Wednesday, 23 September 2026

 Sonja TERPSTRA (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:26): I rise to make a contribution on the Department of Parliamentary Services annual report that was tabled last year. It is a little bit too early to do the seasons greetings thing, and therefore, in lieu thereof and as we careen towards the end of the 60th Parliament, I would like to pay a debt of gratitude to the parliamentary staff who keep the Parliament running. Parliamentarians cannot do their job in this place without the multitude of people who fill these halls each and every week. I want to apologise in advance if I leave anyone out, and if I do, it is inadvertent. But here goes.

I want to gesture a debt of gratitude to the Hansard team, who record and publish our words; and to the clerks, who are the custodians of tradition, practice and standing orders in this place, and without their careful stewardship I am sure that there would be chaos. To the committee staff, the tables office, cleaners, library staff and the attendants, thank you all. To the kitchen staff and the staff in Strangers, thank you for feeding us and keeping us all well caffeinated. To the grounds staff, I know the annexe has kept you busy, especially the air conditioning that is either too hot or too cold, along with the amazing water features in our kitchen and offices. To the gardeners, I think it would be the best job going to care for those amazing grounds and gardens, and exhibit A is our parliamentary bees that make excellent honey. To the security staff and PSOs who keep us safe and deal with very aggressive and stunty behaviour in this place, I know your jobs have become much harder of late, so I say thank you to all of you.

I also want to acknowledge my parliamentary colleagues in the north-eastern suburbs. When I was first elected in 2018, I was the only Labor woman elected south of the Yarra. Whilst there were existing members who were re-elected, I came in with an amazing, hardworking bunch of people. I want to acknowledge the Energizer Bunny Jackson Taylor. Your dedication to the people of Bayswater is beyond compare. You have delivered so much to your electorate, and I wish you all the very best for the next chapter of your working life. I know you will bring new and annoying energy and unmatched zeal to whatever you choose to do. To Matt Fregon, who is now in Southern Metro due to a boundary change, the early days of collaboration in the newly formed eastern bloc I remember and reflect on fondly. I enjoyed catching up with you in the electorate and working with you. I enjoyed our chats and points of disagreement. We all share Labor values, which is the glue that binds us in the eastern bloc in the north-eastern suburbs.

To Paul Hamer in Box Hill and John Mullahy in Glen Waverley, I have enjoyed working with you and addressing the needs of the vast Chinese diaspora that we share in our electorates across the eastern suburbs. The Labor government’s investment in multiculturalism is demonstrable, and our presence has always been met with greetings and warmth when we have been out and about attending events. To Anthony Carbines, the member for Ivanhoe; Vicki Ward, the member for Eltham; and Lily D’Ambrosio, the member for Mill Park, I have enjoyed working with all of you. Whether it has been working on delivering sporting clubs, attending Anzac Day services or opening new schools, I have appreciated getting to know your electorates, which you have all served with distinction.

Of course there is my upper house colleague President Shaun Leane. Shaun was the only person who contacted me when I was first elected, and I want to acknowledge that. Only another MLC can truly understand what it is like working in the upper house and how an MLC fits into the weird rubric that government is – the role you play, what you do and what you do not do, and why you so often get left out of things. There is no guidebook, and I have appreciated you welcoming me and passing on to me the wealth of knowledge you had as a serving MLC, and in previous years you did so much of the heavy lifting for the labour movement in the eastern suburbs, most often with little institutional support. Thank you for lending an ear, for guiding me and also for your sense of humour. Thank you, and I wish you all the very best for the next chapter. I would also like to acknowledge the entire Labor MLC team in the 60th Parliament. I want to thank each and every one of you. Even when we disagree, we remember what we are here for, and that is to deliver for every Victorian, because we all know Victorians need Labor governments that deliver for working people.

I also want to acknowledge my colleagues who are true trade unionists in the real sense of the word, the real deal, ones who I have had the pleasure and privilege to serve with. I want to acknowledge Shaun Leane, Gayle Tierney, Ingrid Stitt and John Berger, people with collective values and whom I respect because of our collective and decades-long contribution to the labour movement. I also acknowledge Steve McGhie, Natalie Hutchins, Gary Maas and Bronwyn Halfpenny in the other place.

Last but definitely not least, thank you to all the doggos who have visited Parliament during this term, too many to mention, but one that gets a special mention is Bracks the amazing, beautiful, cuddly bordoodle. You have made my sitting weeks so much more pleasant. I want to thank you, Megan, for bringing him into our lives.