Outgoing Health Minister Brad Hazzard has spoken of the death of his younger brother, Tony, choking back tears during his final speech to the NSW parliament.
"Many of you would know that Tony passed away earlier this year and that set in effect my thinking about whether I stay in this place or not," an emotional Mr Hazzard said on Tuesday.
The long-serving Health Minister entered parliament in 1991 and said after being elected as Wakehurst MP, he questioned the system's effectiveness.
"I remember thinking, 'Is this a place where you can do good?' I found out it is a place where you can do good," he said.
Mr Hazzard, who will have spent 32 years as an MP when he retires at the March state election, called for reform of NSW's corruption watchdog, saying it has "never worked in the way it should work".
Investigations by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption should be carried out in camera, or behind closed doors, until the commission has proven allegations requiring referral to police, he said.
Mr Hazzard oversaw multiple portfolios during his time in parliament, however he will be best remembered for presiding over the health portfolio during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"When the pandemic began, we were bracing for an expected 25,000 deaths," he said of what had been a deeply gruelling and upsetting period for the entire community.
During his own speech, outgoing Transport Minister David Elliott thanked the union officials he had worked with over the past eight years - despite the government being in the midst of tense enterprise negotiations.
"We've had some cracking fights but I've always felt that meetings were respectful," he said.
Mr Elliott also threatened to "haunt" Rail Tram and Bus Union Secretary Alex Claassens from his political grave if negotiations did not come to a close soon.
Earlier, outgoing Nationals MP Melinda Pavey used her valedictory speech to thank divisive former deputy premier John Barilaro for giving her a role in his ministry.
"I will always be grateful to John Barilaro, who gave me the opportunity to serve for five years in the NSW ministry," the former water, property and housing minister said on Tuesday.
"It was the most challenging yet rewarding professional experience of my life."
The outgoing MP also joked about pork barrelling, which has become a hot button issue during the 11-year term of the coalition, after various grants programs came under scrutiny for favouring government seats.
Money had flowed through to the regional electorates after her predecessor, former deputy premier and Oxley MP Andrew Stoner, cleaned up the state's books, the Oxley MP said.
"You lot like to call that pork barrelling. We like to call that catching up."
Liberal frontbencher and Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello kept his farewell brief, speaking for just two minutes and ending on a whimsical note as he wished joy and wonder to the chamber.
Outgoing Parramatta MP and Corrections Minister Geoff Lee thanked his colleagues and praised the growth of his local electorate as his young daughter giggled loudly in the chamber.
He joked that when he was handed the corrections portfolio, he was given only one direction by Premier Dominic Perrottet: "Don't let them escape."
Independent MP Justin Field, who entered the upper house as a member of the Greens, said he decided to leave in 2019 because he felt there was no place for him in the party.
"I haven't spoken much about my decision to leave the Greens and there really isn't much to say," he said.
"Certain individuals made it impossible for me to exist in the Greens party room, so I had to make a call."
Despite his defection, he said a number of Greens had remained friends and confidants throughout his term.
