Page 1556 - Week 05 - Thursday, 2 June 2022
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put together. You can run fast, and you keep me on my toes. We are looking forward to seeing you grow into who you will be, with your very clever mind.
To my baby Lilianna, the pregnancy with you was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I was afraid and in a bit of a bad mood, but you have brought so much joy to our lives; you are a delight. You, me and Nicolina are the girls’ team in our home. We might be outnumbered but we more than make up for that with our passionate opinions and personalities. Thanks for all of the hugs; you make me smile so often.
Family is a process of co-formation; you have made me who I am, and I look forward to playing an even bigger role in your day-to-day lives now that I am leaving the parliament.
To Elizabeth Lee, Jeremy, Nicole, Mark, James, Elizabeth Kikkert, Peter and Leanne, to Alistair, Candice, Vicki and Andrew, and to Steve, Val and Brendan, it has been my honour to serve with you all; thank you.
To those opposite, across from me, we do not always agree, but we do want so much for this city, and for it to thrive. We each bring a different recipe. But I have appreciated each of you on different occasions. I have growing respect for many of you, despite our differences. Thanks for working with me to get things done, Rachel, Yvette, Emma and even Chris.
Now, after asking more than 550 questions, raising over 100 points of order and submitting 267 questions on notice, it is time for the John Hargreaves memorial drinks cabinet, which has been the centre of so much fun in my office, to be returned to the Assembly basement to await its next custodian. This is not the end of my advocacy and it is not the end of my political involvement, but it is the end of my tenure as an MLA.
I thank Canberra, the electors of Murrumbidgee and, in particular, the Liberal Party for allowing me the honour to serve you all. I thank God for inspiring me to do much with the gifts he has given me. I hope I have demonstrated family as a strength and not just an impediment. I look forward to my future and my next form of service to our city and our nation. I have given it my absolute best. Farewell.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism) (10.51), by leave: The Leader of the Opposition still being in the sin-bin, I will step up to respond, Mrs Jones. You are one of a kind; there is no doubting that. Right up to your final speech, you have brushed with controversy. You have prompted those on this side of the chamber to reflect upon why we are here and why we seek to contribute to a better Canberra and a better society.
I do not think we have agreed on much, frankly, in 10 years; I think that is fair to observe. There is much in what I have just heard from you that I do not agree with, either. But I acknowledge that you have always put forward your view passionately. I have never been in any doubt as to where you stand on issues. I know many of my
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