Page 6281 - Week 19 - Tuesday, 17 December 1991
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I was also pleased to see, during my time in the Assembly, I suppose, a maturing on the part of a lot of people, in terms of an appreciation of what really makes Canberra tick. One other area that I have been happy to have some involvement in, and I hope have assisted in, is the sporting area. I think all members in this Assembly now realise how terribly important that is, not only economically but also for the physical well-being of the people of the Territory.
Finally, I wish everyone well for the coming election. Most people are standing. You, of course, Mr Speaker, are not standing. It has been a privilege to work with you as Speaker. As a person who has had to stand in for you on occasions, I have certainly enjoyed that role. To my colleagues and my former colleagues in the Liberal Party, I express my thanks for having the opportunity to serve with you. Politics being what it is, I am not overly happy being where I am on the ticket; but these things happen and that is life.
To my non-Liberal Party colleagues, it has been very enjoyable, on the whole, working with you, along with my former colleagues in the Alliance Government. We certainly had a difficult time on occasions and we had a wide diversity of views, but I think that coalition of 10 people worked surprisingly well. I am especially grateful for the privilege of having worked with members such as Craig Duby, Carmel Maher, Hector, Norm and Bernard - Bernard especially in many ways, as I did work with him on a daily basis. Although we certainly did not see eye to eye on a number of things, it certainly was an interesting experience, and I think, overall, a beneficial one; beneficial, I hope, to the Territory, too.
To the other members and to the current Labor members, it has also been a pleasure working with you. I certainly do not see eye to eye with some of the Labor people on a number of issues; but I certainly have a high regard for you all as individuals and, I believe, as professionals. I wish all the very best to everyone - not just to those of you who will be re-elected to the Second Assembly but to all of you. All the best for whatever you do in the future; merry Christmas and God bless.
Valedictory
MS MAHER (7.52): Mr Speaker, serving in the First Assembly has been a privilege and an experience that I will not forget. I will not be standing at the next election, but I hope to take all the work that I have done and what I have learned into the community and still work with it. I wish to thank all the staff - the secretariat and the committee staff - for all the work and support they have provided; also my personal staff, and Maylin Duke, who is no longer with me.
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