28 November 2024
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (17:57): I want to rise very briefly on behalf of the Greens to also wish everybody here a happy and safe and healthy Christmas. For the Greens in this place, it has been a significant year. It is also one of significant change for our party. I want to acknowledge the news from my colleague the Hon. Tammy Franks from a few months ago that she would not be standing for re-election, a significant change for the SA Greens because Tammy has been a huge contributor and a real trailblazer in South Australian politics. There will be a lot of time between now and the next election to acknowledge Tammy's work, and I know we are going to continue to work together for the next year and a bit, but I just wanted to acknowledge Tammy's significant service.
It is also a time of change within the Greens' offices. I want to acknowledge my longtime office manager Lisa Adams, who will be finishing up next week. Lisa came and joined me when I was first elected to the Senate, and when I joined the state parliament she came and joined me here and set up my new office. She will be leaving at the end of next week to start a new role in the community sector, and I really want to thank her for her years of service, and also to thank the other members of my team—Melanie, Sean and Michael—and all of the staff in Tammy's office for the huge amount of work they have done as well.
I want to thank all the people who work here in the building for their amazing work, and to thank all of my colleagues here in this place. Might I say, I think one of the great things about democracy in our state is that we can have differences of opinion, but we are able to come together and work together and treat each other in a collegial way and with respect, and may that continue.
I do also, on behalf of the Greens, want to recognise that this is a challenging time for many in our community, and I know that overseas at the moment there are significant global conflicts. I am sure all of us hope for peace in the new year and for an end to those hostilities in many parts of the world. Our thoughts are also, of course, with those South Australians who are doing it tough at the moment, in particular those who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. May the new year bring happier times for all South Australians.