Page 3981 - Week 10 - Thursday, 28 August 2008
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I want to thank all the workers in this place who have helped me over many years, all of those who have made my term both productive and enjoyable. I benefit greatly from the advice from the three wise men, the Clerks—Don Piper, Mark McRae and Tom Duncan—all of whom are a credit to their profession, and they have supported me with a wide range of friendly and helpful professional advice. I hope I have made your life a little bit more exciting. The Clerks at the table are a close-knit bunch and their advice is always welcome.
I know that I have helped Speakers out by making their life a bit more exciting in the past. I think I still hold the record for being turfed out of this place. It is not one to boast about but it taught me a few things, taught me a few tricks.
The Chamber Support Office, including the Sergeant at Arms and our building manager, all are important in making this place tick over. I have always been impressed with the work of the Committee Office, weaving together those disparate views in the very hot political environment to make coherent and illuminating reports. I am especially thankful for the work of Robina Jaffray and her staff. I think they do a great job.
To Ian Duckworth and his corporate service staff, thanks for dealing with the minutiae of our staffing issues and a big thanks to the Hansard and IT staff who toil away trying to make sense out of what we say in here and weave their IT magic over it. Over the last few years, of course, the Education and Parliamentary Strategy Office have enhanced our programs and initiated extra ones which are going like a house on fire. Our Assembly library also deserves a vote of thanks and I know that it will go from strength to strength. Another group of unsung heroes are John Clifford and his parliamentary counsel staff; they are the people who make our promises and dreams turn into law.
I would also like to give a special thanks to the many people who have worked on my personal staff. It is getting a bit long, this, is it not, but this is my chance. This is what I am moved about. Maryann, Anna who is here today, Paul, Robin, Michele, Greg, Brendan, Rachel, Ben, Daniel, Julian, Reece, John, Robyne, Daniel, Libby, Jason, Claire, Noel, Rebecca, Renaldo and Sue, it sounds like I am a pretty crook boss, does it not? But some of them came back to work for me again.
That list might seem a little long but I have had many different roles in the place and you would expect a lot of people to be employed. I trust that they have enjoyed their passage through this place. I know that they have helped me immeasurably to do this job. You cannot do it by yourself. It is just impossible.
My service to the community through the ACT Legislative Assembly would have been of far lesser value without the skill and dedication of a fellow left traveller, Sue Robinson. Sue has occupied my office, not to put too fine a point on it, since the beginning in May 1981 and almost nothing has found its way through my hands without her scrutiny and input. Her political, strategic and intellectual contribution to service I have fronted for for the community has been extraordinary. Her fearsome commitment to the work I have been elected to do has been invaluable. Her
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