John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

Hamas does not represent a democratic way. It got the votes but it is not democratic in its systems and operation.

I wish well everyone who is contesting the elections. I hope as many as possible will return and I wish all those who are not returning a happy and good retirement. I echo the points made about people such as Senators Henry and Finucane. Senator Finucane might empathise with the casualty rate among those who served on the Judge Curtin sub-committee. There may be a lesson here regarding the people who do work within the Parliament and the success they experience when they go before the electorate. While there are frequent calls in the press for us to fulfil our legislative and parliamentary obligations, those who do that to best effect, and I can think of a few glaring examples, seem to be the greatest casualties when they go before the electorate. It is hard to take some of the lectures we get from the national newspapers about our responsibilities. One can do nothing here unless one is elected to the Houses.