Felicitations
Paul MERCURIO (Hastings) (10:07): I wanted to take this time in my members statement to congratulate my fellow class of 2022. I personally cannot believe it is a year now since we were elected. It is definitely the fastest year that has ever flown by in my life, and I would like to congratulate all of the class of 2022 for doing such a fantastic job, for weathering the storms, for helping their communities and for the joy, happiness and support given and shared between us all. I have very much enjoyed working with everyone. I would like to extend my thanks also to MPs on this side of the house. Thank you for your support, for your advice, for your words of wisdom and encouragement. Thank you for nurturing and guiding me and the rest of us when we needed it, when we asked for it and also when we did not. I also extend that to the opposite side of the chamber. I thank you for extending the hands of friendship and for the kind words of support. We all work very hard in this place with one goal, and that is to work and help our communities. Of course I could not have done it without my office staff: my office manager Kathryn Smith, my communications manager Lukas Hogenbirk and also Cath Warnock. Thank you so much for the support you have given me and the community through our office. Lastly, it has been a very crazy year, and I do not think I would have got through it nearly half as well without the love and support of my wife Andrea. To Andrea I say: thanks, gorge.