Page 5767 - Week 15 - Thursday, 10 December 2009
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I would also like to thank all the community organisations that we work with. We very much do rely on them to let us know what is going on in the community and what are some of the key issues. I thank them a lot. I also thank my previous employer, the Mental Health Council of Australia. They were very understanding during the election campaign, when I would disappear on occasions and then, when I did not come back in October when they were expecting me to come back and I did not. So I thank them for their understanding and their support.
I would also be remiss if I did not mention the State of Origin this year. Mr Barr and Mr Smyth put forward a challenge that I would wear a New South Wales jersey if Queensland lost the series, and I readily accepted that challenge. Of course they did not lose the series—that really was not in question. But I also put the challenge out that, yes, I would wear the New South Wales jersey if Mr Barr and Mr Smyth wore the Queensland jersey. Of course that did not happen. Mr Smyth actually said to me, “If you buy one, I will wear it.” But I would have thought any self-respecting New South Wales supporter would have a jersey that they could wear in this place, which does not seem to be the case. So I put the same challenge out for next year. I have got the Queensland jersey. I had it there, ready to go. I had my scarf, which I wore into the chamber.
Mr Barr: I will wear my New South Wales tie every day in the chamber.
MS BRESNAN: You are wearing a Maroons tie tonight. That is quite good. The challenge is on for next year for the State of Origin. I am happy to wear the New South Wales jersey. If Queensland do win, I will expect the jerseys to be worn in this place. So the challenge is on. Thank you all for this year and best wishes to everybody and their families.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Planning, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation and Minister for Gaming and Racing) (6.56): In thinking about my speech tonight I thought, “What would be the greatest Christmas gift I could bestow upon you all?” That would be a very brief speech. So I will stick to that. I will just make a couple of observations.
This has been a fascinating year in local politics. I think a lot has been achieved. There were a number of personal highlights, one of which, in spite of a slight backward step, was what we achieved today in locking in some very significant reforms for same-sex couples.
As to perhaps the things we can learn from this year, aside from debates of epic proportions, there are two things that I would observe from 2009. The first is that if you are going to get emotional in the chamber and you look like you are in a lot of pain, and it is on a television camera, it is best to tell your mother before she sees it on television. The second is to provide some advice to all of you. I think most of you are married. For those who are not or who might want to try a civil partnership, my advice is do not do it in the middle of a sitting fortnight. That is something quite above and beyond.
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