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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 6 Hansard (11 May) . . Page.. 1595 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

not think that that was going to happen here in the ACT for quite some time, because I felt that when I went out into the streets the population wanted to fight me. I am not sure that my family were so happy that I had become involved at an early stage. I would acknowledge at this stage the enduring commitment that they have had to my involvement in this place, though shaky at times.

Mr Speaker, I was one who came to this place as a former public servant, I suppose, a firefighter but mostly as a union official. I was won over to self-government once when I could not get the ear of the relevant Minister. I could never get the ear of the relevant Minister unless we did something outrageous and it looked as though it was going to make the national headlines. Ministers never seemed to be interested in the bad publicity they got in the ACT. But on one occasion I was able to get a rather savage article of a couple of centimetres buried back in the Hobart Mercury. It was on a matter that was confronting firefighters here in the ACT, and I got a phone call at 11 o'clock at night from the Minister. We had a long discussion about the issue. I thought that that was a good enough argument for me for self-government. We need to get in this place people who are answerable. That was the great difficulty that we all faced here in the ACT. I remember long disputes with politicians of both persuasions which need not have happened and would not have happened had those particular Ministers been in place in this city.

Mr Speaker, in the end, when we look at this place, it is the voters' intention that is reflected here. I have been proud, throughout my service in this place, to be elected time and time again. I have been very welcoming of the support I have gained from the electorate. I like to describe myself as a traditional Labor bloke, and I trust that those people out there who have given me their support over the years are satisfied with the way they have voted.

When all of this is over, you or I, Mr Speaker, or any of the rest of us who have participated in this place do not mean much. It is what we leave behind that is important for future generations. I hope that all of those who have participated in the Assembly are satisfied with some of the things that they have left behind. They leave a permanent and indelible mark on the development of democracy in this place.

Mr Speaker, I go back to the very first days and acknowledge our first Chief Minister and the significant role that she played. To be Chief Minister in the first government in the ACT was something to be very worried about, because it was something that was not desired and it was a very tough job. I do not think enough can be said to congratulate Rosemary Follett for her participation in government here in the ACT and her enduring commitment to ensure that self-government turned out to be responsible.

Mr Speaker, we have a job in front of us now until the next election. Part of that job will be to engage in passionate debate about differing ideas on different issues which will map out the way for the Territory in the future. As I said, it will not only be us making the effort here. It will also be our staff who work with us and those public servants who loyally work in the interests of the Territory. But, at the end of the day, I hope that the community also, through enduring and growing commitment to government in the Territory, delivers for the Territory what is socially just.

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