Page 5346 - Week 17 - Thursday, 13 December 1990
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Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you and other members of the Assembly for the rather interesting times this year; and, of course, in respect of the support staff, I would like to echo the sentiments expressed before. I would like to turn just shortly to the media gallery, since we are fortunate to have some media representatives here. It has been my contention that, by and large, they have dealt fairly with us. I think that on a number of occasions when all of us have felt a little vulnerable the situation has been not so much to do with their perceptions as ours.
I would like to draw particular attention to one article that has given us all a great deal of mirth and enjoyment. I refer to that very good article by Chris Uhlmann. I want to say, before anybody else has a chance to comment, that I appreciated the thing in toto. I know that Mr Jensen drew the short straw, fortunately, and there were a lot of other interesting comments. It is that sort of statement and that sort of pun that we have enjoyed, and I think it has actually lightened the frame for members of the Assembly. But that followed not too long after the Alliance Government took a day or so to consider their own image. At the time, I said - and I would like to remind you of it now - that, if you concentrate on doing things as they ought be done rather than concentrating on your image, your image will follow.
Valedictory
MR HUMPHRIES (Minister for Health, Education and the Arts) (1.11 am): Mr Speaker, I also want to engage in the longstanding parliamentary tradition of making a speech at the adjournment on the last day to wish my colleagues and Assembly members and others goodwill and peace and cheer, et cetera.
Mr Collaery: What is the "et cetera", Gary?
MR HUMPHRIES: Well, I will get on to the "et cetera" in a moment, Mr Speaker. I, of course, will not be here on Christmas Day, but I will be thinking of my colleagues, all of them, in this place.
Mr Stevenson: You will be freezing to death, Gary.
MR HUMPHRIES: I will, indeed, Mr Stevenson. I will be caught in the blizzards of central Oxfordshire where I will be having Christmas, but I will be thinking of all of you here in this place - and I have been thinking already about what you might be doing.
I know that the Chief Minister will probably be sunning himself on a Miami beach, contemplating what pleasantries he might be exchanging with Mr Berry when we resume next year. Mr Duby will no doubt be enjoying the odd party or two on Christmas Day. Ms Maher is not here, but I am
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