Page 4080 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 30 November 2022
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Dorris has brought added expertise to our communications and has been a dedicated performer on all electorate-related matters within the electorate and the Assembly.
I also want to thank my wife and my son for their support and obviously everyone in the community and the people that have supported me over the couple of years. We would not be in this place without their support. So pretty much I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Valedictory
DR PATERSON (Murrumbidgee) (4.11): Today I stand to say a few words and wrap up for the year. It has been a big year for my office, with the affirmative consent legislation passing earlier this year. I am proud of the work on vaping that was discussed this morning. The Bets Off. Game On. campaign to end gambling ads was a huge task but I am very grateful and thankful to the support from the community and stakeholders to get the submission in to the federal inquiry.
My second piece of legislation passed a couple of months ago to amend the Public Place Names Act to recognise those people in our community that contribute to reconciliation, leaving colonisers in the past. Further to that, my motion last week calling on the Assembly to support an Indigenous voice to parliament is something that is very important to me to see a strong yes vote in the referendum next year. Finally, the work I have done with donor conceived families is something I feel incredibly passionate about and I will continue to advocate strongly for urgent legislation and regulation in the ACT next year.
The committee work has been intense this year and I thank my colleagues of all parties that I work closely with through this process. I would also like to acknowledge the victims of dangerous driving that I have been engaging with through my personal advocacy as a local member and also through the inquiry. For families of the 18 people lost on our roads this year this will be a very hard first Christmas. My sincere condolences are with you through this time.
To the people of Murrumbidgee, Merry Christmas. It is my daily pleasure to serve you. I never cease to be amazed at the diversity and breadth of issues that people bring to me. Thank you to ACT Labor members broadly and to those members who run the branches in my electorate. I greatly value my relationships across the party and a special shout out to Ash and his team at party office for all the support and advice throughout the year.
To my staff, thank you to Anna Gurhill, who has left my office, off to bigger and better things. Thank you for your dedication and unwavering support during your time in the office. Welcome to Kathy Allen. It is a pleasure to have you in the office and I look forward to the amazing things we can achieve together. To Rhys Thompson, I am so sad you are leaving my office. I have had such a great time working with you over the past two years and very much consider you my friend. You will make a fantastic contribution to the Chief Minister’s Office, I have no doubt. I would also like to thank the staff from other Labor offices: your patience, support and engagement is invaluable to me.
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