Page 4582 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 26 November 2019
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Another big positive of the Assembly this year has been a significantly increased emphasis on fairness, at least in the debates in the Assembly. Obviously, I am looking forward to a lot more action on fairness, but it is good that it is a part of our conversation, at least every week.
The other thing I am reflecting on is that this is going to be my last Christmas as an MLA and I have no idea what I will be doing this time next year.
I want to say thank you to everybody. I thank my constituents and the rest of Canberra who I enjoy talking to. We do not always agree, but it is good to know your point of view. I particularly thank members of the community who have supported my work, and especially the community councils.
I thank the PCO. I think the PCO has been overworked by my office. I am not sure if I should apologise for that, but I very much appreciate your hard work.
To the committee secretaries that I interact with, including Hamish, Annemieke and Andrea, and of course fellow committee members, thank you very much. I thank the Clerk’s office and all the attendants. I thank the Greens party for keeping it all together for the year. Hopefully, with all the volunteers organising it, this time next year there will be a new Green MLA standing here for Murrumbidgee.
Lastly, I thank the Greens team in the Assembly: Allison, Eddy, Jason, Veronica, Georgie, who unfortunately has departed; and the staff in Shane’s office, Matt, Lisa, John, Fiona, Sandra, Jarrah, Anna and the tireless Indra, who is very sensibly taking well-deserved long service leave. And of course I thank my colleague Shane.
Happy Christmas to us all.
Mental Health Month
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong—Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Minister for Corrections and Justice Health, Minister for Justice, Consumer Affairs and Road Safety and Minister for Mental Health) (3.25): I would like to speak today about Mental Health Month. In the ACT we dedicate the month of October to celebrating Mental Health Month. It brings together community organisations, local groups, and health and wellbeing services. Canberrans across the territory get involved, participate, have some fun and learn a lot, in an effort to raise awareness and understanding of mental illness, reduce the stigma and discrimination and overall promote positive mental health wellbeing.
This year’s Mental Health Month theme was conversations and connections. These two activities are integral to maintaining positive mental health and wellbeing. Conversations and connections have a transformative power to help someone with whatever they might be experiencing—to make them feel heard, included and important.
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