Page 3562 - Week 08 - Friday, 24 August 2012
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That, can I say, is based on an Irish song—based on, I think, Dolly Gray. There is one line from that that I will read. The Irish version is:
Goodbye Dolly I must leave you, though it breaks my heart to go,
Johnno, you have made a difference and you will be missed.
DR BOURKE (Ginninderra—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Corrections), by leave: As the newest member of the Labor caucus, I valued John’s advice when I first came here, and particularly his support on Assembly procedures and protocols. When I became corrections minister, his insight into restorative justice helped shape my view of the purpose of corrections, about rebuilding lives. His passion and commitment to Canberra, and especially to his constituency of Tuggeranong, have been an example to me and, I think, every Assembly member. I wish him well for his retirement from the Assembly and I look forward to his further contributions to public life in Canberra.
MS PORTER (Ginninderra), by leave: I would like to say a few words to recognise John Hargreaves—Johnno, as we all fondly know him—and thank him for his contribution to this place, to the community and to the Labor Party in his role as a member of that party and as a member of this place. This, of course, as others have said before me, is considerable. However, mostly I want to thank him for his person and for his personal support on my journey, in being there for me during my first election—particularly when I got the wobbles over some small moment that all candidates suffer. Also I thank him for his support when he was a minister, in attending so thoroughly to all my constituent representations—of which there were many, we can tell you. There were lots of things to do with footpaths and things, I recollect. As a fellow backbencher, he has been there for me as a colleague and a friend. His knowledge of parliamentary process is invaluable and I thank him for his mentoring.
I will miss you, Johnno, but I know that you will always be there with your dear wife and your family and your friends. Jenny, I know, will be there with you. She will enjoy having you at home and being able to travel the world with you—of course, with your ukulele; I am sure you are going to pack that. We will be hearing a lot of you, but all the best and thank you very much.
MR SESELJA (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition), by leave: I find myself in a rare moment where I agree with Mr Barr. In a couple of ways Mr Barr said this place will not be the same; I think that we would all agree with that. Also I agree with Mr Barr on commending Mr Hargreaves for a very fine valedictory speech. I think they were very fine words and I thank him for saying those words here today.
It is a significant honour to be elected to the Assembly. I think we all feel that. Most of us—many of us—have tried a few times before getting there, but all of us who get elected to this once know that it is a great honour to be entrusted to represent your electorate. To be elected four times, in the way that John Hargreaves has, is a
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