Page 10 - Week 01 - Thursday, 4 November 2004
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Of course, to the returned members and to the candidates: thank you very much for all that you have done. It takes a great deal of courage to put yourself forward in a community—particularly the Australian community, which often does not take well to tall poppies. A number of us did not make the cut. But if people have not been successful as candidates, they should not feel that somehow they were not up to speed. In putting themselves forward they have furthered democracy, not just in this jurisdiction but in this country. Without those new candidates coming forward all the time, democracy in this city would stagnate. That would be a terrible thing.
I thank all my staff and the staff of all the members, who performed a number of minor miracles during the last term. I say a few farewells to those members who resigned and are with us today. To Bill Wood, Kerrie Tucker and Greg Cornwell: thank you for your years of service. I think that there are about 36 or 37 years of service with those members. I say to you: I believe your community is grateful—and they should be grateful—for the time, the effort and the zeal you have put into this Assembly in laying the foundation that, of course, the Sixth Assembly will build on.
There are a few farewells that are not well received. To Ros Dundas, who represented the Democrats, and to Helen Cross as an independent: congratulations on what you have achieved; you should be proud of yourselves. You will be remembered for your part in this place.
I have already mentioned the media. I thank them again. During the next term, they will be vitally important to democracy in this city in reporting what goes on in this place. To Phil Green and his team at the ACT Electoral Commission: thank you for the sort of vote that you have conducted and the process that we have had. The other day I mentioned that we could outsource it. A few American jurisdictions might be looking at a system that gives a foolproof and secure return within a couple of hours. There is perhaps a growth industry there for us.
One person who should not be forgotten is Mike Harris, who is the caretaker leader of the ACT public service. Mr Harris has been in charge for some seven weeks now. I would like to congratulate Mike on the job that he performed in keeping both sides at bay, I guess, and in keeping both sides honest. Mr Harris, well done. Thank you for all your assistance in that period. I am personally assured that the ACT public service is in good hands under your leadership.
Mr Speaker, the last people I would like to thank are the families. None of us does this alone. The parties, where you have a party to support you, are vital to being elected. But without the source of great strength that we all draw from home, none of us could achieve this. As I have said, my father is here. I thank dad and all my brothers and sisters.
To my wife, who is also Robyn, I say thank you. To my daughters, Amy and Lorena, for what they have sacrificed on my behalf, I say thank you. I say to them and to all the families that I do not think the people of Canberra know exactly what it is that families give up. None of us trumpets it, but they do surrender a lot for us to follow our dreams of being members of this place.
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