Page 2843 - Week 08 - Thursday, 11 August 2016
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many of the problems that we have brought, which have really been disturbing people on a daily basis. I am not a great fan of the city to the lake concept. I am much more a fan of the front door to the bus stop or the front door to the local shop or the front door to school. I think those things need to be taken very seriously, and I thank both ministers for that.
I am really proud that after more than 11 years, when I first breastfed a baby in this place while doing a little bit of part-time work for Zed Seselja, we have finally been able to achieve a lock on the breastfeeding room door. It is, in a way, a sad thing that it took so long because I did ask for one back in the day and was told that it was a safety hazard. I am really glad we have got over that concern now, given that we have locks on the doors in the toilets. I am really pleased to see that we have a baby change table in the public area of this building so that when we have functions with mums here they can change their babies. I would still like to see a breastfeeding area that is private in our public area. I am sure at some stage we will manage it.
I think the story of this term is Mr Jeffery’s. It goes to show that it is always worth having your name on the ticket. I like to tell young people that and encourage them in their candidacy. Even if the first time round it does not work, you never know, we might go through everyone on the ticket.
I thank my husband, Bernard, for always backing me up. Bernard is a major in the Army and has a very busy job, but he always goes and collects the kids from school. He gets home early and more often than not cooks dinner for my family. I am sure my kids will appreciate him more and more as they grow up. Bernard always wanted to back me up in my aspirations in life, and I am very fortunate to have found a man like that.
My kids—Felix, Leo, Nicolina, Ambrose and baby Maximus—I love you all. Maximus was the first baby to be breastfed in the Assembly. Hopefully other members’ babies will join him in the club. I thank Granny Crystal as well for all the love she gives to us back at home. My kids, unfortunately, know far too much about politics and my political opinions. I apologise in advance to any Labor candidates who are campaigning at the local shops, because at least Leo likes to tell them what he really thinks, which is not healthy for a nine-year-old, but anyhow. He is very good at blowing up balloons. He would probably blow up anybody’s balloons, to be honest.
I thank the Liberal Party for all that you do to keep us here. We MLAs here stand on the shoulders of the giants who have come before us in our political party who, despite our underdog status in the ACT, have worked tirelessly over many years to make our party strong.
To the voters of Molonglo, I thank you for your trust. I hope that I have done you well and that I have given you my all this term. I look forward to taking the G-mobile out again, my delivery van, according to Mr Barr—hopefully delivering government. We will see you on the hustings.
MR COE (Ginninderra) (9.10): As unaccustomed as I am to speak in the adjournment debate, I rise this evening to say a few names!
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