my third Christmas in this place. As the member for Heathcote, covering regions from Kirrawee in the Sutherland shire to Bulli in the Wollongong local government area, I thank and acknowledge so many people who have made 2025 a successful year. I thank our teachers and school support staff them for caring for and teaching our young people. We have had a great year, with the turning of the sod on the new fit-for-purpose Sutherland Public School hall and the announcement of a fit-for-purpose hall for Heathcote High School. Both projects are long overdue. I thank the school communities, students and families for their advocacy and for working with me to deliver those fantastic pieces of infrastructure.

We have reopened Garie Road. I thank the Garie Surf Life Saving Club and the cabin communities for their patience. Their road was washed away three years ago, and the Minns Labor Government has delivered a new road, built back with resilience. I especially acknowledge the Garie Surf Life Saving Club, which has had a tough time maintaining its membership. I wish the club all the best for a strong 2026 and acknowledge the president, Brad Taylor, in particular. Heathcote Road was repaired—urgent work that needed to be carried out. I thank Transport for NSW for its work and the community for its patience. Work was completed on Bulli town centre to help address congestion and keep pedestrians, businesses and commuters safe. There were major works, repairs and upgrades on the T4 and South Coast train lines, which were especially needed after flooding and landslides in 2024. The work was required to ensure that everybody is kept safe. I again thank the Transport for NSW workforce. I thank the station staff who work on all of the train stations in my electorate, as well as the cleaners, who maintain everything beautifully.

I thank the Rural Fire Service volunteers, and their families and friends who support them. Those volunteers never stop training and maintaining their equipment. In particular, I thank Martin Surrey, commander of the NSW RFS Illawarra Sutherland Team. I also thank Brendon Neilly from the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Heathcote is home to the oldest national park in Australia. Brendon is the royal area manager of the Greater Sydney branch. I shout him out for everything he does to protect nature and that beautiful piece of landscape within that Heritage listed royal national park. Darian Brooker has become a dear friend. She is CEO of We, Future Leaders. I acknowledge her for facilitating our first high school resilience and leadership forum. Jeanne Zweck is the president of the Sutherland Shire Business Chamber. It is a pleasure to work with her to make sure the small business community is always heard. I thank our nurses and hospital staff at Bulli Hospital, Coledale Hospital and the Sutherland Hospital for their dedication to quality health care. I thank our police, Fire and Rescue and all 11 surf lifesaving clubs in Heathcote for everything they do. Whilst we are having fun on Christmas and New Year's Day, they will be keeping the community safe. I thank them for their ongoing work and volunteering.

I am on four parliamentary committees. I take the opportunity to thank all of the staff. We have had a big year travelling around with those committees. We have held a number of hearings, public forums and round tables. We literally just need to turn up to do our job because everything else is done by the secretariat staff. They hire venues, organise accommodation and arrange witnesses and organisations ahead of time. I thank the secretariat and Hansard staff for everything they do every day. I thank the library staff, Aboriginal liaison officers, sound crews and administrative staff. We could not do the job as well, or at all, without them.

I thank the amazing Colleen Symington in the Whip's office, and Omar for his calming influence and solid performance. I thank our wonderful leadership team—the Premier, the Deputy Premier and all our wonderful Ministers—for everything they do. They have amazing staff behind them who help us out. I thank all my colleagues, especially the class of 2023. I thank my office staff—Kerrie, Letitia, Kate, Ethan and Dan—for a fantastic year. I thank my beautiful family for keeping me grounded and supporting me. I still pinch myself that I represent the people of Heathcote in this place. I am blown away that I have the honour to serve them. I wish each and every one of them a safe and merry Christmas and a happy new year. I look forward to working with them for a bigger and better year in 2026 for everybody.

Ms JENNY LEONG ( Newtown ) ( 15:15 :42 ): On behalf of The Greens, I wish everyone a very happy holiday season and restful end to what has been a massive year for all of those who serve the people of New South Wales in this Parliament, in ministerial offices and in electorate offices across the State. It has been a particularly challenging year for many reasons, from the ongoing cost-of-living crisis to escalating climate change and the worrying rise of the far right here and abroad. It has been tough. I acknowledge that, for so many, showing up to work every day and maintaining business as usual while a genocide has played out on our screens for two years has been hard. I also acknowledge the ongoing struggle of First Nations people for truth and treaties, the absence of which further fuels the intergenerational impacts of invasion and colonisation from all those years ago.

I have worked with local communities, activists, lefties, radicals and troublemakers in this State. It is empowering and an absolute privilege to know that, as Greens, we represent them in this place. I know that for many who share our workplace, being subjected to heated debates comes at a cost, especially at a time when our communities are so divided. To that end, The Greens acknowledge the many people who keep this place running and who do so much behind the scenes to keep democracy alive. They sometimes hear intense things said without so much as a warning, and they have to endure their lives being debated and futures being negotiated while continuing about their own work responsibilities. As such, we thank all staff of the Legislative Assembly, the front-of-house staff and the Hansard team, who have front-row seats to the bearpit. We thank the library staff for sharing their knowledge and research skills with us; the catering team for keeping us hydrated and fed, and for finding my mug earlier this year; the facilities, cleaning and Department of Parliamentary Services [DPS] staff; and the Clerk's office, particularly Ash Lee, the crossbench liaison officer, for ensuring we know what is happening and when.

A special mention goes to the staff of the Parliamentary Counsel's Office, who we know go above and beyond to navigate the additional requests and the scale of our asks in a minority government. We also put on record our appreciation for those in the IT department for helping sort out our various tech woes. I particularly thank Ferdous, Cess, Jacob, Jazz and Adam. A special thanks goes to whoever in DPS has allowed us to uphold our HP boycott by getting me a different laptop. The Greens also extend our sincere thanks to all the expert staff who work on the various committees on which we serve, including Leon Last, Madelaine Winkler and the team from the Joint Standing Committee on the Office of the Valuer General; the staff of the Committee on Law and Safety; the staff of the Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption; Dr Markus Bell and Shaza Barbar from the Modern Slavery Committee; and Alison Buskens and Yann Pearson from the Public Accounts Committee. I also thank those who support those committees.

I thank Colleen in the Government Whip's office and Omar in the office of the Leader of the House for all the work they do behind the scenes to keep us informed about what is happening. On behalf of my Greens colleagues, the member for Balmain and the member for Ballina, I offer my deep gratitude to our electorate office and parliamentary teams. They do so much every day to directly support the people in our communities. I thank Miriama, Donny, Charlie, Dani, Harrison, Patricia, Tahlia, James, Caley, Tyler, Digby, Rochelle, Alison, Libby, Olivia, David, Hamish and Ned. Working for a Greens MP is not easy. Striking the right balance between serving the people who elected us on everyday issues that impact them while also delivering on the big‑picture policy agenda that they expect of us is always a challenge and never gets boring.

I also acknowledge the impact of being an MP on our partners and our kids. The member for Balmain and I both have primary school aged children. As such, I extend our gratitude to our partners and mini ones. To Kobi's partner, Vid, and her wonderful kids, Maya, Amari and Xavi, what a massive change they have all experienced in their mum becoming an MP. On behalf of me and everyone else who appreciate her amazing skills and compassion as an MP, we thank them for sharing her with us. I acknowledge the impact that this job has on my partner, Kristian, and on us and our lives. I thank him for all he has sacrificed over the years.

To my daughter, Scarlett, I am so sorry it takes us so long to walk down King Street because mum stops to chat to everyone. To the many amazing workers in this State who do not get a break over summer, The Greens acknowledge and thank them. They include emergency services personnel, healthcare workers and other frontline responders, as well as those who work in retail, tourism and hospitality. May they all earn lots of overtime. I thank them for all they do. Finally, I thank the good people of Newtown, Balmain, Ballina and across New South Wales whom The Greens have the pleasure to represent in this place. We wish them all a safe and restful summer.

Dr HUGH McDERMOTT ( Prospect ) ( 15:20 :59 ): As the parliamentary year draws to a close, I reflect on what a big year 2025 has been and thank our Prospect electorate. Their efforts are a testament to the strength of our thriving Western Sydney community. Prospect boasts one of the most vibrant and diverse faith communities in New South Wales. I thank all of our faith leaders—our bishops, priests, pastors, imams and many others—who, despite distinct challenges this year, have inspired unity and harmony. I express my sincere gratitude for our remarkable community organisations, sporting clubs, local businesses, charities, churches and faith communities. Whether it is a vibrant festival, a walkathon, a community market or a fundraiser supporting a local family, our community always answers the call.

I acknowledge our dedicated educators—our principals, teachers, learning support officers, school administrators and parents and friends associations—for the countless hours spent lesson planning, marking, coordinating sports days and organising extracurricular activities. I thank them for helping our students achieve their full potential. I thank those working through Christmas, including those in the emergency services, health care, hospitality and retail. I acknowledge the capable volunteers at St John Ambulance, especially from our local Blacktown and Holroyd divisions and cadet divisions. I also thank our healthcare workers at Blacktown, Fairfield and Westmead hospitals. I thank our brave firies at Fire and Rescue NSW, especially those from the Smithfield, Wentworthville and Huntingwood stations.

I give a big shout-out to our hardworking Rural Fire Service volunteers, particularly our crews at Horsley Park and Eastern Creek. They are all local heroes. I thank our NSW Police Force and all the fantastic officers at the Fairfield, Cumberland, Blacktown and Parramatta police area commands. They and our paramedics, nurses and doctors work throughout the holidays to care for our community. In Western Sydney, we live in multicultural harmony, respecting each other's values and championing what truly unites us. It is an immense privilege to represent the electorate of Prospect, and I thank all my constituents for continuing to place their trust in me as their State member of Parliament.

I acknowledge the commitment and support of our local Labor Party branch members. They include, from the Greystanes-Pemulwuy branch, president Tony Jones and secretary Suman Saha; from the Toongabbie branch, president Adrian Kelly and secretary Thiru Arumugam; from the Wentworthville branch, president Jitendra Verma and secretary Lisa Lake; from the Smithfield branch, president Tony Campolongo and secretary Reilly Berchi; from the Seven Hills branch, president Adrian Walker and secretary Joseph Varghese; and, finally, from the Prospect branch, president Patrick Dako and secretary Peter Rugato.

I would not be able to achieve anything I do without my wonderful electorate staff. With the myriad challenges faced by our community this year, my electorate staff have worked around the clock to help families and businesses in Prospect. I thank my hardworking team, including my senior electorate officer, Caitlyn Long, George Mpliokas, Emma Cutmore, Liam Long, Dustin Dao, Alex Sas-Pele, Masi Haddad and our cleaner, Rahini. I thank Premier Chris Minns and Deputy Premier Prue Car for their steadfast leadership throughout another successful year in government. In 2025 we have worked every day for the people of New South Wales.

I thank the fantastic team in the Premier's office, particularly Cherie Burton, James Cullen, Paul Mills and the rest of the Caucus Liaison Unit. As Parliamentary Secretary, I thank the Attorney General, Michael Daley, and his committed team—especially Phil Kelly, Dylan Parker and Michael Tidball—for their stewardship of the Department of Communities and Justice. I thank all our dedicated Ministers and their hardworking teams for their determination to achieve the very best outcomes for New South Wales. Every Minister in the Cabinet has helped the electorate of Prospect in many ways, whether it be in health, transport, housing or water, through the Prospect Reservoir. I thank them for what they have done for my electorate. I acknowledge the incredible diplomacy and gravitas of the Speaker, the Hon. Greg Piper, who keeps our Chamber in order.

I thank our Government Whip, Nathan Hagarty, and the Whip's office, in particular Colleen Symington. I thank also the Legislative Assembly Clerk's office and the Parliamentary Counsel's Office. I thank the outstanding team in the Department of Parliamentary Services. I thank Hansard—the team looks after us so well—the special constables, the education team, IT, maintenance and catering for their exceptional service. Politics is a hard game, but our political teams work across the parties, and staff work together in DPS. That makes Parliament a wonderful place to work. I wish everybody a merry Christmas.

Mr DAVID LAYZELL ( Upper Hunter ) ( 15:26 :06 ): I make my Christmas felicitations and note it is amazing that we are only four weeks away from Christmas. It feels like the year has absolutely flown by. I always enjoy speaking to the former member for Upper Hunter, George Souris, and his wife, Vassy. I often speak about the amount of time he served in this place, which was some 20-odd years. I often say to him, "There's absolutely no way I could do something similar to that." He always replies, "You'll be surprised how fast time flies." This year, I truly agree with that statement because it has absolutely flown by. I cannot believe we are already at the end of our parliamentary year. It is always a great honour to represent the electorate of Upper Hunter. It is vast and diverse, and it is an absolute privilege.

I work with a number of different local government areas, and this year I give a shout-out to them. Local government is one of the hardest jobs in our area. Our councillors really do work hard. I give a shout-out to the various council areas and their mayors and general managers. They including Mayor Maurice Collison and general manager Greg McDonald from Upper Hunter Shire Council; Mayor Jeff Drayton and general manager Derek Finnigan from Muswellbrook Shire Council; Mayor Sue Moore and general manager Justin Fitzpatrick‑Barr from Singleton Council; Mayor Philip Penfold and general manager Jeff Smith from Maitland City Council; Mayor Digby Rayward and general manager Gareth Curtis from Dungog Shire Council; and Mayor Claire Pontin and general manager Adrian Panuccio from MidCoast Council. All those people work very hard for their areas.

It amazes me that the Upper Hunter electorate, which is a relatively small area, has so many different and diverse communities. I grew up in a small town, and it is a great privilege to represent people from all small towns all over the State. They are all different; they all walk to a different drumbeat. It is a tough job representing them all, but it is a job that I relish. I acknowledge a number of different people who have worked hard during the year and will continue working hard over the Christmas break while we all enjoy time off. In particular, I acknowledge our NSW Police Force. The Hunter Valley and Port Stephens-Hunter districts are in my electorate, and those police work so hard. As local MPs, we see how hard they work.

Ambulance staff do a wonderful job, and the NSW SES will be on call this summer, as always. Fire and Rescue NSW will most definitely be on call, with the dry conditions we are seeing at the moment. They will no doubt be required numerous times. I thank the doctors and nurses at the Hunter New England Local Health District. I thank the schools in the Hunter and their teachers, who are coming to the end of the school year and have done an amazing job. My area has a number of big industries, like the horse breeding industry, the coalmining industry, the wineries, the beef and dairy industry, and the cropping industry. We also have power stations. But across the whole area small businesses keep everything together, and most of them are family run. I hope they get some time off over the summer period.

I thank my colleagues in this place from different sides of politics. We come from different backgrounds, but we all want the best for New South Wales. I extend my thanks to my colleagues in The Nationals as well. I thank my staff, Garry, Sarah, Kate and Brett. I cannot do the job without them and I really appreciate how much work they put in to allow us to do what we do for the electorate of Upper Hunter. I wish everyone a merry Christmas and I hope everyone has a safe time with their families.

Ms JANELLE SAFFIN ( Lismore—Minister for Small Business, Minister for Recovery, and Minister for the North Coast) (15:31:18): It is hard to believe that it is already this time of the year. I cannot believe how quickly it has gone. I love the felicitations debate. Christmas is a lovely time. Most of us take on the joy of the season and extend goodwill to each other. I send good wishes to all. Hopefully, we can let go of transgressions and hurts and extend love instead, including to those in need, in very practical ways. We must extend kindness through kind looks and kind eyes, because our eyes really mirror our souls. It is important to extend our kind eyes to people in practical ways.

I love Christmas carols, and I love Santa Claus. I always meet Santa Claus out and about. In my area, members of the Country Women's Association can be found in the CBD wrapping Christmas presents and raising funds for their great charitable work. I love everything that goes with Christmas—the fruit mince pies, the plum pudding, the brandy custard and the Christmas cake. Of course, mine has to be gluten free because I am coeliac. I am lucky that a lot of gluten-free products are on the market now so that I can still enjoy those treats.

I thank our wonderful charities who reach out to all during the Christmas season. The season can also elicit a lot of emotions. Sadly, rates of domestic violence go up at this time and the children of people who are in prison also feel it. Charities and groups are available to help them. I send my love to family and friends, and to my wonderful Lismore electorate. It is a diverse, large and broad electorate and a wonderful place to represent. Like some other electorates, we have had a few tough years, particularly with the weather. Just at the end of the COVID pandemic, we were hit with natural disasters. It has been quite challenging.

I turn to the oldest colonial Parliament, the New South Wales Parliament. I often say that it is one of my workplaces—it is where I come to work. There are some wonderful people here. MPs come into the Chamber to slug it out, but we also get on. We talk a lot but we actually get stuff done. We say it in different words, but it would be unparliamentary of me to use a certain phrase, so I will not. I will just say we get stuff done. I just left a meeting with two colleagues from flood-impacted areas who brought people from their electorates to meet Ministers. It was almost like we were speed dating to talk about all the things that they need. I thank the Speaker and the Speaker's panel for the support they extend to all of us and make this a good place to be. It is sometimes a bit challenging, but it is done with goodwill and good humour.

I thank Hansard for their sterling work. They have to sit here and not only listen to us but also record us and do what they do. That takes a lot of forbearance. I thank them for making sure that we have an accurate historical record of what takes place. That is important. They are noticed, and I thank them very much. I thank the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Helen, and everyone who is part of her team for the seamless, impartial and professional manner that they display. When people ask me about Helen, I say, "None of us would have a clue what her politics are." That is a compliment and a good thing, because she is impartial. That is important for democratic institutions, and I thank her for that.

Many members have thanked the catering staff, and I thank them too. They are wonderful, even though I cannot always eat the food. They do a good job for everybody, and they accommodate me as best they can. I cannot complain. They keep us alive. I also thank Mark Webb and the team. I thank my electorate office and all of my staff for their support, particularly throughout the disasters. They have extended that support to other members whose electorates have also experienced disasters. I thank my party leader, Premier Chris Minns, and Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman for doing the jobs they do each and every day. It is a bit like gladiators going into the ring. They front up every day to perform and do what they do. I thank Chris for leading the team and the Cabinet. I wish them both well.

I call Leader of the House Ron Hoenig and Manager of Opposition Business Alister Henskens barristers at 10 paces. I do not think barristers ever stop being barristers. We all agree on that. I go off script a bit, but I was once with then Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and a group of farmers in Lismore when he was telling people how he was previously a barrister. I said, "No, he still is." I interpreted his English for everybody. The work that the leaders do is important. I thank them also for maintaining what I call an adversarial approach, with the greatest of respect. I thank the Whips. I have borrowed Nathan's Christmas vest to wear to add a bit fun.

Mr David Harris: It fits you better.

Ms JANELLE SAFFIN: It's a little bit big. I thank Nathan Hagarty, the Government Whip, and Liesl Tesch, the Deputy Government Whip. I know how much work that entails, having been a Deputy Whip. The role is part parliamentary, part political and part pastoral. You have to combine all of those. The Whips look after people. That includes the Opposition Whip, Adam Crouch; and Deputy Whip, Richie Williamson. I extend my felicitations to them. I must admit, I have a soft spot for Crouchie, the member for Terrigal. Of course the member for Clarence and I are neighbours. We have known each other and worked together a long time. We bring that goodwill to this place.

I thank the Ministers—my Cabinet colleagues—for being so collegiate. I thank the Treasurer, "Mr No". I think it is like that with every Treasurer. I have been met with opposition from a lot of them. But they have an important role to play in balancing the books. As MPs we are passionate about our electorates; we just want every cent and we go hard for it, no matter what. We do that all the time and that is our job. Someone has to put a handbrake on us—not that I like it, but that is the reality of our system. I also acknowledge the members of the media, who sit in the press gallery and report on us. They are the fourth estate. We might not always like their reporting—and that goes for every member—but they are an important pillar within the democratic system. We need them and it is really important that we continue to have independent media.

I am lucky I live in my region because we have a lot of media and some city colleagues from both sides of the Chamber say that they hardly ever get in the media because they do not have it. My region has two TV stations, and radio stations everywhere. There are weekly newspapers that I write columns for. Some members from the regions are lucky in that sense. We are always in the media. It is just part and parcel of our daily life. I do it early in the day. It means that we get our stories out and we get coverage. It is quite balanced in the regions as well. Everybody gets a guernsey, gets a go. So it is really important that we keep regional media alive. I say to all my Labor colleagues that it is great being a part of the Labor family and team. We support each other. We back each other. I also acknowledge The Nationals members. Some people ask me, "What is it like?", since I say that I basically live in National Party territory. I say, "I'm used to Nats." I say it with affection. The last point I will make is that I am praying we have no weather disasters.

Mr Jihad Dib: So am I, Janelle.

Ms JANELLE SAFFIN: I acknowledge that Minister Dib is sitting behind me in the Chamber. I will end on that note.

Ms ROBYN PRESTON ( Hawkesbury ) ( 15:42 :45 ): Merry Christmas to every member in the Chamber. It is an opportunity for each of us to give thanks and to recognise the people who have had an influence in our lives and in the lives of our community members and beyond. I acknowledge any veterans or serving members who may be listening or watching today. I thank them for their service and pay my respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy today. I am very fortunate to have the RAAF Base Richmond in the Hawkesbury electorate. The families of service members make a wonderful contribution to our economy and peace of mind and are a reassuring comfort for a lot of people that have grown up in the area. Oftentimes those families will settle in the Richmond and Hawkesbury community because their children have grown up and gone to school there. They have established relationships with friends, family members, schools and the professional people that they deal with, including medical professionals. It is a place where they feel welcome. Hawkesbury is like that. I am very blessed.

We have a wonderful volunteer spirit there. We saw that with nine floods over five years. The Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue, emergency services groups and first responders did amazing work. We have so much respect and love for all of them. I recognise them today for the contribution they have made to the Hawkesbury community. I have gotten to know a lot of my community members much better. I acknowledge their generosity—those in the Lions club, the Rotarians, and the teaching staff in all the schools in the Hawkesbury electorate. I also acknowledge Hawkesbury District Hospital. We fought a good fight for Hawkesbury hospital staff and we got a victory with that. The Government supported our pleas. That was a good win. I acknowledge the effort of the staff and the support that they give to everyone in Hawkesbury and beyond.

I acknowledge our small businesses, who have had it tough with the COVID pandemic, the bushfires of 2019‑20, all the floods—what else can we throw at small business? They are still recovering. We want to support them and give them the push and the added support so that we can drive tourism up and down the Bells Line of Road. I also acknowledge the men's sheds in Hawkesbury. We have around five of them. They do amazing work supporting men's mental health and wellbeing. I also recognise the two councils that I work with and support, the Hills Shire Council and Hawkesbury City Council, and the contributions they make and the interactions they have with me as a local member. They come to me from time to time with problems that they cannot address. They look to me as the State member—as well as the Federal member, Susan Templeman. Whilst we all represent different levels of politics, the three levels of government have all come together and worked very successfully to deliver for Hawkesbury. I am very proud that we have been able to do that.

I acknowledge our turf farmers and primary producers. They provide the opportunity for growth in the area and that has been challenging at times. We have worked with them to get funding to sustain their businesses after the floods. It has been awful to watch them go through that time and again, and still they come back. They have that impetus, that injection of enthusiasm, that will to continue at all costs. So the least we can do as representatives on their behalf is to advocate for them to address what is wrong, what needs to be filled, what gaps are there and how we can best respond.

Speaking of responding, I acknowledge our first responders—all of them—from the police, Fire and Rescue and the ambulance services, including St John Ambulance. They have made an amazing contribution to Hawkesbury and beyond. We have seen firsthand the stellar performance that they give. I am also very mindful of the mental health issues that the area is burdened with. First responders have spoken to me about that. I am honoured that they opened up and told me what is wrong and what we need to do better. I will continue to advocate on their behalf.

I acknowledge the leaders within the Coalition: Mark Speakman, the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the Liberal Party; Natalie Ward; Damien Tudehope; Dugald Saunders; Gurmesh Singh and Kevin Anderson. I wish Dugald well going forward. I know he is going to focus on his family and his electorate. I want all the best for him, his family and his electorate. I am hopeful that his replacement, Gurmesh Singh, will enjoy the role and embrace it. He has great potential. I wish him all the best as well. He is in good hands with a deputy like Kevin Anderson.

I work with a wonderful team in the Opposition. The Coalition comes together and we thrash out our differences and we find middle ground. It is refreshing to see that time and again over particular issues that we have had to deal with. I also thank my team in the electorate office—my office manager, Felicity; Kim; Kylie; Krish; and Lucas—for backing me every time. I appreciate the love, affection and interest with which they tackle every problem that they deal with. I very much thank the progress associations and the advocates that have met with me. I thank them for their advocacy. Have a wonderful Christmas and go in peace.

Mr JIHAD DIB ( Bankstown—Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Minister for Emergency Services, and Minister for Youth Justice) (15:49:21): Like other members, I take this opportunity to reflect on the massive year it has been. It is a parliamentary year, so there is plenty of work still to do, but I thank all those who have made incredible contributions that have helped me do the work I do. I start, of course, by thanking my Labor colleagues, including the Premier for his leadership. I also thank and acknowledge the Deputy Premier, the Hon. Prue Car. As I am sure everyone else does in the Chamber does, I wish her a speedy recovery. We cannot wait to see her in Parliament again as soon as possible. It is a tough gig being the Leader of the Opposition or the Leader of The Nationals. I acknowledge that it is not an easy job. No member has an easy job, but through the hustle and bustle, we always have respect for one another. To all the members who have been respectful this year, I say thank you.

Being the member for Bankstown, with all that it entails, is my greatest honour. As Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Minister for Emergency Services, and Minister for Youth Justice, I get to see the very best of people and the extraordinary things they do. I also get to travel up and down the State. To all those who work in my departments, thank you. What you do is inspiring. I have just come back from the Legislative Council, where legislation has been passed relating to presumptive cancers contracted by firefighters. That is really special. It makes me realise what a difference we can make. I thank everybody who works in my departments for their care, their passion and their heart.

The other important group I want to thank is my family. Members' families sacrifice a great deal. They often have to play second fiddle to a work commitment or have to deal with us when we have had a rough day. I thank my wife, Erin; my three kids, Amal, Yasmin and Ali; and my extended family. However, Mum, please stop ringing me when I am in Parliament. She always rings me when I am in Parliament. Mum, I promise I will ring you back. Do not get upset with me.

Mr Steve Whan: That's because she thinks your jokes are so bad.

Mr JIHAD DIB: She's ringing to say, "Wind it up." It is the same for the families of all members. We could not do what we do without our families, and that rings true for all of us. I thank the people closest to me who help me do my job, the staff at my electorate office: my senior electorate officer, Beryl, and Silvanna, Kim, Karissa and Charlotte. I have not been in my electorate as much as I used to be because of my ministerial responsibilities, but they keep things going there like you would not believe. They are the heart and soul of my community, and I really appreciate the work they do.

Of course, I also thank my ministerial team. Zoe Allebone, my chief of staff, does an incredible job, ably supported by my deputy chief of staff, James Robert Connolly. I am not sure if he is the third or just James Robert Connolly. Apparently, Robert is his middle name. There you go, James. Caria Watt always makes sure I am in the right place at the right time. I also thank Mark Scala, Maegan Janie Sykes, Dylan Bogdanovski and Rabia Matar, who will be finishing up with my team this year. I stole her from Treasury on secondment and, unfortunately, she has to go back. Rabia, it is great to have you here in the Chamber. I know you will get all sentimental, but it has been terrific to have you on board.

I recognise the incredible support of my drivers, Imad and Michael, who make sure I get everywhere I need to go. The poor guys get tired, though. I remember one of them once said to me, "Minister, I'm really tired." I said, "I know, I can imagine how you feel," given that I was feeling the same way. I also acknowledge department liaison officers [DLOs] Calvin Chong, Victoria Davis, Anna Colaco, Dana Mahafza, Joanne Kingston, Lily Huang, Louise Pallier and Max Tuifua. DLOs come and go, but they are absolutely brilliant. I cannot forget Colleen Symington, the Government Whip's assistant. Colleen, we absolutely love you. You are an incredible human being. You make everything better. Your ability to bring us together is amazing. You are a true unsung hero of this Parliament. I really appreciate the work you do, Colleen. I also thank Charishma Kaliyanda, my Parliamentary Secretary.

While I am thanking people, I also thank the Speaker and his team. Poor Speaker. He has a tough job. I thought my job as Minister for Emergency Services was tough, but he really has a tough job. He is a decent man, with a great team of Speakers and a great office behind him. I thank the Clerks, led by Helen Minnican. I also thank the attendants. Thank you for always putting up with me. I thank Hansard for always making me sound smarter than I really am, and for making sure that my jokes are rendered in the way they were intended. I appreciate that. I thank Mark Webb and his team and all the other staff in the building, like the cleaners, the security team, facilities, IT—everybody. They are maybe not noticed, but they are the ones that make sure this place operates. Parliament is an ecosystem, and it only works when we are work together.

I conclude by saying that 2025 has been a big year in Emergency Services, Customer Service and Digital Government, and Youth Justice. I am sure that everybody would agree with me that this year, the work of the emergency services particularly has been absolutely phenomenal. Think about where we are at. Only the other day, emergency services were dealing with bushfires down on the South Coast. They also deal with road crashes every single day. This year, New South Wales has had cyclones, floods and storm damage, and, if members remember, saw a massive uptick in drownings around Easter. The State's emergency services have stepped up every single time. I am proud to be not only a citizen of this State, but also Minister for Emergency Services. I thank the emergency services for the work they do. Whether they are paid or unpaid, they are willing to put themselves in harm's way and walk into danger when all of us would prefer to be tucked up safely at home. They have been absolutely brilliant this year.

I acknowledge staff and volunteers at Fire and Rescue NSW, the RFS, the SES, Marine Rescue NSW, Surf Life Saving NSW and the Volunteer Rescue Association, which I have responsibility for, who are all so ably supported by the police and the ambos. I join with the Minister for Recovery in praying that New South Wales does not experience horrible weather, but I know that we are prepared for everything that will come our way. I thank members for the respect and support that we have shown one another throughout the year. It is important that we never lose sight of the reason that we are here: to make a difference, no matter what. Politics is not about playing games or arguments; it is about making a difference to the people, which I believe we did this year. With that, I wish everyone—your families, loved ones and communities—the best for not only Christmas but also the new year. Take care, look after yourselves and be safe.

Dr JOE McGIRR ( Wagga Wagga ) ( 15:56 :54 ): It is a great privilege to make a contribution to Christmas felicitations. Our work in this place is, by its very nature, often adversarial. But I am heartened by the ideals that we all share and I am encouraged by our common purpose to do the best we can for our communities. Although we inevitably disagree, more often than not we find common ground in seeking the better future we all want for our electorates, our State and our nation. I am very fortunate to represent the people of the Wagga Wagga electorate. I thank my community for its optimism, can-do attitude and commitment to working together. I am proud of our achievements in 2025, not least the major progress on the Marshalls Creek Bridge, the start of a community emergency response team at the Rock, the opening of a new childcare centre at Lockhart, the progress on the Tolland Renewal Project and the opportunity to right a historic wrong in the upcoming Snowy Valleys Council demerger referendum. Those are just a few of my community's achievements.

I acknowledge and thank the Premier, Government Ministers and other Government members, as well as their staff, for responding to my advocacy and for the work they do. I also thank my crossbench colleagues for their collegiality and support. There is no doubt that the Legislative Assembly crossbench has been an effective enhancement to the lawmaking and government processes of this State. We may have different perspectives, but we share a passion for delivering a better future. I also acknowledge and thank members of the Opposition. It has been a privilege to work with members across all parties in this House to ensure that our communities have the best legislation. I thank the Leader of the House and his team, particularly Omar Rodriguez. I also acknowledge the Speaker and his staff, the Clerks and the staff of the Legislative Assembly. We are so fortunate to have their leadership and professionalism in the course of our duties.

I also thank Mark Webb and the Department of Parliamentary Services [DPS] staff for their great work and support—all the staff from cleaning and security, human resources and, of course, Hansard. This year, I particularly express my thanks to secretariats of the committees I have chaired. Special thanks to Rohan Tyler, Shaza Barbar, Carly McKenna, Emily Whittingstall, Reeti Pandharipande, Marcus Bell and Matt Johnson—I hope I have not left anyone out. It has been a busy year across the three committees that I chair. I have appreciated their hard work and professionalism, which have contributed so much to the outcomes that we have been able to achieve. I also thank my committee members.

More always needs to be done. At the top of my Christmas list is the duplication of Wagga Wagga's Gobbagombalin Bridge and the delivery of my six-point Rural Health Action Plan—a road map towards urgently needed reform to underpin the future of country communities across the State. The Government will hear more from me about these essential issues, amongst others. I am also mindful that there are people in my electorate and nearby who are dealing with the effects of drought. Having met with the Premier and Minister for Agriculture this week, and the mayors of Snowy Valleys Council and Greater Hume Shire Council, I will continue my advocacy on that issue. None of this would have been possible without the support of my staff and I would like to pay tribute to my team —Jennie Burns, Paul Terry, Rachelle Kell, Daniela Gooden, Jess Payne, Jess Masuda, Emma Mundy, Meg Mundy, Steph Plane, Fiona McPherson, Helen Foley and Lewis Pierotti. Their passion, dedication and hard work make my job easier and our community a better place.

Underpinning it all is my deep love for my family. My love and respect, as always, goes to my wife, Associate Professor Kerin Fielding, whose achievements as a surgeon and advocate for regional health are legendary. I thank her for her love and support. As many members have indicated, it is a tough gig in this House and the support of family is so important. Our children and their partners and children are a joy, and I express my love and gratitude to Lara and Duncan, Natasha, Dylan and Bel, and Anna. I am especially happy to welcome not only the engagement of Dylan and Bel but also to celebrate the arrival to the world of Lara and Duncan's second child, Hallie Wren Hellmers McGirr, little sister to our beloved first grandchild, Rachel. Thank you to all. I am proud of you all and love you very much,

Christmas is a time of celebration but for some it can be a time of loneliness and tension. I acknowledge that. On that note I also acknowledge the recent passing of my father-in-law, Professor Anthony Fielding, after a long illness. Anthony made an enormous contribution to our society and was a very important person in the lives of his daughters, Gail, Vickie and my wife Kerin. He was a very important person on our family. I offer my condolence to his widow, Margaret, and to his daughters and family. I pay my respects and pay tribute to Professor Anthony Fielding.

Christmas is the feast of when God became man. It is a time when we should enjoy the company of our loved ones. It is a season of hope for us all. We should all keep that in mind and celebrate the feast with a deep sense of gratitude for what we have, and a deep sense of hope for the future. From my family to yours, I wish everyone here a happy Christmas and a safe and prosperous new year. Thank you to all in this House for the work you do. I look forward to continuing our work together in 2025. Season's greetings and God bless, everyone.

Mr TIM JAMES ( Willoughby ) ( 16:02 :51 ): As we conclude the 2025 parliamentary year, it is a fitting moment to pause, reflect, give thanks and extend good wishes to one and all. Serving the people of Willoughby remains a profound honour and one I carry with humility and deep appreciation. Every year in this place reinforces how fortunate I am to represent such a remarkable community defined by its generosity, resilience, diversity and shared spirit of service. This year I have continued to meet residents at every corner of our electorate. At school gates and train stations, cafes and shopping strips, community markets and sports fields, playgrounds and churches, our community has offered feedback, raised concerns and shared their hopes and ideas for the future. These conversations have sustained and shaped my work here immensely. I thank everyone who has engaged with me to make our community a better place to live, work and raise a family.

This year I have continued to press for better schools, safer roads, stronger transport links, and sensible planning and policies that support small business, families and local amenity. Willoughby thrives because its people care deeply about quality of life including education, green space, community connection and opportunity for our next generation. I will always fight to protect and strengthen those very foundations. This year has also deepened my work across the shadow portfolios of small business, fair trading, work health and safety, and building. I thank the many industry bodies, peak organisations, chambers of commerce, advocates, employers and workers who have engaged with me. Their insights and experience have helped to shape policy ideas that are practical, principled and grounded in real world outcomes. Good policy is collaborative policy and I am grateful for their ongoing input. I also acknowledge the Minister for Small Business, the Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, the Minister for Building and the Minister for Work Health and Safety. We have worked constructively and respectfully to achieve improvements that benefit the people of New South Wales.

To my parliamentary colleagues across all parties, thank you for your engagement this year. We debate strongly, but we are united by a shared commitment to serve. I thank the Speaker and the Speaker's panel for their stewardship of this Chamber, and acknowledge our Leader, the member for Cronulla, and the entire Liberal team for their discipline and determination to build a stronger, more confident New South Wales. I acknowledge the work of the office of the Leader of the Opposition, in particular Cheryl Gwilliam and Clem Hall. Likewise, I thank my Coalition partners in the National Party. Our Coalition is strong and proud. It has stood for over 100 years and is so vitally important to our great State. Thank you to our party whip, Adam Crouch, and his adviser, Anthony Radic. I make special mention to Bo Ok, who went about that role for the vast majority of this year so very well.

No parliament functions without the quiet diligence of those behind the scenes. I thank our Clerks, Hansard reporters, library researchers, security officers, catering staff, building services, IT teams and every staff member who supports this institution with grace and professionalism. To Mark Webb and the whole Department of Parliamentary Services team, thank you. You serve our democracy with distinction. In Willoughby, I am blessed to have a talented and dedicated electorate office team. Sue Clark, James Mount, Pierre Okosdinossian and Michael Opoyan are the frontline of service to our community. Whether answering phones, solving problems or supporting vulnerable residents, they help advocate for our community every single day. I extend my sincere thanks to the Willoughby State Electorate Conference, members of my party and, particularly, our executive, so capably led by James Holt, whose guidance and dedication are deeply valued. I acknowledge the committed staff at Liberal Party headquarters, who support our broader effort across New South Wales, particularly State director Chris Stone.

Christmas is a time when community is most visible. Across Willoughby, churches, charities, neighbourhood groups and service organisations are already giving generously by packing hampers, delivering gifts, hosting lunches, welcoming the lonely and lifting the spirits of those who are doing it tough. Their compassion reflects the very best of who we are. Christmas is sacred to Christians—including my family—as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and the promise of peace, hope and redemption. Yet it is also a season that speaks to people of all faiths about family, generosity, time shared, reconciliation and the enduring dignity of every person. It is also the beginning of the great Australian summer, a season of beach days and barbeques, cricket in the park and long evenings with family and friends.

I encourage everyone to stay safe this Christmas, whether on our roads, in the water and under the sun. In this season, we especially honour those who do not get a break: our police, nurses, doctors, paramedics, firies and other emergency workers who will spend Christmas and New Year on duty keeping our communities safe, healthy and protected. Their service is profound, and we are in their debt. As ever, I reserve my deepest thanks for my family. I thank my wife, Nikki; daughters, Chloe and Madeleine; and son, Xavier, for your patience, sacrifice and constant love. I thank my mum, Trish, and my whole family for their steadfast support, love and encouragement. As we look to 2026 with challenges to face, opportunities to grasp and a State to strengthen, I remain committed to serving with purpose, energy and hope. I wish everyone in this Parliament, across Willoughby and throughout New South Wales a joyful, safe and blessed Christmas and a happy and successful 2026.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER ( Mr Michael Kemp ): I thank the member for Willoughby and wish him a Merry Christmas.

Ms STEPHANIE DI PASQUA ( Drummoyne ) ( 16:07 :51 ): As we approach Christmas, I take this opportunity to reflect on the past year. Every day I wake up incredibly grateful to represent the Drummoyne community which I was born and raised in. It is a privilege and honour to represent my community and to be their voice in this Chamber. I am blessed with a community that looks after me. Nonnas, including my own, feed me, give me coffee and always make sure I am looked after. They give me great encouragement and, being a newlywed, they give me a lot of marriage advice. But in all seriousness, I am so grateful to live in a community that is full of kind, caring and beautiful people.

I express my sincere appreciation to all of the dedicated staff of the New South Wales Parliament. Their tireless efforts ensure members are well supported in our roles so that we can come in here and do our best work. I extend my thanks to the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Helen Minnican; Deputy Clerk Carly Maxwell; and all in the team, including Simon, Todd and John and all of the Clerks at the table. Their advice is truly invaluable and I could not serve as a Temporary Speaker without their support. I also extend my sincerest gratitude and thanks to the staff in the Department of Parliamentary Services who keep this place running—the Table Office, the Hansard team, the audiovisual team, the IT team, library, cleaners and catering. I thank the attendants who give the very best tour and know everything there is to know about the history of this place.

I thank my friend Mr Speaker, the Hon. Greg Piper, for his support and guidance. As a Temporary Speaker, I know firsthand the challenges that the Speaker's role presents. I am sincerely grateful to serve alongside him on the Speaker's panel. To all my colleagues on the Speaker's panel, including you, Mr Temporary Speaker, it is a privilege to work with you all to ensure that this is a place where all members can be heard. I know that we all take that obligation genuinely. I also acknowledge the President of the other place, the Hon. Ben Franklin, and the staff of the Speaker's office. In particular, I thank Shu-Fang Wei for her work.

To my Liberal and Nationals colleagues, I say thank you for your support and dedication to the people of New South Wales. I acknowledge our leadership team: the shadow Ministers and our Whips, as well as Anthony and Bo Ok in the Whip's office. I give a special shout-out to my friend the member for Terrigal for his work. I acknowledge the many staff in all of our electorate offices and thank them for helping us support our communities. We could not do our jobs without them. I acknowledge all members of the House, including those on the other side and the members of the crossbench. Whilst we may not agree on everything, we all come to this place to be a voice for our communities and to build a better future for our State. I look forward to continuing to work constructively with you all again next year.

The year 2025 has been a great one for the Drummoyne community. Earlier this year we opened the new car park at Concord hospital to ensure that visitors have ample parking, delivering on a project started by the former Liberal Government. The very first major upgrade of Concord High School will be completed in time for term 1, 2026. Last week we finally received the news we had been fighting for of a new fire station to be built in Rhodes. This year our community came together to celebrate the contributions of some of our most valued residents at the Local Seniors of the Year Awards. In May we raised over $1,000 for the Cancer Council at Drummoyne's Biggest Morning Tea. This Christmas my office is collecting donations for WAGEC, the Women's and Girls' Emergency Centre, which runs shelters in the inner west for women and children escaping domestic and family violence. I thank the community for its incredibly generosity.

To the Drummoyne community, thank you for trusting me to represent you in the New South Wales Parliament. I acknowledge the many organisations and volunteers who work tirelessly for our area. Our Rotary clubs, chambers of commerce, sporting clubs, environmental groups, schools, daycare and childcare centres, preschools, principals, teachers, P&C committees, churches and small businesses are all the lifeblood of our community. I thank them all and hope they enjoy a well-deserved rest over the Christmas holidays. I acknowledge the long‑serving principal of St Patrick's Catholic Primary School Mortlake, and my former teacher Mandy Westgate, who is retiring this year. I also acknowledge Father Paul Crowley of St Mary's Parish Concord, who has also retired after 33 years at Concord and 51 in total as a parish priest. I wish them both all the very best.

Whilst many of us will enjoy a break over Christmas and new year, I take this opportunity to acknowledge the first responders and frontline workers who will continue working to keep our community safe and supported. I particularly acknowledge and thank the staff at Concord hospital, including the doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and administrative teams, as well as our local paramedics. I also acknowledge the dedicated officers at Burwood Police Area Command, led by Superintendent Christine McDonald, who was recognised as this year's Drummoyne Local Woman of the Year. Thank you to our firefighters, SES volunteers and all other volunteers who are ready to assist throughout the holiday period. We owe them tremendous gratitude.

I extend my appreciation to my family. I could not do this job without them. To my husband: We finally got married this year, woo hoo! I thank you for your support. To my parents, my two sisters and my nonna: Thank you for everything you do for me. Our families give up so much so that we can do our jobs. I am so grateful for the sacrifices that my family makes. To my dedicated electorate office staff, Thera, Maria, Jim and Blake: Thank you for your hard work over the past year and for everything you do for our community. We had Mirielle in the office as relief staff this year and also welcomed Stavros, who comes in for a couple of hours most weeks for work experience. I met Stavros at Let's Get Going, an organisation in our community that supports adults of all abilities. I am incredibly proud of Team Drummoyne and am very grateful for my hardworking team. Finally, I wish everyone in my community and everyone in Parliament a merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year. I wish you all the best for 2026, and I look forward to being back next year.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER ( Mr Michael Kemp ): I thank the member for Drummoyne and hope that your Christmas is a happy one that fulfils all of your wishes.