Page 4265 - Week 13 - Thursday, 27 November 2014

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While I am past the point in my life where all I merely desire is a pair of incisors for Christmas, I do wish you all a hallowed post-meridian and a safe quick trip through the frozen water flakes if you are travelling to colder climes. I hope for you all a jolly yuletide and all the very best for 2015.

Valedictory

MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Disability, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Racing and Gaming, Minister for Women and Minister for the Arts) (6.37): I will be very brief. I want to wish everyone in this place well and I hope all have a very safe and happy holiday. The years often throw up challenges for different individuals and families. I hope that 2015 for many families that have faced challenges is better than 2014 and say to others just to enjoy those that are close to them.

I want to thank the public service across Education and Training, Teacher Quality Institute, CIT, the BSSS, Community Services Directorate, Arts, Gambling and Racing Commission, the Cultural Facilities Corporation. I know that now I have started to name them I have probably missed one or two, and I do apologise for that. To the team that have supported me in my office over this year—and please forgive me because this is code and a bit of a personal challenge—the message is: well job and enjoy the gurgling over the holidays.

Valedictory

MR COE (Ginninderra) (6.38): I too want to join the chorus of people thanking their staff who do so much for us all to make our quality of life better but who also contribute to democracy and the wellbeing of all Canberrans. I would like to particularly thank Ruth, Ben and Danielle in my office, also the staff right down the opposition corridor, in particular Ian and Joe with whom I deal on a regular basis.

I would also like to thank my colleagues. It has been a real pleasure this year. I think life in opposition is tough, life in opposition is a real slog, but I think we are doing a good job and, what is more, we are enjoying it along the way as well.

I would of course like to thank my family, in particular my wife Yasmin and my six-month-old Angus. They have both have been just wonderful this year and have really brought a tremendous amount of joy to my life.

To the Assembly staff, of course to Ray, thank you very much for all the work that you have done in this building and the many things that you have helped out with in my office. I need to give particular thanks to the Hansard staff who are somewhat used to me standing up at about this time of the day and perhaps speaking at a slightly faster rate than I am now. They do a great job, and I know from the feedback that I get from my speeches that being in the Hansard staff of this place is really valued. I do thank the work of Hansard.


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