Page 4084 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 30 November 2022
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medium businesses are the exporters, the entrepreneurs and the employers of thousands of workers who form the backbone of our economy, and they have done it incredibly tough in the last few years. The thing they always say to me is that they want government to get out of the way. Red tape and high taxes are the biggest handbrake on business in our city.
The Canberra Liberals understand business and appreciate their important contribution to our economy and to our community. I look forward to keeping up our strong engagement with business in the new year. We will support our business community to do what they do best.
One of my favourite responsibilities as a member in this place is welcoming new Australians. The hope and pride of all our new Australians, and their faces as they make the pledge of citizenship, makes me very proud to be an Australian, as it always does, and especially proud of our capital city. It does remind me, of course, of my own journey in becoming an Australian citizen some 33 years ago now. To all of those who have come from other shores to Canberra this past year, I extend a heartfelt welcome.
I will close by thanking all members for another year of constructive, critical important and, sometimes, very fiery debates in the chamber. Special thanks to the Canberra Liberals team for their hard work and perseverance this year both in their electorates and in this chamber. To Jeremy, Nicole, Mark, James, Elizabeth, Leanne, Peter and Ed: thank you for your continuing support. I also pay tribute to Giulia Jones, who served the Canberra Liberals and her community so well for a decade.
To the Legislative Assembly staff—the Clerk’s office, the committee team, HR, finance and payroll, Hansard, library, IT and building maintenance and our attendants—who ensure this place works like clockwork: thank you for the role you play in our great democracy.
Thank you to my team: Albert, Amy, Alex, Dean, Scott, Kellie, Lisa; and the staff members who left us this year—Brendan, Georgia, Luke, Anastasia and Paddy, although he has not gone too far! A shout-out to Meagan, who is serving in a casual role at the moment as a temp in my office, and to all Canberra Liberals staff who have worked tirelessly to support our MLAs, thank you.
To my family, my parents and sisters, who have been through blood, sweat and tears as they staunchly supported my journey from unknown candidate to party leader: thank you for your unwavering support and unconditional love. To my in-laws and extended family, who have been nothing but supportive and warm, thank you.
To Nathan, my long-suffering partner, who really has seen it all—the good, the bad and sometimes the incredibly ugly—and still has not once faltered in his support and love for me in the whirlwind of a world that I choose to live in, thank you.
To my daughter Mia, who has never known life without her mother rushing off to another event and not being around to drop her off at child care, and who has gone to sleep too many nights without a goodnight kiss: you are an amazing young girl and
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