Page 582 - Week 02 - Thursday, 18 February 2016
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Mary saying, “Come on, Ian; it is time to go.” I think we have all seen that. They are both great conversationalists. I will particularly miss chatting with Ian about the trials of the Liberal Party, the trials of the Labor Party and the trials of every other party. Whilst it may not be their intention, I am sure they will blast onto the Lake Macquarie political scene with some gusto, whether they like it or not.
Finally, I want to touch on Mary’s great judgement of character, particularly with regard to her staff. Mary has always had lovely, loyal and pleasant staff. Numerous staff members have spent time in her office and then moved on to a minister’s office either here or on the hill. Mary once joked to me that she trains them up and then they get poached. Whilst it was said in jest, she is obviously very proud of the success that these people have had. Both in her office and afterwards, they have truly flourished. I particularly want to acknowledge Charles today. Charles has had a tough run in the past few years. Charles, whilst I have had very little to do with you, your positive attitude and glowing personality have truly been acknowledged.
Madam Speaker, being in the chair, you are unable to contribute to this debate, but I know that you would want me to say how much you have enjoyed serving with Ms Porter. As two strong women from Belconnen, you have travelled the same roads, letterboxed the same houses, been at the same shopping centres and spoken to the same people. You know her perhaps better than everybody else with regard to Ginninderra, and I know how much you respect her.
In conclusion, thank you, Mary, for all you have done for Ginninderra and for Canberra. You give politicians a good name. Thank you very much.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Capital Metro, Minister for Health, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for the Environment and Climate Change): I seek leave to make some comments on this occasion.
Leave granted.
MR CORBELL: Madam Speaker, I was reflecting on when Mary Porter was first elected to this place: election night, 16 October 2004. It is perhaps an often forgotten fact that Mary’s election to this place secured majority government for the first and only time in this place for Labor. Her election saw the defeat of a crossbench member, Roslyn Dundas, the last Democrat to sit in this place, but her election meant that Labor secured the extra seat it needed to govern in its own right. So from the very beginning, Mary’s arrival in this place heralded change and success for the party that she is so proudly a member of. The other people who were elected with her for the first time at that election—Deb Foskey, Richard Mulcahy, Zed Seselja and Mick Gentleman—have all, bar Mick, moved on from this place, and even Mick had to have a brief sabbatical in between. He had his gap year, however, Mary has been here throughout. She has seen the trials and tribulation of government, always patiently but consistently advocating for her community from her position as a member in this place.
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