I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people, the Traditional Owners of the land on which we are gathered today. I pay my respects to the Elders past and present, and I extend my respects to all First Nations people who are here with us or watching today.
For several hundred years before British colonisation, First Nations peoples sanctioned the annual harvest of sea slugs (or beche-de-mer) by Macassan fishermen, who arrived in traditional wooden boats and gave traded goods in return.
Today, these fishing grounds form part of Australia's sovereign territory, highlighting the historical and contemporary connections between borders and culture and its relevance to the work of the ABF, particularly our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander officers.
Speaking at the National Press Club today is truly a privilege. There are many peop?le in this room who have been instrumental in helping me to navigate the personal and professional challenges of the office I've been honoured to hold.
In particular, my wife and son, Kali and Dylan, who are here, without whom meeting such challenges would have been impossible. Also, my friends and my colleagues at the ABF and Home Affairs, including Stephanie Foster, with whom it's been a pleasure to work over a challenging and fulfilling year.
I also want to thank our key partners from across government on whom we rely so much, and from Industry, in particular my Advisory Board members. And thank you to our working journalists who tell our stories. They may not always be told the way we'd like, but the work you do is critical in holding organisations like the ABF to account.
Very soon I will step down as Commissioner and Comptroller-General of Customs at the Australian Border Force, having taken the helm in 2017 as the acting Commissioner. It's the right time now for me and for the ABF.
The new Commissioner has now been announced, and I wish Gavan Reynolds and the ABF all the very best for the future.
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