Page 4313 - Week 13 - Thursday, 19 November 2015
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and indeed our whole city, is a better place because of you both and I wish you all the best for the next stage after next year’s election.
Thank you to the many friends who have supported me, to those crack volunteers—particularly people like Gerry Lloyd and the remarkable young members of our Labor Party whom we could not work without. And to Kurt Steel, who is still in our hearts every day.
During the past year I have learnt so much about our city, its workings and the people in it. For me, growth, opportunity and fairness must be at the centre of everything we do. When I look at Labor’s track record it is clear these values are central. They are evident in policies like light rail, urban renewal, public housing renewal, tax reform, transport reform and our renewable energy targets. We are building a new hospital, delivering better health services, improving our students’ educational outcomes, making our roads safer and growing our economy. These policies help everyone and they will change our city for the better. To all of my colleagues in this place: go well, have grace and have a merry Christmas.
Valedictory
Mr SMYTH (Brindabella) (6.13): I think it is an interesting year that we have all had, and it is kind of odd doing this in November. There is something perverse about Christmas speeches this early, but such is life.
To my colleagues, I would like to say thank you—all around the chamber. I do not believe anyone goes into this job without good intent in their hearts. We might disagree, but to have the courage to put your hands up and go through what we have gone through, I say well done to you all and I hope you have an enjoyable time with your family and friends. Whatever it is that you do, make sure you enjoy it because I suspect that, with only 331 days to go, next year will be even more torrid.
To my staff—to Merlin, Emma and Rob—thank you for all you do to keep me on the straight and narrow, finding all of those bits of paper that I file so effectively that they will be kept for all time, and always sending me out well prepared. It is a real art and you guys do it very well.
Madam Speaker, through you to the Clerk and to all of the Assembly staff, thanks for all they do. It will be an interesting year for them as well, as we move, carpet, repaint and shift furniture. All sorts of things will happen. Hopefully, after October next year we will have a bigger, better and stronger Assembly with its focus on the people of the ACT.
To the people of Brindabella, I would say thanks. It is a pleasure to serve you as always and I do enjoy the job.
To my colleagues on PAC, to Mary, Nicole and Megan, I say that it has been an interesting year. The clubs report was particularly interesting. At one stage we had a piece of A3 paper with three streams of suggestions on it with merging lines and conflicting recommendations. Somehow we managed to get through it. It is nice to
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