Stephen Conroy has been a great champion for the Labor Party and a formidable and tireless deputy to have standing alongside me in the Senate.
Stephen has shown enormous courage throughout his career, and there is no one I would rather have standing beside me in a tough fight.
He is a passionate fighter for the Labor cause.
While Stephen served with distinction in a number of portfolios, history will judge his greatest achievement to be the vision and leadership he showed in driving the National Broadband Network. He fully understood how crucial the NBN would be to Australias economy, and to creating a decent and just society.
But I know Stephens greatest joy in life is his family. I am glad that he will now be able spend more time with his extraordinary and inspiring wife Paula, and their adored daughter Isabella.
I will miss his support and counsel and wish him well for the future.