The PRESIDENT: I welcome to the gallery Lynne Wainwright, the wife and better half of the Clerk of the Parliaments, David Blunt, AM. It is wonderful to see Lynne in the Parliament.

The Hon. ROD ROBERTS (14:02): I move:

(1)That this House thanks Mr David Blunt, AM, for his exceptional service as Clerk of the Parliaments since 2011.

(2)That this House acknowledges the remarkable professionalism, hard work and commitment of Mr Blunt in facilitating the legislative process and guiding members of Parliament.

(3)That this House recognises the outstanding contributions of Mr Blunt to the New South Wales Legislative Council, which will be positively felt for years to come; his dedication to ensuring the integrity, efficiency and transparency of parliamentary procedures; and the high esteem in which he is held by parliamentary staff.

(4)That this House commends Mr Blunt for his unwavering commitment to furthering the principles of parliamentary democracy and good governance, both in New South Wales and on the international stage.

(5)That this House notes that Mr Blunt's last day of service in the Parliament of New South Wales will be Friday 28 March 2025.

(6)That this House wishes Mr Blunt every success in his retirement.

Before I proceed, I want the record to clearly indicate that, although I move this motion in my name, I do not do so as a member of the Legislative Council; rather, I do so in my privileged position as Deputy President. I move this motion on behalf of all members of this Chamber. In that regard, I thank the Leader of the Government for giving up valuable Government time this afternoon so that we can afford this important motion the time it deserves. That must be acknowledged.

Mr Blunt, being the astute student of parliamentary process that he is, would recognise the significance of the motion. For members' information, the moving of a motion by a member without notice is extremely rare, and in this modern Legislative Council it has become even rarer, which Mr Blunt would acknowledge. It is good to know that the Legislative Council continues its fine tradition of forging ahead and setting new precedents. I am aware that quite a few people are watching the live stream. With the indulgence of the House, I acknowledge one person in particular, Ms Kate Cadell. We messaged each other yesterday; Kate will be watching with great interest. For those who are not familiar with Kate Cadell, she was a dedicated and integral part of the David Blunt machine. I acknowledge her. Hello to Kate, if she is watching.

Mr President, I often sit in your chair as Deputy President, and while we insist at all times that all contributions in any debate must be directed through the chair, I hope you turn a blind eye to that and allow me latitude to address the Clerk himself during my contribution. I move this motion to mark a bittersweet moment in the history of the Parliament of New South Wales. It is a moment to celebrate the contributions of a highly distinguished individual, thank him for the profound impact he has had on this institution and wish him the very best as he embarks on the next chapter of his life. Of course, the individual I refer to is no other than Mr David Blunt, AM, our longstanding and valued Clerk, who is retiring from the Parliament of New South Wales.

Mr Blunt's retirement marks the end of a long and admirable career in this place. It began in 1990, over 35 years ago, when a young Mr Blunt started working as an officer in the Legislative Assembly—before quickly realising that was a huge mistake and escaping lest it suck the soul out of his living being. Of course, he then joined the Department of the Legislative Council. Over that time, Mr Blunt has held key roles in the department, including project officer on the ICAC committee, senior project officer on the Public Accounts Committee, Director of the Standing Committee on Law and Justice, Director of Legislative Council - Committees, Clerk Assistant - Committees, director of research in the Office of the Clerk, director of procedure and, of course, Usher of the Black Rod.

As impressive as that service and dedication to the institution of Parliament is, it only scratches the surface of Mr Blunt's contribution. In 2007 Mr Blunt became Deputy Clerk of the Legislative Council, where he bore responsibility for a range of corporate services across the Parliament, before ultimately being appointed Clerk of the Parliaments on 8 October 2011. The Clerk is not as loud and as visible as elected members; he prefers to work diligently behind the scenes. He has been fundamental to ensuring our legislative processes and procedures run smoothly, fairly and in line with established laws and conventions. Throughout his tenure as Clerk, he has shown not only a remarkable understanding of parliamentary rules, regulations and procedures but also a deep commitment to ensuring the Parliament operates with transparency and integrity.

He has also been, without question, a model of impartiality and the steady hand that ensures the processes of this place are followed with precision and care. No matter how difficult or complex a problem might be, Mr Blunt has always provided expert advice and wise counsel to all members of Parliament, irrespective of their political persuasions. What has truly set Mr Blunt apart, however, is his profound respect for the underlying values that shape this institution, as well as his genuine desire to advance them. He is a parliamentary innovator in every sense of the word, and he has been at the very forefront of shaping what is required in a twenty-first century, Westminster‑based Parliament. A simple illustration of this, of course, that we will all remember were the procedural changes that occurred during the Fifty-Seventh Parliament. Mr Blunt led the work to build a coherent set of sessional orders designed to give effect to the requirements of members while maintaining the orderly conduct of the House. The impact this had on the legislative and scrutiny roles of the Legislative Council cannot be underestimated, with those previous sessional orders now incorporated into the new standing orders adopted by this House.

It is also worth noting that Mr Blunt edited and drove to completion the publication of the first edition of the Annotated Standing Orders of the New South Wales Legislative Council, a compendium of almost 200 years of decisions of this House and a substantive and lasting contribution to parliamentary scholarship. He also co‑edited the second edition of the Council's bible, New South Wales Legislative Council Practice, which is a comprehensive account of Legislative Council precedents, practices and procedures that has proven itself to be an invaluable resource in my office as Deputy President.

Moving beyond the walls of this Parliament, I also mention that Mr Blunt has been a fantastic contributor on the international stage. Throughout his storied career he has worked very closely with other parliaments and legislatures across the Commonwealth to not only share his expertise but also gain insights into best practice for democratic governance. It should be no wonder, then, why Mr Blunt has served as the Honorary Secretary/Treasurer of the New South Wales branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. In that role he has not only supported the attendance and participation of members in CPA conferences and various courses but also proved instrumental in enabling New South Wales to host the sixty-seventh Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in 2024. It was the first time that the conference had been hosted by a sub-national legislature, which is a testament to the outstanding reputation of Mr Blunt.

Furthermore, since the concept of twinning was adopted by this Parliament back in 2007, Mr Blunt has been instrumental in building and maintaining our twinned relationships with jurisdictions in Bougainville and the Solomon Islands. He is a particularly great supporter of promoting democracy in our part of the world through deepening parliamentary ties, exchanging information and openly learning from each other. On this front, I have been extremely fortunate to accompany Mr Blunt on a number of parliamentary delegations overseas and also helped him to receive those that visit us here in New South Wales. An especially fond memory of mine, by way of example, is visiting the Solomon Islands with Mr Blunt in 2023 for the fifty-second Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference, and again in 2024, when we went back to launch their National Parliament members guide, an important document prepared with close editing and assistance from our Parliament and no doubt inspired, sir, by some of your best work here.

Ultimately, Mr Blunt has been responsible for a range of initiatives that have made a lasting difference to not only New South Wales but also parliamentary democracy across the region more broadly. As we reflect on his remarkable career, we should do so with a deep sense of gratitude and admiration. His service has been defined by unwavering dedication, professionalism and a strong commitment to the principles that underpin our democratic system. I have no doubt in my mind that he will leave behind an immense legacy that will be positively felt for years to come. After all, the true mark of a public servant is not just the position held or the number of years served but also the impact made on the institution and the people it serves. With that in mind, I confidently say that we have seen the very best of public service in David Blunt—a tireless commitment to advancing the democratic values that make our State, and indeed our nation, strong.

As for the Legislative Council and its effective administration, Mr Blunt has instilled an exceptional workplace culture that is centred on expertise and rigorous procedural discipline. The greatest asset of this place, however, is the people that work here. From those tasked with supporting the House to those focused on various standing and select committees, the quality of the people is truly outstanding and, sir, a reflection upon you. I am sure they have all looked up to Mr Blunt, who has risen through the ranks through hard work and dedication and led this Parliament by shining example. To that end, I have been in touch with some of the officers of the Legislative Council and asked if they would like me to share any words on their behalf for the Hansard. They have provided me with the following words, which were kindly written on behalf of all officers in the Legislative Council and all employees of the Parliament:

David, thank you for your strong and inspirational leadership of the Council over the past 13 years, and for your dedicated service to the Parliament as a whole for 35 years. You embody the best traditions of this place, continuing the long line of esteemed Clerks of this Chamber who have served this House, the Parliament and responsible and democratic government with humility, selflessness and distinction.

As a colleague, you have always been approachable, erudite, scholarly and, above all, kind. You have shared your skills and knowledge generously with all, and you have challenged the officers of this House and the Parliament to set new standards of support for the House, its committees, the office holders and members.

You embody the values of the Legislative Council—integrity, excellence, respect, tradition, innovation and democratic governance. And you do so with a genuine sense of humour and fun!

You leave a legacy which will not readily be forgotten, and which will guide the work of the Department and the Parliament for decades to come.

Those are beautiful words. David, as you embark upon the next chapter of your life, you can rest assured that the contributions you made here will continue to resonate in the workings of this institution and many others like it across the globe. The career you have had is truly inspirational. On behalf of all who have had the privilege to work alongside you over the years, I offer my heartfelt thanks and deepest respect. I wish you all the best in your retirement. As you walk off into the sunset, hand in hand with Lynne, know that you are leaving behind a Parliament that is stronger, more transparent and more efficient because of your tireless service. Thank you.

The Hon. PENNY SHARPE (Minister for Climate Change, Minister for Energy, Minister for the Environment, and Minister for Heritage) (14:16): I thank the Deputy President for moving this motion. Again, we have done something not usually within the practice of this House, but that is absolutely fitting in relation to this particular matter. I thank particularly the Deputy President for organising all of this and for bringing us all here so that we can embarrass the Clerk and say very nice things about him that are very, very well deserved. On behalf of the Government, I pay tribute to the extraordinary parliamentary career of David Blunt. David began his parliamentary career when he joined the staff of the Legislative Assembly in 1990. He worked for the joint Committee on the ICAC and, later, the Public Accounts Committee. In 1995, though, he clearly saw the light and moved to the staff of the Legislative Council. It is a moment in history that we should all be very, very grateful for.

In addition to his time as Clerk, he has also held significant roles such as Deputy Clerk, Usher of the Black Rod and director of procedure. David moved steadily through the ranks of our esteemed parliamentary staff as his personal and professional abilities became widely recognised. During the time before he became the Clerk, David was known as a safe pair of hands. It was a quality that had its downside: When a situation arose that required delicate and diplomatic handling, it was increasingly referred to David to fix. In October 2011 he rose, of course, to the clerkship as a result of that diplomatic handling.

David became Clerk at a particularly significant time. This was after the Egan cases. The Legislative Council was starting to flex its muscles as a guardian of parliamentary democracy. David oversaw this expansion in a sensible and balanced way, asserting the rights of the House but respecting the mandate of the Government. We thought that was radical then, but let us just look at what we have done in more recent times. The Legislative Council has pushed hard on the powers of the House and there have been some very stressful times for an impartial Clerk. David, however, has of course taken on those challenges carefully and honestly. We have all benefited from his calm dealing with what are sometimes our less calm approaches to these matters.

David's regard for the history of the Council should be recognised, culminating in the recent large and important volume Parliamentary Democracy at Work: Essays on the New South Wales Legislative Council, co‑edited by his sometimes partner in crime David Clune, whom I thank also for contributing to this speech today. As Clerk, David has displayed commitment, inflexible integrity, impressive knowledge of the practices and procedures of the House, and unshakeable impartiality. Those are easy words to say but, actually, in practice very challenging.

I think most people in the normal world outside of this place really do not understand what it is that we do. They do not understand that we are elected by and on behalf of the people of New South Wales with a great duty to represent the things that they think are important. But we have to operate within the rules of this House, which are under the guardianship of our parliamentary staff, particularly the Clerk. They not only guard our democracy but also guide the way in which we deal with conflict. They guide our way so that we can ensure that the voice of every person in New South Wales can be heard in this place, and that is done through the very carefully worded and thought-through standing orders, policies and practices of this place.

I accept that it is niche. For some of us, we love it. We love living in the niche. But most people do not really understand it, and so it is important with this motion today to again thank David and the whole team—because he would also say that he is part of a team. It comes from the top, and David has led with the idea that we are all equals in this place, that we are all here because the people of New South Wales have put trust in us, and that we should show each other decorum and respect. We have rules that are robust enough to deal with the challenges when it gets really hard. The easy stuff is fine. But when it is really hard—and we have had some pretty big blues over the years, over a whole range of matters—our rules stand the test of time, enabling us to navigate through those challenges and work through some of the hairier times. I cannot emphasise enough how important the Clerk is in that process.

We should never underestimate how important and fundamental the rules, standing orders, policies and practices of this place are. They are the foundation for how we represent the people of New South Wales and try to improve the lot of everyone in this State, even though we might not always agree on the way in which we get there. That is important. I also note that those who have disagreed with David in his professional role always respected him. We have had a few disagreements over time, but I have always respected that he is giving me the best advice that protects the democratic institution, as opposed to what might be on my mind as a political leader at the time. As a person, David is noted for his humility, honesty, personal decency and consideration for his colleagues. No matter how tough the going got—and sometimes it has been tough—David always kept his sense of humour, which is well needed in this place, as we know.

I am sure all present would agree that one of the greatest challenges of parliamentary life is the work‑life balance—and some of the hours that we have worked have not helped that. I am sorry, Lynne. As well as succeeding as Clerk, David has succeeded in that sphere as well, as his partner, Lynne, will testify. I am told that, on retiring, you will be setting off and climbing the Himalayas with your son, which is very good to hear. I know that you will also, hopefully, enjoy spending more time picking up a guitar, as we have heard a lot today, whether it is listening to more U2 or getting the band back together—all of those things that we should highly encourage you to do.

I also take this opportunity to congratulate Steven Reynolds on his swearing in as the new Clerk. He has big shoes to fill, but he is well known and trusted by all of us in this place. We look forward to you helping us wrangle each other in future. David has consistently worked in the defence of the rights and interests of the Legislature of New South Wales and its members. You should be so proud of the legacy that you leave. The New South Wales Parliament will be poorer for your absence, and we thank you so much for your exceptional service. David Blunt, you leave this House with the respect, admiration and gratitude of us all.

The Hon. DAMIEN TUDEHOPE (14:23): I start by saying that I also support the motion brought to the House by the Deputy President today. I also offer this word of warning, David: David Clune might have contributed to the writing of the Leader of the Government's speech, but Sam Tedeschi has contributed to the writing of this speech. That is the fear and trepidation you ought to associate with that opening! Thank you, David, for 35 years of service to the Parliament, to the Legislative Council and to the people of New South Wales. For many of us here, David is the only Clerk we have ever known, and it is hard to imagine this place without him. With no offence intended to our incoming Clerk, Steven Reynolds, David, you are irreplaceable. He is dedicated, dependable and undeniably brilliant.

David has been nothing but a pleasure to work with here in my time. He is the consummate public servant. While his contribution is often behind the scenes, the people of New South Wales are undoubtedly better off due to his interventions—in my experience, often saving the Parliament or the Government from itself. His wisdom is never to be challenged, although sometimes ignored at our own peril. I know David takes great delight in being given difficult tasks to solve. My staff have frequently taken joy in putting forward to him the unusual and obscure—thank you, Sam—and I can assure the House that he can always find an answer. His creativity knows no bounds.

One of David's great qualities is that he has the patience of a saint. Imagine sitting in this place, day after day, and listening to contributions. Members have two advantages that are not available to the Clerk. In our offices, we have the mute button, and in this place we have the far more cathartic option of rowdy interjections—which are, of course, disorderly at all times. Imagine if the Clerk could interject. He does not have that form of vocal therapy that we avail ourselves of. It should be noted, however, how David treats the staff of the Legislative Council. Every time it came to sitting late, sitting early or sitting through the night, David's primary concern was for his staff and their wellbeing. He knew that he could not overcome the will of the House to keep sitting, so, instead, he sought as workable arrangements as possible to protect the staff in this place. I know that this courtesy and consideration was extended to political staff and public servants alike.

Over the years, the Clerk became a fan of the Thursday Dixer special. I am told by my staff that he would often send notes to them, attempting to predict which songs or bands that I would reference in those speeches. The majority of times I think Richard Egan got the better of him. The honesty and earnestness of David was on display during one of those musical interludes I have been prone to indulge in. He approached my staff after a particularly amusing speech on a music festival bill to ask if I had really attended Woodstock, would you believe!

The Hon. John Graham: What was the answer?

The Hon. DAMIEN TUDEHOPE: Sadly, he was disappointed to be informed of my liberal use of artistic licence. During my last one in 2022, I paid tribute to the Clerk and his response to the ever-growing Mookhey library. He was heard to say, "I want to run, I want to hide, I want to tear down the walls that hold me inside". Sadly, the time has come for David to escape this place, although I get the feeling that he may well tune in to see if the Hon. John Graham and I are still trading lyrics across the Chamber. I had considered a more elaborate plan to commemorate your leaving us that might bring back some memories—possibly traumatic memories.

I was going to propose that the President resign just to see David's worst nightmare come true and he be forced to take the chair again. Last time that happened, he was stuck in that role for over a month, and I know it was against his will and without any enjoyment. I even made him paranoid. David believed that the then Government was conspiring against him and had organised to lock him inside the Botanic Gardens overnight. I cannot confirm or deny any of these rumours. But, in any case, what a way for him to retire as the Chair of this illustrious Chamber—Mr President, you can still do it!

I did think better of it, however. It is probably in everyone's best interest not to reopen those old wounds or cover some of the other more traumatic moments. I would like to pay tribute to the Clerk's love of comity between the Houses, which is a topic of some controversy right now. David has always been a passionate defender of our place. I remember asking the Clerk why he has the title of the Clerk of the Parliaments. He gave me a history lesson on when the title was requested from and granted by the British Home Office. That was in line with the House of Commons practice, where the Clerk of the House of Lords is called the Clerk of the Parliaments and the Clerk of the House of Commons is called the Under Clerk of the Parliaments. I think we should insist on that title in the other place to demonstrate the primacy of our Chamber.

I am told that the Clerk still has a copy of that letter from the Home Secretary and that there is a tradition of adjusting the height at which it is displayed on the wall to ensure that it is always at the eye level of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. I hope that our new Clerk will continue that wonderful tradition. Steven, you have big shoes to fill. On behalf of the Opposition, I wish you all the best as you take on your new role. I will conclude with the comments that I have given to the media team regarding our beloved Clerk:

Having worked with David over many years as both the Leader of the Government and Leader of the Opposition, I can comfortably say that he is one of the finest public servants in NSW. I will always be grateful for his sage advice, practical wisdom, and quiet humour. David has been an adornment to the Legislative Council and the entire Parliament of NSW is better off for his service

David, you have left an indelible legacy in this place, and we owe you a profound debt of gratitude. We thank you for all that you have done and wish you a happy retirement.

The PRESIDENT: To that end, I do have an announcement to make! I call on the Leader of the National Party, the Hon. Sarah Mitchell.

The Hon. SARAH MITCHELL (14:31): I make a contribution to debate on the motion moved by the Deputy President. On behalf of The Nationals team, I concur with all of the remarks of the members who have contributed to the debate so far and wish you, David, all the very best on your retirement. My thanks comes from not only the current members of The Nationals but also our colleagues over the years who you have also worked closely with. They send their best wishes to you and to Lynne and wish you all the best for what is to come. I entered the Parliament in 2011, the year that David became the Clerk. I was reflecting on that this morning when I was thinking about the contribution I would make today.

When the class of 2011 first came in—there are a couple of members present who were part of that group—Lynn Lovelock was still the Clerk, but not long after we were elected, David, who was then the Deputy Clerk, stepped up into the role. I was thinking about one of my first interactions with David. I remember getting a phone call from the Clerk's office that I needed to speak to someone there about an interesting development. It turned out that someone was trying to serve me a subpoena because the election result had been challenged by Pauline Hanson. The Hon. Jeremy Buckingham was also part of that court case. It was very bizarre. I was a brand new member of Parliament. I had never even had a speeding fine, and then I was getting calls from the Clerk's office about a subpoena. It turns out—fun fact—that you cannot be served a subpoena in the parliamentary precinct. It did not happen.

The Hon. Jeremy Buckingham: Or arrested!

The Hon. SARAH MITCHELL: Or arrested—Jeremy would remember! I remember talking to David about the issue at the time. He said to me, "It is a little unusual, Mrs Mitchell." Now it does not seem like that big a deal, but I remember thinking, "Gosh, if David Blunt is saying it is a bit unusual—and he has seen a lot—it really is a bit of an odd thing to happen." I remember getting sage advice from David and the team in the Clerk's office. That advice has continued through all of the years that I have been here. As the Hon. Damien Tudehope said, I do not really remember serving in this place without having David here. It is going to be very strange to see him walk out that door.

I will say that since that moment, I have had a bit of anxiety every time the Clerk's office calls me. I think, "What's coming up next?" I remember one time, not long after I came back to Parliament after having my first daughter, Annabelle, Kate Cadell reached out and said, "David would like to see you in his office." I was thinking, "Oh, what's this?" As it turned out, he had very proudly put on display the thank you card that I had sent all of the Legislative Council staff for the wonderful gift they gave me on the birth of my daughter. We had a cup of tea. That was a good reason to get a phone call, and that has certainly been the case for the rest of the time that I have been here and working with you, David. I feel like sometimes when we come into your office you are part Clerk and part therapist. You sit on the couch, you are in a safe space, and you can have very honest and frank discussions. David, you have this art of being completely professional and discreet at all times. Yet we always understand exactly the message that you are trying to get through to us about the information that we need. It is a very particular skillset that we have all benefitted from.

On behalf of the Hon. Wes Fang, the Hon. Scott Barrett and the Hon. Nichole Overall, who have all entered this place through casual vacancies, the expertise and guidance of you and your team has been very much appreciated. On behalf of those members, I put on record that appreciation of your wisdom, your assistance and your professionalism. It has meant a lot to us as Nats. We certainly respect you for everything you have done for us. I also acknowledge your staff. Many of them are here in the galleries today. You can tell a lot about a person by what their staff say about them and how they see them as a leader. There were not many dry eyes when the Hon. Rod Roberts read out his message from your team. That tells you everything you need to know about how highly people working for you and with you respect you—what a wonderful legacy to leave. The same goes for the staff in all of the members' offices. All Legislative Council staff members know that they can call on you. It is a really wonderful asset that we have had and we are very grateful for it.

Thank you for putting up with us members. As the Hon. Damien Tudehope said, I do not know how you listen to us some days. I really do not. I do worry that the constant quoting of U2 lyrics may diminish your love of the band. I hope it has not and that it has not taken the joy away from you. We wish you the very best. You have been an absolutely incredible public servant. We all feel very privileged to have been able to work with you. We hope you enjoy your retirement and the extra time with Lynne and your family. Every politician who leaves this place tends to look a decade younger overnight. I am sure that will happen for you too. You will be back with a tan from all the mountain climbing, with a guitar slung over your shoulder. We will not even recognise you. Don't be a stranger. Thank you for everything. Thank you for your incredible public service over so many decades.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD (14:36): I contribute to debate on the motion and put on record my respect and admiration for David Blunt. I thank him for everything that he has done for this Parliament. For people outside of this Parliament, the importance of David's work might not be readily understood. "What even is a Clerk and why is it spelt that way?" is what most people ask me. But the position of the Clerk is, as we know, a vital part of the democratic functioning of this Parliament. He is the expert when it comes to questions of parliamentary law, practice and procedure. In addition, the Clerk is functionally the big boss of the Department of the Legislative Council and is responsible for a large part of the management and administration of the Parliament. But not all Clerks are created equal. It is hard to imagine any other Clerk in any other parliament who is not only as esteemed and trusted as ours is, but also, frankly, as loved. In all my time here I have never—honestly, not even once—heard a bad word said about David. There has never been even a slight murmur of disagreement.

David, you are the oracle. What you say is taken as being correct, not because you have said it, but because it is correct. That trust, esteem and respect for your expertise is second to none. David is also a thoroughly nice guy. In addition to sage advice, he is also the person in this place that many of us look to for pastoral care. Members of Parliament are not employees. Many of us do not have anyone approaching what we would call a boss. We work instead for the people of New South Wales, of course. So it is David that many of us turn to when we are dealing with the vexed issues that arise in our roles. When it comes to vexed issues, I do not think any of us have had as vexed an experience as David had in his role as Clerk when he found himself in a Legislative Council without a President for that protracted period in 2021. The sitting day of 24 March was the longest sitting day I have ever encountered. It went all the way to 4 May. David was the de facto President of this House and this Parliament. In my view, it has never been in better hands.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: I am not sure that David was sad for that period to come to an end. I must say, David's demeanour was a little frazzled during that time. We all felt very sorry for you. David, you will be missed. You will be remembered. You go leaving such an incredible legacy behind you. I wish you well in everything that you do. Play lots of guitar, go for lovely walks in far‑flung places, enjoy yourself and spend time with those you love—you have really earnt it. Thank you.

The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY (Treasurer) (14:39): What a joy it is to pay tribute to this treasurer of our democracy as he leaves us here today: the always honourable David Blunt. One of the advantages of coming from a polytheistic faith tradition is that we have a god for everything—except parliamentary democracy. I am sure that the Hindu tradition is happy to welcome David as a figure to be worshipped for his superior knowledge of parliamentary law; I am so glad that he has filled that gap in my faith tradition. I say that quite deliberately.

The way I would describe the role of the Clerk, particularly of this Clerk—and I've seen David do the job for 10 years in this Chamber—is omniscient. He literally knows everything. He is all-seeing when it comes to parliamentary procedure. He is always five moves ahead of the rest of us when it comes to the epic battles that we have in this place. In fact, I've often found, as I've seen David simultaneously distribute loqs to both sides, that in fact what we are witnessing is David playing chess against himself all the time. For those of us who then become fascinated by the art of parliamentary procedure, not only are we witnessing him play chess; we are also witnessing a grand master in action. There is nothing about the Parliament that this person does not know.

Very early in this place, as I was nerding out with the Odgers practice book that was updated by some of our other wonderful parliamentary staff, I recall having the opportunity to sit and talk to David about the battle between the House of Lords and the House of Commons in 1909 to 1911, from which most of our parliamentary laws in this place certainly come. I thought that I was a nerd when it came to ancient parliamentary history. I say to David: I cede the crown to you, overwhelmingly, on that point. I make that point because David has always approached the job as a vocation. He has never approached it as an occupation. He understands not just how important parliamentary democracy and procedure is to this place and to its participants but also to the people at large.

Our legitimacy as an institution turns on whether we follow the law. Our capacity to discharge our democratic mandate, as a government to implement change or as an opposition to fight ferociously, comes from the fact that we do so in accordance with the law. David has at various points made the point privately to others that this is not small stakes. We have literally fought civil wars over these very principles, and we have literally seen countries go to war over how these questions should be resolved. On David's retirement, I cannot help but feel that we are indebted to him because he brings that much wider perspective.

We should take pride that as a House we have added to the parliamentary canon and parliamentary law through the course of the Fifty-Sixth Parliament and the Fifty-Seventh Parliament. Members have talked about the epic struggle over who should be the President of this place, which played out with some high stakes, but I also point out that we have troubled the Clerk with factors far more mundane than that. I, for one, very much appreciated David's advice as to how we would get the Usher of the Black Rod to literally arrest people and drag them before parliamentary committees—sorry to the Liberal Party for that one. As a frequent offender against many parliamentary laws, I apologise for some of the antics that we got up to. It turns out that David may have had the makings of a point when he said, "Rocking up to committees with Cabinet documents might not be as wise as you think." But I simply say in reply that the idea seemed a lot better in opposition than it did in government.

They are the things that we have seen. But each member of this House knows that you do not just go to David for the public battles; it is actually the battles we avoid that David really helps with. When I say "battles we avoid", I mean, frankly, lawsuits that we, as individual members, avoid. I have frequently asked at various points, in very polite ways, "David, do you think this will get me sued? Should I do this?" I was never that explicit, but he always picked up on the point that, generally, that was the risk we were running. How far our parliamentary privilege really extends and whether we should risk it were questions often asked by members privately of the Clerk. As a result of the advice we get back, we tend to avoid the consequences of our own actions: namely, bankruptcy. There are many of us who are indebted to you, morally, spiritually and—it turns out—financially for much of your advice that has kept us out of a lot of those troubles.

That is the point about the Clerk and the Clerk's office, and this particular Clerk: You can trust not just the impartiality of the advice but also the confidentiality with which it is given. The office cannot function if members lose trust in that. That never happened under David. And it will never happen under any of the Clerks or, I believe, under Steven, when he takes over. We appreciate what a treasured asset it is. In the vocation that we practise, often those things are not considered as important in our interpersonal dealings. But having an expert providing advice about not just House procedure but also, more importantly, how we conduct our business—formally and otherwise—is so important for our democracy. Sadly for us, you are going, David. But, as a newly ensconced member of the Hindu faith, if you had not performed the job in this life, I guarantee you would be performing it in your next.

The Hon. EMMA HURST (14:45): On behalf of the Animal Justice Party, I express my sincere thanks to Mr David Blunt, AM, for his 35 years of service to the Parliament of New South Wales. I apologise in advance that my contribution is not in rhyme. In the six years that I have been a member of this place, I have greatly valued the advice and support that you have provided as the Clerk. As a member of the crossbench, without the institutional support that comes with a major party, I have frequently relied on you for advice, particularly in the first year or two after I was elected while my team and I were still learning the ropes. All of that is greatly appreciated. Despite some of the wild questions and challenges to the standing orders that my team and I sent your way for your thoughts, we always appreciated your very professional responses, which always started with, "Your team always come up with the most interesting questions." That is something for Steven to look forward to. My team has always appreciated the very informative and often humorous procedural debriefings as well. And, of course, we are all appreciate being introduced to the word "clerkly".

I always appreciated that, no matter how busy you were, you were always willing to sit down and meet and give a procedural issue the time and attention it deserved. Of course, the advice you gave was always excellent. After the tumultuous past few years in Parliament—from the unprecedented challenge of sittings during a global pandemic to a whole new set of standing orders to the Mookhey wing taking over the Clerk's office and a brief coup for the role of President—I do not blame you for wanting to move on to a slightly quieter life. However, now that I am hearing about all of your mountain climbing, maybe that will not be the case.

I know I speak for everyone here when I say that you will be greatly missed. I have always greatly respected your professionalism, your dedication to your role and your reverence for this Parliament. It is an enormous sadness to see you go, and a massive loss for this place. I also take a moment to congratulate our incoming Clerk, Mr Steven Reynolds. His, of course, is a very well-deserved appointment, and I know everyone in this place looks forward to continuing to work with Steven and the excellent team that surrounds him. Thank you, David, for everything that you have done for this Parliament. We wish you all the best for whatever adventure you have planned next.

The Hon. ROBERT BORSAK (14:48): I would like to associate myself with all the previous speakers. I find it very hard to top the compliments that David well deserves, so I might take a different approach. I was sworn into this place in September 2010. It seems like a lifetime ago. All the help and advice that you have given to me personally, and to my party, has got us largely into this place and functioning in a proper fashion. I can also think of a time, in about 2012, when I really had no idea about what was going on in this place. I had to follow Robert Brown around the place, which may not have been such a good idea, from time to time.

You came knocking on the door to my office. You came in with a very dour look on your face. I thought, "What the hell have I done now? I haven't been here long. I haven't done much. I intend to improve on that in the future." You came into the office and said, "Do you mind if I close the door?" I was looking around thinking, "What have I done?" You said, "Mr Borsak, do you realise that you have been overpaid?" I said, "No." Who understands that nature of that pay slip?

The Hon. Taylor Martin: You are an accountant.

The Hon. ROBERT BORSAK: I acknowledge that. I am an accountant—or was an accountant.

The Hon. Sarah Mitchell: That makes me feel better.

The Hon. ROBERT BORSAK: You are not the only one. At that stage, I had been the chair of a standing committee. The gist of it was that instead of being paid as chair for the period of the standing committee, I had been paid for about 18 months. That was pretty good from my point of view, but I did nothing about it. The Clerk said, "We need you to pay it back." I said, "Do you?" I have had conversations like that with employees and other people over the years. At the end of the day, you have to try to get the money back. I said, "How are we going to do that?" He said, "We could come into a payment arrangement." I felt like a bad debtor.

We worked out an arrangement where I had to pay the money back over the next 12 to 18 months. In an advisory fashion, he said, "You can claim that back by getting your 2012 tax return reassessed." I said, "Yes, I know. I am a tax agent." I thought, "I will go through that process. I will make an application to the tax office." The Clerk has not heard this story yet. I lodged a new tax return. As a tax agent, I did it in my own name. That was the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life. They ended up reassessing me for an extra $65,000 worth of tax for the 2012 year because they decided to go through me like a pack of Epsom salts. There was nothing wrong with that, other than the fact that I not only had to pay that but, over 12 to 18 months, I also had to pay the excess money back.

The Hon. Daniel Mookhey: Thanks.

The Hon. ROBERT BORSAK: Thank you. I had not told the Clerk that story before. I know the Parliament is unforgiving. There is another circumstance I could mention. I cannot remember the exact year, but it was some years later. I got a phone call from the Clerk. He said, "Mr Borsak," and I thought, "Here we go again." He said, "There is a man down here saying that he wants to come up and see you about the fact that you ran into his car on the way in to Parliament House." I said, "Whatever he says, I deny." You said something along the lines of, "I told him that he cannot come into the precinct and up to your office unless you are prepared to see him." I said, "Tell him I am not prepared to see him." To this day, I do not know whether I hit him or not, but I managed to get through the gate downstairs quickly. I am sure I could think of some other things from over the years. I can say what I like here because they cannot do anything to me.

Seriously, you have been a fount of knowledge and a wise head, quite often talking us and our party back from the brink. We appreciate you. We are going to miss you. Thank you very much for everything you have done for us and for me personally. I look forward to dealing with Steve Reynolds, although hopefully not on the same basis, and hopefully it will not cost me as much, as my initial association with David. Thank you for your service. We will hopefully see you at dinner tomorrow night.

The Hon. JEREMY BUCKINGHAM (14:54): I thank Mr David Blunt for his service and wise counsel. I wish him and his family all the best into the future. He has been a jewel in this place for the entire time that I have been here. I would not be here if it was not for his wise counsel on so many matters. As the Hon. Sarah Mitchell said, we were in trouble from the get-go. I was underprepared and winging it. Clearly, that is how I intend to continue. I was guided so magnificently by the Clerk and his staff. I associate myself with the comments made by Ms Abigail Boyd. David had the nickname The Oracle in my office. Max Phillips would always ring me up and say, "David Blunt has called." We would say, "Oh my God. It's The Oracle." I would ring him and the first thing he would say is, "You are not in trouble," most of the time, or he would say, "You are in a lot of trouble. You have to come down and see me." I would sit on the leather lounge with David and Steven. They would raise a matter. I would speak, and David's head would slowly get lower and lower. He would then finish with some words of wisdom that were invaluable and guided me magnificently.

Over my entire political career, there have been three important people: Bob Brown, the former leader of The Greens; Michael Balderstone, the leader of the Legalise Cannabis Party; and David Blunt. They have been fantastic people. They are all patient, wise, full of good humour and boulder heads. I have one anecdote that must be shared with the House. People would not know that David Blunt is very quick and brave. I remember playing rugby union with David and the Hon. Niall Blair—again, the baldies—against the Balmain thirds.

The Hon. Sarah Mitchell: And Scott.

The Hon. JEREMY BUCKINGHAM: And Scott. We played against the Balmain Wombats and got absolutely smashed up. It was unbelievable to see how fast and good David was on the rugby field. He was courageous. I remember seeing him getting smashed by front rowers—this pencil of a man getting absolutely pummelled. It was a great bonding experience. Another part of David is his humanity and good nature. I remember when I was not a member of this place, he wrote me a letter and said, "Look after yourself." He said some very kind things at a difficult time for me. I thank him for that. Good luck, David, with everything that comes.

Ms SUE HIGGINSON (14:58): I make a few comments and give my sincere thanks to a wonderful human being who has otherworldly characteristics. I realised that when I attended an event in Lismore as part of the Legislative Council roadshow. I was trying to explain to the attendees a bit about the Legislative Council behind the scenes. I came to trying to explain the Clerk of the Parliaments, his work and how he does it. After a few descriptive sentences, it occurred to me and I blurted out, "You know who he is like, who he reminds me of? Tolkien's Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings." It was a moment of truth. The Clerk is a wizard. He is not just any wizard; he is the head of the order of wizards, the greatest spirit and the wisest of wizards. He is a wizard of great power and knowledge, one who works mostly by encouraging and persuading.

Tolkien described Gandalf thus and could have described the Clerk in the same way: "Warm and eager is his spirit, for he is the enemy of evil, opposing the fire that devours and wastes with the fire that kindles, and succours in wanhope and distress; but his joy and his swift wrath are veiled so that only those that know him well glimpse the flame that is within. Merry he can be, and kindly to the young and simple, yet quick at times to sharp speech and the rebuking of folly; but he is not proud, and seeks neither power nor praise. Mostly he journeys tirelessly on foot, and he will at times work wonders, loving especially the beauty of fire; and yet such marvels he works mostly for mirth and delight, and desires not that any should hold him in awe or take his counsels out of fear." It is true that David Blunt, the Clerk of the Parliaments, is much like Tolkien's Gandalf.

I joined the Legislative Council to fill a casual vacancy, like many others did. It was the final year of a 12‑year government and a difficult and chaotic time to jump in and start something at the end of something and when everyone around me was finishing something. David, you were so steady, professional, warm, kind and welcoming. You made me feel that I belonged here, that I was rightfully here and I will never forget that. Ever since, you have always provided to me, as you have to all, the sagest advice and counsel, and you have always done it in the kindest, most professional and most appropriate way. Your wisdom, like the wisdom of nature, is a profound gift to all.

David, this place and all of New South Wales has benefitted profoundly from your long experience and deep knowledge of parliamentary procedure and your unwavering commitment to our democracy. It is not often one gets to meet a person like you. We are all so fortunate. I wish you all the very best. It is now time for you to take some different strides on this wondrous, beautiful, big, blue-green, dancing planet. I know you will make the very best of every minute of every day, especially those you have in nature and among the big, old trees and the choruses of birds. As Tolkien's Gandalf is at least thought to have said, the greatest adventure is what lies ahead; there are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind. Steven, so be said the same for you.

The Hon. NATALIE WARD (15:02): I associate myself with the motion of the Hon. Rod Roberts and thank him for bringing it. It is difficult to give this speech for someone universally loved in this place. David, I thank you not for leaving—you are breaking my heart—but for giving us the opportunity to come together, as we do on occasions, so beautifully in this place and for giving us the chance to be grateful for you.

My initial thought about speaking about David Blunt was that, when you go to see him, you feel a bit like you are going to the principal's office. You are a little bit scared and nervous. You know he is lovely, but you are not quite sure of what you have done or whether you look silly. Then you get there, and the team is so welcoming and kind, and that comes from him. Then you go in to see him, and he is so kind, considerate and smart. But he is a bit like a counsellor. David, I think you have heard that from so many people. You are also somewhat of a conciliator, ensuring that some of the battles do not come to this place and that we do not look silly. But we do come sometimes looking very smart, thanks to you. I am so deeply grateful for all you do for all of us and also for all of the people we represent and perhaps for sometimes saving the people from us.

You are exceptionally kind. Mark Twain may have said that kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see and to be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. We have many battles in this place, but in all of that, in the sea of battles and chaos and fatigue at times, you are so calm, respectful and kind. You teach us courtesy and decency in our travels. We talk a lot, in this place, about leadership. But true leadership is demonstrated. And you have demonstrated to this House, to all of us and to the team you have brought through over many years how to lead and what leadership means. You have also lifted others and their standards, and you continue to do that, and your office does that, and I know that will continue through you, Steven.

It is nerdy, which I love, as well, that you love the intricacies of the rules, and you teach us the respect for the standing orders, the conventions and the practices that have guided us for 200 years in this place and that we must be respectful of that. But we do not really understand them, even though we stand here and pretend that we do. You are the guru, the oracle and the one who makes everybody look good. This place ultimately works because of you. I started here as a staffer in 2005, which feels like a thousand years ago, the last time we were in opposition, and I feel like I have grown up in this place alongside you and some other people who have gone on to do better things. I filled a casual vacancy in 2017, and I feel like part of my growing up in this place has been guided by you. I am so very grateful.

Some things that are not known about David Blunt or about Mr Clerk, as I like to say, is that he loves, alongside U2, the Kid Laroi. I found that out secretly one day, and I am pleased that he has love for this century's music as well as for U2. He loves also his sport, his rugby, and there have been times when we have agreed to just not talk about the Wallabies and to move on. But he loves his running, and he is known to sneak out at lunchtime and hit the track. He loves his music, of course. I say this about bass guitarists: The bass guitarist, as my brother says, is always the quiet one at the back, who makes the rest of the band look good. You have the front man, out there with the big personality, and the guitarist on the side, but the quiet one is actually the coolest one in the band. And, of course, no-one knows who they are. In U2 it is Adam Clayton; in the Rolling Stones, Darryl Jones. No‑one has heard of them; we know only Bono and Mick. But, in this place, we know you, and we thank you, David Blunt, for being the quiet bass guitarist.

You engender trust in everybody you deal with. You engender all of the good qualities. In dealing with the people in this place, there are all sorts of personalities and approaches. And yet you deal with all of them. You save us from ourselves. You show that there are no dumb questions when we come to see you. I have often thought, when you sit there and contemplate, with those thought bubbles above your head, if only we could read what those thought bubbles said. All the things you do not say could be very interesting. I think you have the best poker face of anyone in this place. I would hate to play against you. You never roll your eyes when someone asks you a question. I once got called to order by the Hon. Trevor Khan for rolling my eyes. When I went to object, he was going to throw me out for quibbling with his ruling. I said that I did not say anything, and he said, "You rolled your eyes." I am sure that, at times, as we drone on, you would have liked to roll your eyes, but you did not.

Who says that the Legislative Council is the boring House? It is not. We have coups, subpoenas, lawsuits, public hearings and estimates. We have drama to rival The Bold and the Beautiful as we review and scrutinise and jostle to amend legislation. And yet, under your guidance, we are the gentile Chamber, the better Chamber. I particularly thank you and want to show my enormous gratitude for all you have done for me personally and for all of us over generations. It is a decent innings, 35 years not out. And you have chosen to step away from the crease. Thank you for putting up with all of us. Lynne, thank you for sharing him with us. We are so very grateful. David, if you cannot sleep at night, with all this rest you will get with early nights, you can always tune in to us. We will help. You will be joining Peter Phelps and others, and those who are lost on the internet. Mr Blunt, thank you for your service. You are going straight to heaven.

The Hon. JOHN GRAHAM (Special Minister of State, Minister for Transport, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy) (15:09): I cannot put it any better than U2, so I will not try to use the lyrics. But I pick up on a couple of things that other members have drawn attention to. The description that has been used to describe your wisdom and humour, Mr Clerk, are particularly relevant. You have to listen a lot, read a lot and work closely with your colleagues a lot to be as wise as you. The humour that you have infused in this institution is greatly to your credit. It takes a long time to set organisational cultures and you have done that. We are all the better for the humour you have brought to the institution.

I was intrigued by the Leader of the Opposition's description of you. He used a great word—creativity. I regard you as a very small slice of the State's creative industries. I love them all, but particularly this one: the creative legislators of the State and their ancillary industries. You are a pioneer and a leader amongst them. Creativity in legislating, and that ability to weave a way through to find a new solution, is important in parliamentary life. You have been a leader in that respect and we value that immensely. The culture of this place has been shaped immensely by your role. This is a place of conflict, and the conflict is real. It is often ideological; it has occasionally been physical. But your conciliatory role in this place has been immense and the institution is much stronger as a result.

A number of members have described you as a remarkable public servant and I regard that as very high praise. I am the son of two public servants. There are very few things you could say that I would regard as higher praise. But I apply a single piece of higher praise from my political tradition. I have referred to it once before in the House. It is a phrase used by Graham Freudenberg at the 2005 Australian Labor Party conference at the Sydney Town Hall. He was delivering the life members address, which was delivered on behalf of all life members. Freudenberg was describing his role as a speech writer to leaders of the Labor Party, since Arthur Calwell—that was the length of time he worked. He credited Johno Johnson, a former President of this place, for putting the phrase in his mind, but it is a phrase used by popes to describe their role in the church: The servant of the servants. That phrase perfectly describes Freudenberg's role. To me, I always associate it with Johno Johnson and the role he played. And to me, David, it applies to the role you have played in the Parliament.

We are all public servants and we are all drawn to public service for good reason. The role you have played as the servant of the servants has been immense. I apply that term as one of the highest forms of praise from my political party, the Labor Party, the oldest party in the country and one of the oldest labour parties in the world. I do not apply it in any partisan way. Your role has always been nonpartisan. You have been very strict about that, as you should be. But it captures the humility and sense of public service that you have brought to the role, and we are all the richer for it. The Chamber is richer and most members have indicated that the Parliament is richer. That is absolutely true, but the State is also richer as a result of what you have done.

Ms CATE FAEHRMANN (15:13): Sorry, David, this will be over soon, I am sure. It is just so obvious the pain that he is in. He hates this so much. Let us rub it all in as much as we can.

The Hon. Daniel Mookhey: Let's keep going.

Ms CATE FAEHRMANN: Yes, I think every member has to speak. I also pay tribute to our much-loved Clerk of the Legislative Council, David Blunt. He has served this Chamber with distinction, dignity and such incredible dedication. I was first elected to this place when I filled a casual vacancy in September 2010. I came in when Lynn Lovelock was the Clerk. Of course, I thought at the time that nobody would be able to match Lynn in her support and her excellence in everything. I thought, "Who is this David fellow?" But, David, of course you did and then some. Sorry, Lynn.

For over a decade as Clerk and nearly four decades in parliamentary service, David, you have been the steady hand and very calm mind guiding this Chamber through moments of very high drama, very complex procedural issues and quite a bit of change—very good change for us. It truly has been remarkable to witness that, whatever we have thrown at you, you have remained very calm and respectful, however crazy our ideas have been. I must say, from experience—and probably many members in the Chamber would agree and have already said as much—David, your very wise counsel has more than once stopped me embarking on some harebrained scheme or other. You know what I am talking about, and thank you so much. More often than not it is your advice and support that has been so welcome and valuable—and made me appear smarter and more knowledgeable in this place.

We all know that David is a very much a procedural nerd and, of course, you have to be. Steven Reynolds is also one. They are around the place. The moment that really dawned on me, when I really thought, "Wow, that's a real love of procedure," was when I had the privilege of exercising the new powers of a committee chair to eject a member of a committee, should they need to be ejected. I came back from lunch and I gave a considered ruling and a justification for that ruling after a meeting with the very good committee secretariat, who had spoken with David. As I was giving the ruling, I looked across the room and a lone figure was in the public gallery. David Blunt was sitting there, wanting to be part of that moment in history, I think. I hope that is what it was and it was not him ready to pounce because Cate Faehrmann put her foot in it—"Hold on, no, you were supposed to do something else."

David, under your stewardship, the Legislative Council's role as a house of review has only grown stronger. You have defended the fundamental principle that the upper House exists to hold governments to account and that this House has a duty to uphold the transparency and scrutiny that our democracy depends on. In other words, we all know in this place that we are far superior to the other place. Doesn't it feel great to have David on our side when we are flexing our muscles so much? David's leadership and mentorship is so obvious—just look at the incredible calibre of those in the Clerk's office, the Usher of the Black Rod and her team, and the Procedure Committee. As sad as we are about your departure, David, we know we are in very good hands with Steven Reynolds and the team.

David, there is no doubt that your leadership has ensured that the New South Wales Legislative Council remains one of the most effective and respected upper Houses in the Commonwealth. I will miss your wisdom, your integrity and your humour. I really do enjoy those moments in this place when—and we have a couple of them, occasionally—we are being funny and we look down at the Clerk's table and David has his hand covering his face. I should not put that on record, should I, because he has to stay completely neutral, but his hand would be over his mouth. I wonder whether at the dinner table, Lynne, he is able to just laugh very fully and not have to hide it, because it is so funny here. You can see sometimes when he is really enjoying it and he is trying not to because the Clerks should not smile.

David, thank you for your extraordinary service. I will miss you. I wish you all the very best for what comes next. Of course, we have talked about the beautiful national parks and climbing Kathmandu or just relishing the thought of never having to take a call from any of us again. I think you are looking forward to that more than all those beautiful mountains. But are you 100 per cent sure? Is there nothing we can do? Because I happen to know that David, and possibly Lynne, also like a little bit of Kate Bush—they were at Sydney Festival; I think it might be Lynne. I will finish with this:

And if I only could

I'd make a deal with God

And I'd get Him to make David stay

Be runnin' up that road

Be runnin' up that hill

Be runnin' up that building

Say, if I only could, oh

The Hon. Dr SARAH KAINE (15:20): David, having been in Parliament for such a short amount of time, I feel a little precocious standing up after all of the contributions from members who have worked with you for so long. But I contribute to say thank you, not just for making us all feel welcome—and we heard from some of the class of 2023 colleagues earlier in the day—but also for the nature of the engagements that I have had with you. You always come across as gentle and humble. They are two characteristics that I do not think we experience enough in the world today and that are not lauded enough. I appreciate that very much. That humility and gentleness are your legacy, and you have handed that legacy to your staff. They bring that feeling—which is a bit of an anchor—to this sometimes rowdy and crazy place. We appreciate that. Thank you so much.

The Hon. SCOTT FARLOW (15:21): I associate myself with the comments of all the members who have spoken so far. I must say it is an interesting experience to watch the debate. Nobody is addressing their comments through you, Mr President, but rather to the Clerk.

The PRESIDENT: Rightly so.

The Hon. SCOTT FARLOW: It is a novel thing to do but it is very well deserved by the Clerk. When all of us enter this place, it is very intimidating. We become comfortable in it and it becomes a second home but it is a very intimidating place when we start. I remember the words of Greg Pearce, a former member of this House, when I started. He said, "Mate, no-one's going to help you in this place; everyone wants you to fail." Greg may have been particularly jaded when he said that because he was no longer a Minister. But I remember thinking at the time that the only people who are really there to help are the Clerk and his team. It was incredibly true and I thank you, Mr Clerk, for all of your support not only when I entered Parliament but over the years as well.

One of the first things I did in this place was the bizarre committee on committees—or the Select Committee on the Legislative Council Committee System. I remember one of the hearings. We had many hearings with academics, which nobody was interested in. No crowd ever assembled for those. But when the Clerk came before the committee on committees it was a packed house—similar to what we see in the gallery today. All of the staff were there to cheer David on. I always notice that at budget estimates hearings as well. Other representatives come forward to give evidence with their teams, in defence mode. But when it came to David's appearances as the Clerk, the teams were there to watch and admire him. That says a lot about the way your staff have always looked upon you.

Of course, we look upon you in the same way and give credit to you. But your staff have always been there for you and absolutely love you. You can see it in their faces, as I see it in their faces today. It shows in every word that is ever uttered about you, because they have a deep love and regard for you, as we all do. We will very much miss you in this place. I note that Ms Cate Faehrmann broke into song. I have heard of the love that you may have for The Kid LAROI. I do not want to be Ron Hoenig and choose inappropriate lyrics so I will confine them just to this, which might be apt, from The Kid LAROI:

I told you I'd change, even when I knew I never could

I know that I can't find nobody else as good as you

I need you to stay, need you to stay, hey

Of course, that is not true and it would be remiss of us to drag you here and detain you any longer than we need to. We have talked a lot about what you are going on to do. But one thing has not been reflected upon; I have not heard the words "Parramatta Eels" or "going to see a Parramatta Eels premiership this year" mentioned. As a long‑suffering Tigers fan, I feel your pain. I think you may actually achieve something this year that we have achieved over many years and that is the spoon, so look forward to that. That being said, this is somewhat like the accession to the throne. We do mourn, of course, your departure from this place, but we also look forward to the rise of Steven Reynolds as the Clerk of this Parliament. I know he has been your partner in this place for so many years. He could not have had a better mentor. We thank you for your mentorship of him and we thank you for your service to this Parliament and to the people of New South Wales.

The Hon. MARK BANASIAK (15:26): Mr President—

The PRESIDENT: Only 3½ hours to go, David!

The Hon. MARK BANASIAK: I thank the Hon. Rod Roberts for moving this motion. I make a brief contribution. I came to Parliament in 2019 and I have known David for six years. I focus more on the personal touch that David has brought to this place and the personal interactions that he has had with me and many of us. I, too, was very daunted when I was elected. Even before I was elected, I had a phone call in the late evening from David as the Clerk congratulating me on entering the most bizarre workplace that most of us will ever work in. He actually took the time to walk me through the onboarding process. I thought it was bizarre but also so heartening that a leader of this place would take the time to do that when it could possibly have been delegated to someone else within his staff.

That personal nature really set the tone for my interactions with David. Whenever I came to him with a conundrum or a harebrained scheme, he never rolled his eyes. There probably were a few raised eyebrows but then it was quickly back into the zone of not being fazed—"This is how you would solve that problem," or "This is the best path forward." It is those personal interactions, David, that have made us all better members of Parliament in this place and better representatives of the people who voted to put us here. Not to understate the work that you have done procedurally, for me it is those personal interactions that you have had with us all that I have found the most value in. I wish you all the best. I hope you look forward to more spare time with your wife and kids. But, of course, if you have trouble sleeping at night, become viewer number six on the Legislative Council YouTube and feel free to enjoy our wacky adjournment speeches and wacky interactions in this place. All the best.

Dr AMANDA COHN (15:28): I have been in Parliament for only a brief amount of time and, having recently become a member, it is a very unique position. We are uniquely privileged, but we are also uniquely isolated. Very few people help and support us in this role, so your unwavering support absolutely makes a difference to us and the people we represent every day. This is a workplace where we furiously disagree with each other every day; we are here for the purpose of disagreeing with each other every day. It has become very clear that there are only a couple of things that members agree on: firstly, of course, that this is the better of the two Houses of Parliament; and, secondly, that we unanimously admire and respect you and your work.

In addition to the anecdotes that were shared today, I put on record my experience of the way you respond when you are asked a question. You are never annoyed and you never act like we have created more work for you. You always act with genuine delight and enthusiasm to be able to help, combined with an intellectual curiosity. When you do not have an answer to something you are asked about, you are so delighted that you go away and look it up. That shows your absolute dedication to your role and to this Parliament. Your love for your work comes across every day and in every interaction you have with us. You will be very sorely missed.

The Hon. CAMERON MURPHY (15:30): I associate myself with this wonderful motion moved by the Hon. Rod Roberts. I have been here for two years and two days, since the election. In that time what I have seen, and what I think is perhaps your best legacy, is the wonderful team of people that you have built around you as Clerk. As a member of Parliament, I can go to any single person in your team and get the advice I need at any time, and that will outlive your period as Clerk. You leave Steven Reynolds, the incoming Clerk, in such wonderful stead. Over the short period that I have been here, I have come to you for advice about procedural matters and parliamentary friend groups. I have genuinely enjoyed your wisdom and good intellectual argument. I have not won many of those arguments, but I am the better for it.

When I have won an argument, your raised eyebrow or sinking head made me think, "Perhaps I should not have won that argument," or, "I should rethink the whole thing." That is so important, along with your absolute trust and integrity. When we come to you with an issue, all members know we will get honest, impartial advice, and we know that advice will always remain confidential. That is absolutely what makes the system work. I thank you for everything you have done in the short time I have been here and look forward to working with Steven Reynolds as the new Clerk. I wish you all the best on your many journeys and adventures. There will be many days when I will wish that I could join you on your adventures. I hope you tune in to see what is going on from time to time.

The PRESIDENT: Are there any further contributions?

The Hon. PETER PRIMROSE (15:33): Mr President—

The PRESIDENT: I call the Father of the House.

The Hon. PETER PRIMROSE: I personally prefer Mad Uncle, but I am happy to accept the opprobrium of "Father". I also associate myself with the wonderful motion before the House. Part of my dilemma with listening to the other contributions from members is that, having been here for such a relatively short time, I am trying to think about what I can say in public without getting a few of us into a little bit of bother. Firstly, all members have indicated the high respect and regard we have for the Clerk. For me, that was borne out in my role as Government Whip for eight years, as a Minister in this place and as President. That experience tells me that, regardless of how long members have been here, they understand and appreciate the wisdom of our Clerk and incoming Clerk. Whenever I think of David, I think of David and Steven. I appreciate the work they have done for so many years.

I certainly look forward to Steven continuing the great work he has been doing and will now do as the Clerk of the House. In addition to the three-dimensional Tetris—the rules and customs of this place—that the Clerks interpret for us and give us advice on, I also recall that they worked in the background on the administration of this place. For example, I recall an issue we had a few years ago—given my short time here—when the Legislative Council office was haunted. A number of people indicated that they did not wish to go into the Legislative Council office after dark. It is interesting that the ghosts did not choose to haunt the Legislative Assembly office. The ghosts must appreciate quality, which is good. I certainly have not heard of any ghostly carriages or people being pushed downstairs in the Legislative Council. I know that was dealt with by the Clerks, and it will be dealt with by using appropriate exorcisms in the future.

There were other incidents, too. Members might recall that we opened Cafe Quorum with the scissors that were used to open the Sydney Harbour Bridge—maybe that was not appropriate. But I now understand why they used De Groot's Sword—the scissors were totally blunt and we had to tear the thing! In those days that was not the responsibility of the Department of Parliamentary Services [DPS] but of the two Clerks of the Parliament. Finally, what was most telling about David's role in the administration of this place was how he and Steven were integral in allowing us, together with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, to form DPS. Members should talk to some of the old-timers—not me, but members who have been here for much longer than me—about how this place operated prior to the formation of DPS. If members think DPS causes them difficulties, I could share many stories in the quiet backrooms about what it was really like to operate in this place.

The people who were part of that negotiation and who assisted with making it happen were David and Steven. It was very complex, but it gave this place some professional backup. As President at that stage, I appreciated that backup. Like all members, I appreciate the advice I have received about what I call three‑dimensional Tetris, or the rules and customs that dominate this place. But I also appreciate all the background work—getting rid of ghosts, sorting out DPS and a whole range of other things. I genuinely appreciate it. Thank you very much for your contribution. I only ask that at some distant time in the future you do not come back to haunt us.

The Hon. MARK BUTTIGIEG (15:38): Sorry, mate. As reluctant as I am to draw out the torture, it would be remiss of me to not make a few comments for someone who I have a great deal of respect for and have had the pleasure to know both in a professional and personal capacity, particularly when I was a novice Whip after I got elected and did not really have a clue about what was going on in this place. Those visits to your office were always very, very invaluable and helpful. As has been said by other members, you always have a sense of calm, centre-of-gravity professionalism that everyone looks up to.

It has been touched on before, but with such high stakes and deep political cleavage—both ideological and political, and the conflict that has been mentioned—the rules that govern this place are extremely important and, indeed, the centre of gravity of how it works. You are the upholder of those rules. The fact that everyone looks up to you and respects your role in that institution is what makes this place great. Your ability to have the office of the Clerk and the President rise above the politics of the House is what makes it such a great place to work, and you have been such an integral part in that whole role.

David navigates what is essentially a political beast. Often, when asking David for advice on a particular tactic or what we were trying to get through to the House, I would think to myself, "This bloke's actually on our side. I reckon he's a Labor guy." But what he was actually doing was telling you how to achieve what you wanted to achieve within the rules. I soon learnt that he was giving the same advice to the other side as well. That is what makes him so great.

There are a few things that spring to mind that I will have amusing, fond memories of. I will never forget the regular visits—not as often as my colleague the Hon. Daniel Mookhey—to the SO 52 room, the privilege room. I always appreciated the way David did not open the door when I closed it; I am only half joking about that with the privileged documents. You gave invaluable advice on the medical gas legislation we were able to get through the House when in opposition. The automatic mutual recognition legislation was another memorable one which you guided us through.

All in all, my recollection of you, David, will be as a true gentleman, a professional and a good person. I do not think what matters in life is necessarily how intelligent or smart someone is—and there is no doubt you are well endowed with those faculties—but the way you treat people and the genuineness with which you have your interpersonal relationships. That is what has struck me most about interactions with you. Since we are into music today, and knowing what a fan you are of music, I am going to quote the great Bob Dylan. If you could just substitute "the Legislative Council" for "Maggie's Farm", I will recite a few words:

I ain't gonna work on Maggie's Farm no more

No, I ain't gonna work on Maggie's Farm no more

Well, I wake up in the morning, fold my hands, and pray for rain

I got a head full of ideas, that are drivin' me insane

It's a shame, the way she makes me

Scrub the floor

I ain't gonna work on, nah

I ain't gonna work on Maggie's Farm no more

And nor should you, David. You deserve much better than us. I wish you all the best.

The Hon. MARK LATHAM (15:43): In the spirit of comedy, I too pay tribute to the great David Blunt. I came here in 2019. David, you did not know the full truth of this, but when I had been Manager of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives and then, to a lesser extent, Leader of the Opposition, I was at war with the Clerks.

The Hon. Penny Sharpe: I'm shocked.

The Hon. Jeremy Buckingham: Shocked!

The Hon. MARK LATHAM: I know I have shocked the Chamber. Members would have expected it, of course, but I do not think David knew the full extent of it. I came here thinking, "Maybe we will get it on with this guy"—but it never really happened. In fact, you did us a great favour, ultimately, which I will come to. But there was another source of apprehension much more important than this Chamber: the great game of rugby league. As a St George supporter, we are traditional rivals with Parramatta from the 1977 drawn grand final and our tremendous, heroic victory in the replay. As I stood on the hill for the battle of Kogarah the following year, the savages from Western Sydney got even with the great Rocket Ready and belted the absolute billyo out of him. It was a game only overshadowed by the even more vicious battle of Lidcombe that same Sunday afternoon.

We are traditional rivals. After my six years in this place, David, it is a fantastic revenge to know that single moment in your retirement you will suffer the fact that we have given you, as your coach, one of the greatest boofheads to pull on a Dragons jumper, Jason Ryles. He was a penalty-conceding machine absolutely despised by Dragons fans. How anyone ever thought he could coach is beyond me. Of course, we know you are none for three and you will probably be none for 22 through the season under the guidance of Jason Ryles. But I hope you do not suffer too much. It is a great club, Parramatta, and it will come back. But thinking of when you win your next comp, it is a bit like that meme of the old lady on the Titanic: "It's been 84 years."

[Interruption]

Well, the young ones know it. I am not as uncool as I look. I have sons who love the "84 years" memes. But, David, you will probably get one before that. I was there in 1986 at your last grand final win, the only tryless grand final, so I have a little bit of Parramatta in me. Just for your edification, I did captain the under‑15s Parramatta rep team a long time ago, so I am not totally unsympathetic. With one eye red and one eye white, I go with the Dragons, but I will always be watching Parramatta's progress on your behalf.

In terms of your service as the Clerk, I thank you for what was the greatest floor show we have ever seen here as we replaced John Ajaka as President. I know, David, that not for a moment did you truly believe that someone who had the most votes in a ballot had not won it, but your interpretation pleased me and the Hon. Robert Borsak no end. We absolutely loved the biffo of the Hon. Natasha Maclaren-Jones, on the advice of the Hon. Damien Tudehope, seizing the chair like a Third World dictatorship while the previously passive the Hon. Peter Primrose and the Hon. Anthony D'Adam screamed at her from the back of the Chamber.

Borsak and I would love that sort of biffo every single day; I know it is not possible here in this genteel Chamber. But you orchestrated that floor show for us and we thank you for it. Ultimately, the standing order had to be changed to reflect the political reality that if you get the most votes, you win. Who ever thought otherwise, other than down at the Australian Turf Club? Maybe that is where you could go, David. They are looking for that kind of advice. I congratulate you on your service. Our great achievement is that we never really had a strong disagreement, let alone a blow-up, and I am quite proud of that.

The Hon. Taylor Martin: There is still the rest of the day.

The Hon. MARK LATHAM: Well, when I found out the Hon. Rod Roberts would move this motion, he said, "You're not going to get into him, are you? You're not going to blow it up?" I said, "Rod, it's your motion. You're a higher power than me in the Chamber. I can't possibly blow it up"—but I would not anyway, David. You have served the Chamber tremendously well, with ethics and honesty—a lot better than your colleagues in the House of Representatives back in the day. I wish you a very, very happy retirement.

The Hon. JOHN RUDDICK (15:47): I have a short contribution. I observe that a parliamentary Clerk is similar to a constitutional monarch and nightly newsreader, in that they all have close proximity to politics but the less political they are, the better they are at their job. Their job is to be apolitical. Queen Elizabeth II reigned for seven decades, but no-one has any idea of her political leanings. For 45 years in this city we had a beloved newsreader on Channel 9, Brian Henderson. After 45 years of close proximity to politics, no-one has any idea how Brian Henderson personally voted. I think the same could very much be said for David Blunt, who has been perfectly apolitical. He is basically the Queen Elizabeth II and the Brian Henderson of this place. That is not to say that we are not curious as to how he votes, but I strongly suspect that will be an eternal mystery even after his retirement.

He has always been very courteous to me in my short time here. I do have a staff member who used to work for Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile and asked me to say something. Fred, as we all know, was a longstanding member of this place and was frail in his last few years. The Clerk, David Blunt, was endlessly considerate, courteous and understanding of someone who was a legend of this place. David, thank you very much for your service. I say to Steven Reynolds that all members very much look forward to you stepping up to the role and doing an equally fine job.

The Hon. AILEEN MacDONALD (15:49): I want to borrow from the Heath Ledger movie10 things I hate about you. I hate how you always know the standing orders better than anyone else. I hate that you spot procedural errors before we even make them. I hate your calm voice when everything around is absolute chaos. I hate that you are already three steps ahead, and I am still trying to find Standing Order 187. I hate your perfectly timed raised eyebrow, sharp enough to rule a motion out of order. I hate how somehow you remember every amendment in every bill in the past three years. I hate that your poker face during division debates could win tournaments. I hate how you are always the one who understands exactly what happened in that five‑minute flurry of points of order. I hate that your diary is more full than any Minister's and yet you still remember my name. But, mostly, I hate the fact that I don't hate you at all—not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all. Thank you for keeping the Council in check, on track and just the right amount of terrified. This tribute is all in jest, but our admiration is very real.

The Hon. TAYLOR MARTIN (15:50): I will warn up-front that I have no lyrics prepared. In fact, I do not have any notes prepared. There were many mentions earlier about members being called to your office, David, and maybe some more than others. I have been a member of this place for eight years now. I did not think that I was much of a naughty kid at school, but it does really feel like being called to the principal's office when you have to go and see David Blunt. But it is very comforting when you sit on that lounge and start talking, because I knew that, no matter what the issue was, I was getting all of your best advice. I also knew that every other member of this place, whether they are here now or have gone before us, got exactly the same from you. Like the Hon. John Ruddick, I would not have the faintest idea of how David voted in any ballot previous or would vote in any ballot to come in any election, State or Federal. I would not have any idea because you afforded every one of us your best as a human being, and I thank you for that. In this sea of political skulduggery here in this place and in politics more widely, David, you are an island of impartiality, and we all thank you for that.

The Hon. JACQUI MUNRO (15:51): I have already mentioned this earlier today during the take‑note of answers debate, but it is worth repeating. As new members in the Fifty-Eighth Parliament, our first interaction with Mr Blunt was in our members' induction. We were sitting in a room and learning about this whole new world that we were about to enter into. We had no idea of how we were going to be guided through the puzzling maze of rules. We had books and slide after slide of information—we were just surrounded by information. Then we came to the slide of our welcome from the Clerk; he could not be with us in person at the time. It was a video which was grey and loud, and we were squinting to try to see what it was. It was a snowstorm, somewhere in the Nepalese alps. We could make out a figure with snow across his face and a massive beanie on his head. He was saying to us, "Welcome to the Parliament", and that he would be with us very soon to guide us.

There was a comfort in knowing that there would be someone in our lives who could make it through a snowstorm in Nepal, and that he would come back and tell us all we needed to know and how to act appropriately to get through the snowstorms and the blizzards that we would experience in this place. I want to say thank you so much for the joy that you bring to this job and to this place and to your life. All the passions that you have outside of this place so clearly inform the type of person that you are and the character that you demonstrate and display to us. This is a very unique and unusual workplace where we get to know each other in unusual ways. The ability to be very much yourself in this place is a testament to your strength of character and something that we all can learn from and have certainly benefited from. Thank you so much for everything that you do and for making this State a much healthier democracy.

The Hon. COURTNEY HOUSSOS (Minister for Finance, Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement, and Minister for Natural Resources) (15:54): I join with members of this House in thanking David for his extraordinary service and contribution to our Parliament and to the community of New South Wales. All of us come to this place in the spirit of being custodians who seek to leave it a little bit better than when we found it. David, you have certainly fulfilled that. During your time here, you have been recognised with membership of the Order of Australia and have become a published author. Those things and, certainly, the impact that you have had on every individual member, which we have heard about in the heartfelt contributions from members today, all speak to your ability to bring this extraordinary and historic institution to life and to leave it a bit better than when you started.

The common themes in the contributions today have been your humility, your respect and the considered advice that you have shared with all of us, no matter where we have been sitting in the Parliament, and the enormous amount of knowledge that you somehow manage to retain in your brain. I do not know how you manage to do that. It is extraordinary. I will briefly share a story, which I think I have shared with David before. When I was considering seeking preselection for the Labor Party, I had just had my first child. I was not quite sure what I was embarking upon, and I did not really know what to do. I did some googling, and I did not get very far. I then received a suggestion that I should just call the Clerk. I thought, "I do not know if I can do that." Anyway, I did. I picked up the phone, and David answered. As a member of the public, I asked him some questions—actually, he shared the experiences of the Hon. Sarah Mitchell.

What really stayed with me is that he answered the phone directly, and that his considered and thoughtful advice was given honestly to a member of the public to whom he had no real need to give that advice. But it gave me comfort at a point when I was making some big decisions about my future. The ability to provide that humble and considered but enormously informed advice to a member of the public, or to any one of us in this place, is extraordinary. We thank you so much for the time, effort and sacrifice that you have made in supporting us all during your time here. We wish you all the best in your retirement with Lynne.

I did not get to question time today. As for musical contributions, I am not much of a musician, but I was inspired by one of Arthur's and my favourite songs. Arthur is quite the Michael Jackson fan. You might have seenMJ: The Musical. I am not sure if this song is in it, but the one we love isWorkin' Day and Night. Certainly you will not be doing that for too much longer. I wish you all the very best in your retirement and for your wonderful adventures beyond. No doubt we will continue to try to tap into your knowledge, and no doubt the amazing people that you have trained will continue to do that. Thank you so much for your time, for your contribution and for the amazing imprint that you have left on all of us.

The Hon. ROD ROBERTS (15:57): In reply: I thank members who contributed to the debate today: the Leader of the Government, the Leader of the Opposition, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in her role as the Leader of The Nationals in this place, Ms Abigail Boyd, the Treasurer, the Hon. Emma Hurst, the Hon. Robert Borsak, the Hon. Jeremy Buckingham, Ms Sue Higginson, the Hon. Natalie Ward, the Deputy Leader of the Government, Ms Cate Faehrmann, the Hon. Dr Sarah Kaine, the Hon. Scott Farlow, the Hon. Mark Banasiak, Dr Amanda Cohn, the Hon. Cameron Murphy, the Assistant President, the Hon. Mark Buttigieg, the Hon. Mark Latham, the Hon. John Ruddick, the Hon. Aileen MacDonald, the Hon. Taylor Martin, the Hon. Jacqui Munro, and the Minister for Finance.

I could have just thanked "those who contributed", but I wanted to go through all those names because the number of people who wanted to stand up and speak and be associated with this motion today, David, is a reflection. We have all sat in this Chamber and heard members make speeches that they did not want to make. I do not care which political party they may have been from, but they had been caucused into a particular position and had to get up and speak. That is just the reality of politics. But the speeches we heard today were the warmest, most heartfelt and, above all, most genuine speeches that I have ever heard in this place.

It is hard to say anything in reply because every adjective or descriptor in the world has been used. There is nothing else left for me to say, really, except a couple of things. The Hon. Mark Latham and the Hon. Scott Farlow touched upon the elephant in the room, which is your dedication to the Parramatta Eels. I think I have mentioned this to you before: I don't know how such an educated man could support Parramatta. But then, in reflection, I think that's just a mark of the man because his loyalty and dedication never wavers. So that's probably your excuse.

I will say a couple of things in closing that some people did not touch upon. I have been in this place since 2019. During the debate I jotted down a few notes about some of the things that have changed in this House in that short time. This is in no particular order. One is the roadshow taking the Legislative Council to the people—what a tremendous thing that has been. Again, that was driven by you and the President, with big input from the LC office. The presidential coup, which was a particular time that we try to sweep under the carpet and pretend never happened, was a big event in this place. As I touched upon in my original speech, the standing orders have changed. Another new development was the Mookhey library, which was a result of this House exercising its power of accountability over government.

We had the COVID period, which no member has mentioned. We had to organise the sitting of Parliament through COVID. Again, the responsibility was left to you and your team to sort out. We had place markers for where members could sit. We had people wearing masks. We had TVs and perspex screens. We had everything. If I hear the name Hibbs one more time, I will have a breakdown. We have seen the introduction of Webex for committees, where both members and participants could "zoom in" for that process. We've had the bicentenary, which I touched upon before. We had the visit of King Charles, which I know you were closely involved in. And, of course, your visit with former President Matthew Mason‑Cox to see Prince Charles when he was still the Prince. That was at Balmoral, I think. In that short period, there has been so many things that have tried and tested you, and you have been able to get us through. I said quite a bit at the beginning; everybody else has said everything else. There can be nothing more to say other than thank you.

The PRESIDENT: Unfortunately, in this Chamber there is no right of reply for our guru, our oracle, our very own Gandalf, David Blunt. For David to shed light on how he votes or, in fact, on any other matter, members will have to wait until tomorrow night. Until then, David, in honour of you: Go the mighty Eels. And in the immortal words of Paddington Bear: Thank you, David, for everything.

The question is that the motion be agreed to.

Motion agreed to.

Members and officers of the House stood and applauded.