Page 11 - Week 01 - Thursday, 4 November 2004
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That being said and done, Mr Speaker, I would like to congratulate all who have just been sworn in. Enjoy your time in the Sixth Assembly. It is a pleasure. I think most of us work together quite well most of the time. That tends not to get reported. The occasional stoush gets a nice airing, but I think the thing that has been a real hallmark of previous assemblies is the ability, particularly through the committee system, of members of all persuasions to work together. I think that is a great foundation that we should build on into the future to build a better Canberra.
ACT Greens
Statement by member
DR FOSKEY (Molonglo) (2.49): Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a statement.
Leave granted.
DR FOSKEY: I would like to inform the Assembly that I am privileged to be taking my seat here as the representative of the ACT Greens. I acknowledge that we are meeting on Ngunnawal land and pay my respects to the elders. I congratulate Labor for their success in the election, although I do not agree with them that majority government is good for Canberra. I congratulate Mr Stanhope on his election as Chief Minister and Mr Berry, who has again won the position of Speaker. I also congratulate the Liberal Party for its success and want to especially mention those who, like me, are new to the Assembly. I look forward to working with you all.
I must thank a few of the people who have supported me on my journey into the Assembly: my daughter Eleni was tolerant of the lack of maternal services; and my older daughter, Samara, came to Canberra to help when I was in real need. All my friends deserve medals, but must be content with my heartfelt thanks. I have no doubt that the efforts of my fellow Greens candidates have helped me to secure my seat. I would love them all to be here beside me today, filling the crossbenches. Perhaps in four years I will not be alone here, as the people of Canberra realise the benefit of a strong, critical, and especially a Green, crossbench.
If political outcomes were determined by numbers alone, I could go home now. But we know that politics in the ACT is about consultation, collaboration and cooperation, and this is the way the Greens prefer to work. I can assure the Assembly that I plan to follow in the tradition of my predecessor Kerrie Tucker and work hard to do this job well. I am sure that this is what the Canberra people who voted for me and the other Greens candidates want. They believe the Greens can make a difference and I am here to prove them right.
Canberra people, and not just those who voted for us, will be expecting a lot from the crossbench. They expect us to hold both the government and the opposition to account; they want us to scrutinise all government legislation through our green lens of social justice and care for the environment; they want us to make sure that Labor performs on the environmental front; and they want good governance through an independent role for territory commissioners, boards and committees.
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