Page 4117 - Week 13 - Thursday, 6 December 2007

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and gratitude to Ms Gina Pinkas and Ms Joy Nicholls, both of whom have been on my staff for a considerable period of time.

Gina Pinkas joined my office approximately seven years ago and only completed her service with my office earlier this year. Ms Joy Nicholls joined with me in opposition some 8½ years ago and has served me as a very effective and loyal executive assistant for all that time, in both opposition and government. I am very grateful for both Joy’s and Gina’s dedicated and loyal service and commitment to the work of the Labor Party in opposition and in government. They have proven to be very effective, loyal and outstanding staff members who have given me very good service. I want to express to them, formally, my best wishes for their retirement and their new courses in life and to thank them most sincerely for their service while they have been in my employment.

I also express my very best wishes to my Assembly colleagues on the Labor side—and, indeed, our opponents. I trust that everyone has a safe and peaceful holiday season. I look forward to joining with you all again in 2008.

DR FOSKEY (Molonglo) (5.57): If I seem to be taking precedence, it is because I have to leave very soon, and I regret that I will have to read your speeches rather than hear them.

I want to start by thanking my staff and the volunteers in my office. People will have noticed that there is often a very large population in there. Very few of them are full time, however; we juggle desks and people, and sometimes babies. It has been a difficult year for us all, for a variety of reasons, but everyone has been just fantastic. I will take responsibility for any mistakes.

And here is my Christmas speech:

T’was three weeks before Christmas and on all sides of the house

Members lay down their gauntlets and tried to be noice

The speeches were written, the barbs hid with care

The wit on display in case the media was there;

Labor on the left, the Libs to my right,

I’ve got used to watching and hearing them fight;

The Speaker up high, the clerk’s team at their desk,

Hansard at attention, attendants in attendance,

The odd public servant watching the natter,

I jumped to my feet to add to the chatter.

I wanted to say something that might save the Earth,

But I thought I should try to add to the mirth.

The sun comes up every day I wanted to say,

So much solar power we are wasting away,

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a Labor backbencher and his feed-in laws,

Just the right legislation, to use this free energy source,

I knew in a moment it must be Mr Mick,

Stirring Climate Change apathy with carrot not stick.


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