Page 4767 - Week 15 - Thursday, 16 December 1993
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Valedictory
MR LAMONT (5.06): Madam Speaker, I rise to place on the record my appreciation for the contribution that has been made to the conduct of this chamber by the staff of the secretariat.
Mr Connolly: You speak on behalf of us all.
MR LAMONT: I understand that I speak on behalf of this side of the house for that purpose. In quite difficult and trying times throughout the year they have performed their functions admirably, quite often above and beyond that which should reasonably be expected of them by members of the house because of the pressures that we find ourselves under from time to time. I believe that I speak for all members of the house in saying that. I would appreciate that comment and that appreciation being passed on to any of the members of the secretariat who are not in the chamber this afternoon.
However, I cannot be as gracious in relation to Mr Humphries's valedictory comments. Because of the light nature of what is generally the adjournment debate, I had not intended to say anything. I do not necessarily like it, but I find it acceptable that Mr Humphries may care to make jocular comments about me or other members of the chamber. But, quite frankly, I find it offensive when he names staff of members of this house and attempts to ridicule them.
Valedictory
MR DE DOMENICO (5.08): On behalf of members on this side of the house, I want to endorse Mr Lamont's first comments about the hardworking members of the secretariat and other staff in this place. Madam Speaker, a lot has been said about how hard members of parliament work. We all work very hard. But I think very little is said from time to time about the hardworking staff that we all have behind us. I am sure that I speak for everyone on this side of the house. Without the dedicated staff that members of parliament have behind them from time to time we would not be able to do what we do as elected members. In the spirit of Christmas and the time of year, I wish everybody - I mean this sincerely - a happy and holy Christmas and a happy new year.
Valedictory
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (5.08): Madam Speaker, I want to thank all of the staff of the secretariat and the chamber staff, of course, for their hard work throughout the year. I also want to thank all of the staff in all of our departments who have worked extraordinarily hard in a difficult year to make sure that we had what we needed in this chamber. I consider that the work of those public servants has been of an extremely high standard. I certainly hope that at least some of them are able to get a nice holiday over the Christmas and new year break. I would also like to wish all members of the Assembly, and you, Madam Speaker, a very happy Christmas and new year. I will not miss any of you one bit until February, but I look forward to rejoining the debate in February.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Assembly adjourned at 5.09 pm until Tuesday, 22 February 1994, at 2.30 pm
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