Tuesday, 8 September 2026

 David HODGETT (Croydon) (18:00): Today I rise to make my valedictory speech. I had lunch recently with Wade Noonan, and he quickly reminded me of the words of Theo Theophanous, who said, ‘You only get applauded twice in this place – the day you arrive and the day you leave.’ I will do my best to summarise 20 years of parliamentary service in the next 15 minutes. When I thought about many of the stories I could tell tonight, they would need to be told under parliamentary privilege. But I also thought, ‘I don’t think we want some of these stories etched into Hansard for eternity,’ so I think I will refrain from a lot of stories and just leave it to a lot of thankyous.

Leaving this place is not an easy decision. Public service has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, and representing the people of my electorate has been an honour beyond measure. Whilst much of my life has been about public service, politics was not the end goal for me. I had always had a deep interest in local government, and following the local government amalgamation, as the commissioners were handing control back to democratically elected councillors, I decided to run. I was not a member of a political party. In fact I ran as an independent candidate against Liberal, Labor and Greens and won. I did three terms on council and was elected three times as mayor by my colleagues. I served with my good friend James Merlino. I recall one time when I was mayor, James politely asked what I had on for the weekend. I did not have a lot on, so he asked if I wanted to come to a seminar on the health system, to which I enthusiastically agreed. I met James on the Sunday afternoon at a hall in Mount Evelyn, walked in and sat towards the back of the hall. Before long, John Thwaites stood up and started presenting, and as I looked around the room at a lot of older people, I thought to myself, ‘Shit, this is a Labor Party function’ – sorry, Speaker. I looked around and thought to myself, ‘Goodness me, this is a Labor Party function.’ John Thwaites was the Shadow Minister for Health at the time, and while it was an interesting afternoon I was not about to join the Labor Party. James and Heather McTaggart continue to joke about it to this day, saying they almost got me, but not so.

I really enjoyed my time in local government and have enormous respect for the councillors and staff in my area. Being in local government, I started working with state and federal MPs on local issues. I was aware of where my values aligned, joined the Liberal Party, and as they say, the rest is history. When I first sought election, I did so with a simple belief that our community deserved strong representation, practical solutions and representatives who listen more than they speak. Like many who arrive in this Parliament, I was driven by a desire to make a positive difference and leave Victoria better than I found it. And today, as I look around this chamber, I am reminded that while politics is often viewed through the lens of conflict and disagreement, its true purpose is service. Elections matter, policies matter and debates matter, but in the end what matters most is the opportunity to serve others. That has been the defining privilege of my parliamentary career.

Over the years I have had the opportunity to meet thousands of Victorians from every walk of life: small business owners working long hours to support their families, volunteers who quietly strengthen the fabric of our communities, teachers shaping the next generation, health workers caring for people through their most difficult moments, police officers, emergency service volunteers, faith leaders, sporting clubs and community organisations whose work often goes unnoticed but whose contribution is invaluable. They are the people who have inspired me throughout my time in public life. I have always believed that the strength of Victoria lies not in this building alone but in the communities we represent. Looking back, I am proud of the projects, initiatives and advocacy that have helped improve the lives of local residents and of helping individuals navigate difficult circumstances and ensure their voices were heard. Many of those achievements will never appear in official records or headlines, but they matter deeply to the people concerned, and they remain among the moments I value most.

One of the greatest lessons of parliamentary life is that no member succeeds alone. Every achievement is built upon the work of countless others: community leaders who advocate passionately for their causes, dedicated public servants who provide advice and expertise, parliamentary staff who keep this institution functioning, volunteers who give their time freely, and families who provide support and encouragement. Politics often focuses attention on individuals, but genuine progress is always a collective effort.

I would like to acknowledge the people of my electorate who placed their trust in me. Whether they voted for me or not, I have always sought to represent every constituent to the best of my ability. Thank you for your confidence, your advice, your constructive criticism and your friendship. Thank you for welcoming me to your schools, businesses, sporting clubs, community centres and homes. Thank you for sharing your stories. Thank you for reminding me every day why public service matters.

To my parliamentary colleagues from all sides of politics, thank you. While vigorous debate is an essential part of our democracy, so too is mutual respect. While we have not always agreed, I have always respected the sincerity, dedication and commitment of those who choose a life of public service. I have formed friendships in this Parliament that I will value for the rest of my life, and it has been an honour to serve alongside you.

To my colleagues within the Liberal Party and the broader coalition, thank you for your support, encouragement and friendship. While it is dangerous to single out people, I did want to acknowledge my great friends from the class of 2006: Bill Tilley, member for Benambra; Michael O’Brien, member for Malvern; and Matthew Guy, member for Bulleen. They are all great mates and terrific people, and together we have shared plenty of laughter and achieved a great deal.

Political parties are built upon shared values and common purpose. Throughout my career I have been proud to stand alongside colleagues committed to individual opportunity, responsible government, strong communities and economic prosperity. I have also been privileged to serve in leadership and ministerial roles. It was an enormous honour to be elected Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition by my colleagues. I am particularly proud to have served as Minister for Ports, Minister for Major Projects and Minister for Manufacturing in the Napthine cabinet. The breadth of responsibilities enabled me to develop relationships across private industry, and I maintain many of these friendships today. Those responsibilities were among the greatest honours of my professional life.

The opportunity to contribute to policy development, to participate in important decisions and to represent Victoria in ministerial capacities is something I will always cherish. Such positions bring significant responsibility, and I remain grateful to those who entrusted me with those opportunities. I thank former premiers Ted Baillieu and Denis Napthine for their confidence and trust in me and for giving me the opportunity to serve in their cabinets. I have been fortunate to serve under seven incredibly capable and dedicated leaders. To Ted, Denis, Matthew, Michael, John, Brad and Jess, I thank each of you for your belief in me, your confidence and trust and your steadfast commitment to the people of Victoria.

I would also like to acknowledge the parliamentary staff, electorate officers and ministerial staff with whom I have worked over many years. The public often sees the parliamentarian, but behind every member stands a team of talented and committed individuals. To my electorate office staff, past and present, thank you for your professionalism, loyalty and dedication to helping local residents. To my long-serving electorate staff Emma, Tina and Sarah – especially Emma, who has been with me for 19 of those 20 years – you all have dealt compassionately with people facing difficult circumstances and managed through the challenging times of the COVID pandemic. You have celebrated community successes. You have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure constituents receive the assistance they need. Many people will never know how much you contributed, but I certainly do. You have my deepest gratitude.

I thank the members of the Croydon branch of the Liberal Party for their unwavering support throughout my career. I particularly acknowledge Fran Henderson and Lesley Neuparth, who have been with me for the entire journey, and Joy and Russell Davis, stalwarts of the party and all dear friends. I also pay tribute to the many family members, friends and supporters who stood beside me over the years. Without you none of this would have been possible. I also take the opportunity to acknowledge and thank my former federal colleagues Tony Smith and Michael Sukkar and the current member for Casey Aaron Violi. It has been terrific to work with you over many years.

To the clerks, attendants, security personnel, cleaners, catering staff, library staff and all the parliamentary employees, thank you for the work you do every day. Institutions endure because of the dedication of people whose contributions are often unseen. This Parliament is stronger because of your professionalism and commitment.

I also acknowledge Victoria’s public servants across education, health, transport, emergency services and many other fields. The professionalism and dedication of both groups are essential to the effective functioning of our state and our Parliament. Public life, however, is not without its challenges. Politics can be demanding. There are long hours, difficult decisions, periods of uncertainty and significant personal sacrifices. Those sacrifices are rarely borne by the parliamentarian alone. They are shared by family. It has been said many times we are volunteers, but our families are conscripts. So today, more than anyone else I want to thank my family. To my late parents, my brothers Mick and Greg and extended family who supported me from the very beginning, thank you for the values you instilled in me. You taught me the importance of hard work, integrity, respect and service. Those lessons have guided me throughout my life.

To my children, thank you for your understanding and patience. There were school events I could not attend, family occasions interrupted by parliamentary responsibilities and many hours when public duties took me away from home. Your love and support have meant more than words can express.

My youngest son Baylin had not yet turned one when I was elected; he will turn 21 this December. It is a miracle that the things I used to drag him along to have not scarred him for life. I took him to a Greek Orthodox church service once that was held in Koine Greek language. We had to stand for an hour and a half, and he just glared at me the entire time. That cost me a McDonald’s Happy Meal on the way home. Who makes their six-year-old attend a Liberal Party state council conference in Ballarat, sit in the front row with me and absorb one of Michael Kroger’s presidential addresses? I love Michael dearly, but to endure that cost me another Happy Meal on the way home. We do feed him a balanced diet. Baylin came out to me one day and said, ‘Dad, I’m writing a book.’ I said, ‘What? That’s great, mate. What’s its title?’ To which he replied, ‘My most boring times with Dad’ – true story. The following weekend I got him out of bed on a Saturday morning and he eagerly said, ‘What are we going to do today, Dad? And I said, ‘Mate, I’ve got another chapter for your book.’ It has not been all bad. I did fly him as an eight-year-old in business class to New York with me once – paid for by me, in case parliamentary services is listening. But a word of warning to all parents out there, a valuable lesson: do not introduce your children to business class on airlines as it becomes the expected mode of travel for the remainder of their time as a dependent child – huge mistake, never to be repeated.

All my kids have grown into fine young adults forging their own careers, buying their first homes and having children – we now have six grandchildren – and I am enormously proud of their achievements to date. They are great children with tremendous partners, all making their mark in this world. I should take the opportunity to congratulate my son Jaydan on hitting his first hole in one on the golf course two weeks ago. He plays off six, MOB, so the golf lessons are paying off. Two of my daughters are here this evening: Tayla, who has a wonderful career in early childhood education, and Breeanna, who is carving out a career as a teacher in the state school system. I might have been tempted to claim a small amount of credit for resolving the recent pay dispute, Minister Williams, but I suspect that would be stretching the truth somewhat.

Most importantly to my wife Christina, thank you. I said to my wife once that she should embrace her mistakes, and she immediately got up and gave me a hug. Yes, I remember that I missed that anniversary. I think I had a late-night meeting with the member for Benambra that night. On a serious note, politics is often described as a team endeavour, but for many families it can feel like an all-consuming commitment. Through every campaign, every challenge, every disappointment and every success you have been my strongest supporter and my most trusted adviser. You have carried burdens that many people never see. Quite simply, none of this would have been possible without you. I owe you far more than I can ever repay, so thank you.

As I prepare to leave Parliament, I do so with optimism about Victoria’s future. We live in one of the most dynamic, diverse and successful states in the world. Our future challenges are real. We must continue improving affordability for families. We must support economic growth, investment and job creation. We must invest in essential services. We must strengthen our communities and maintain confidence in our democratic institutions. These challenges will require leadership, courage and cooperation, but I remain confident because time and time again I have seen the resilience and determination of Victorians.

I firmly believe Jess Wilson, the member for Kew, and her team are up for the challenge, and I wish them well at this election. I have every confidence in Jess and her team, and I know she has the qualities required to lead this state successfully. I also wish Grant Hutchinson, the Liberal candidate for Croydon, every success. To those who will serve in this Parliament in the years ahead, I offer one simple observation: never forget why you came here. Politics can become consumed by process, tactics and headlines, but the real purpose of this institution is service. Listen carefully, treat people with respect, maintain your integrity, remain connected to your community and remember that every decision affects real people and real families. If you do that, you will never lose sight of what matters most.

As I conclude, I want to reflect briefly on the extraordinary privilege of representing my community. Very few people are given the opportunity to serve in a Parliament. Fewer still are entrusted repeatedly with that responsibility. For that privilege, I will remain forever grateful. When I walk out of this chamber as a member for the final time, I will do so with immense pride, deep gratitude and countless cherished memories. I have been fortunate to work alongside remarkable people, I have been fortunate to represent an extraordinary community and I have been fortunate to contribute in my own small way to the great ongoing story of Victoria. While my parliamentary chapter is coming to an end, my commitment to our community and our state will continue. Public service takes many forms, and I look forward to contributing in new ways in the years ahead.

To everyone who has supported me throughout this journey: thank you. Thank you for your trust. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for the opportunity to serve. It has been the honour of a lifetime. I wish the Parliament, my colleagues and the people of Victoria every success for the future. I am profoundly grateful for the privilege of serving, and I commend my community, this Parliament and our great state to the future. Thank you.

Members applauded.

The SPEAKER: I acknowledge former minister and former member for Nepean the Honourable Martin Dixon in the gallery.