Page 2269 - Week 07 - Thursday, 27 August 2020
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The good we choose and mean to do
Prospers if he wills it to,
And if not, then it fails.
Nor is failure our disgrace:
By ways we cannot know
He keeps the merit in his hand,
And suddenly, as no-one planned,
Behold the kingdom grow!
I thank them for their leadership, for their example and in some cases for their friendship. I hope that after this phase of my career, I will be able to use what I have learned from them to forge new paths. On the subject of James McAuley, I thank Catherine and Michael for introducing me to that poem at a very dark time. It has been a constant comfort since.
There is a lot of unfinished business. As I move into a new phase of life, I will be drawing on my nerdiness for things electoral and procedural, and a desire to build democratic institutions. With that combination there will be plenty of post-parliamentary callings to take up my time.
There are other issues that occupy me: Australia and the ACT have unenlightened and oppressive prostitution laws; human trafficking is rife; and religious and political liberty are still issues of profound concern. In Hong Kong people are groaning under the renewed and active oppression of the Chinese Communist Party. Across Africa and the Middle East, Christians face oppression and death. Uighurs and Tibetans are suppressed. There is a lot for us to do.
In addressing this Assembly in this way today, I am drawing to a close a long career, and in some ways drawing to a close the Ninth Assembly. It is said that most parliamentarians are either bundled out by their electorate or carried out in a box. I wanted to be in the select group who chose the time and the manner of their departure.
As I leave, I am conscious that all of you—except Ms Le Couteur—are absorbed in electoral campaigning. I have spent more than half a lifetime campaigning for things, and I will continue, but in a different way. To my Assembly colleagues in the Liberal Party—Alistair, Nicole, Andrew, Giulia, Kikko, James, Candice, Elizabeth, Parto and Jeremy—thank you for your love and friendship. Good luck and campaign hard. Canberra needs you to succeed so much.
To my adversaries across the chamber—and that includes the Greens—I wish you joy, which should not be confused with electoral success.
To companions, colleagues, collaborators, constituents and confreres, thank you for the past 19 years. It has been an honour.
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (4.21), by leave: Rarely do you get to work with someone who is respected by all, has impeccable integrity, is extraordinarily trustworthy, is good humoured and is a wonderful friend and
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