Page 6288 - Week 19 - Tuesday, 17 December 1991
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Valedictory
MRS NOLAN (8.10): I also am aware of the time constraints placed upon us. I would like to endorse the comments made by each member in thanking all staff, in particular the secretariat staff. I have been very proud and privileged to serve in this First Assembly. For those of you who probably are not aware, I do have a long family history. I had a great-great-uncle who was a founder of Federation; so to me it has further endorsed a commitment that has been a long-time family tradition.
I would also like to say, Mr Speaker, that it is unfortunate that there perhaps has not been more camaraderie in this First Assembly. I hope that that changes in the Second Assembly. Those who have had involvements with other parliaments around Australia know that we can have all the sparring on the floor of the house, but it would be nice if we had a little more camaraderie.
The other thing I would like to mention in particular is women in parliament. We are all aware that in State and Federal parliaments around Australia there are still only some 100 women out of, I think, a total of some 853. We have been very lucky that this Assembly or the Canberra community has had a little better representation than some other parliaments in having four women, including our now Chief Minister. My prediction is that there will be many more women in the Second Assembly. I would go so far as to say that I think there will be eight out of the 17. I would just like to place that on record. Ending my prediction, I would like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas.
MR SPEAKER: Members, I take it that it would be appropriate for all members to be given the opportunity to speak tonight.
Valedictory
MR WOOD (Minister for Education and the Arts and Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning) (8.12): Mr Speaker, I was careful to have some of my remarks recorded in the first Hansard. It had not been particularly planned that that would happen, but I took the opportunity to rise and make some comments about the future of this parliament. I think that for me and my colleagues, and maybe for some others, the aims I espoused then have substantially been achieved. So, I am keen now to get my remarks in the last Hansard and to reflect on the future briefly and the election that is just a couple of months away.
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