Page 319 - Week 01 - Thursday, 9 December 2004

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be a new Zorro mask, hat and cape. Mr Speaker, to all members and to staff: thanks and merry Christmas, and a happy and holy new year.

Valedictory

MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo-Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Children, Youth and Family Support, Minister for Women and Minister for Industrial Relations) (6.35): I rise to repeat all the good wishes that have been given to members and particularly to all the staff here who help us with our jobs. At times I do not know how they keep sane.

I also acknowledge the staff in all the agencies for which I have responsibility. I will start with the Department of Education and Training. Thank you to all the staff there. I particularly acknowledge Tim Keady and Mike Zissler, who has acted as chief executive this year. I particularly thank the executive team there. It has been a difficult year with leadership change, but everyone has worked very hard to make sure that the business of education keeps going strong in the ACT. Thank you also to staff at the central office and, of course, the teachers who work so hard all school year round.

To the staff in the Office for Children, Youth and Family Support; to Julie McKinnon and the executive team there, thank you. They have created a new agency this year and they have put care and protection, youth services and services for children back on a new track. I cannot underestimate the work that has gone into that and I really appreciate it.

To staff at the CIT, thank you—an excellent year. To CMD, to the Office of Industrial Relations, to the Public Sector Management Group and to the Office for Women, thank you very much for your efforts. It has been a big year for everyone there. Thank you to staff at WorkCover and to the Occupational Health and Safety Commissioner, who have all, along with the Office of Industrial Relations, been dealing with some major legislative change in their area.

It has been a tough year for some of my agencies. Today there has been the announcement of a new head for the Department of Education and Training—Michele Bruniges, who is coming to us from New South Wales—and, in the area of the Office for Children, Youth and Family Support, Louise Denley, is coming to the ACT from South Australia. I know that we will make both of those women very welcome in our community here. I look forward to working with the staff in my agencies again next year.

I also thank the staff in my office who help me do my job. This year I acknowledge my family, particularly my mother and my daughter. It has been a difficult year for them as well.

Sustainable transport plan
Valedictory

MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Minister for Health and Minister for Planning) (6.37), in reply: I start this evening by making some comment on a press statement released today by the conservation council of the ACT and the cyclist organisation Pedal Power ACT. Today these two organisations have released the first of the report cards which are


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