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New Members’ Inaugural Speeches

MR MOORE (9.11): Rather than reflect on May Day or reflect on political victories, I would like to reflect on the range of inaugural speeches we heard today. Mr Speaker, it seemed to me, as I listened to those inaugural speeches, that coming through them was an awareness of the distaste with which this Assembly has been held by many of the people in Canberra. I think, actually, that it is more a distaste for self-government per se, but it has come through in many ways. I must say, for those of us who have been members of this Assembly since its inception, that the community attitude is improving constantly. This evening, Mr Speaker, I heard from a range of enthusiastic people who stood for election for the same reason that all of us stand for election; that is, because we believe that we can have some impact on changing our city and our Territory for the better. That enthusiasm, and what people are prepared to go without and are prepared to do in order to achieve that, is something for which I would like to express my admiration.

Mr Speaker, it is true to say that I did not agree with everything I heard this evening, but I would also like to say that that is what makes the chamber work so much the better. If we get to a situation where we agree on all issues it seems a bit pointless for us to go on with this process. There will be times over the next three years, Mr Speaker, no doubt, when there will be some antagonism felt. We know that from experience. I think it is a good time to reflect and to realise that people are here to change Canberra for the best, or to return, as Ms Horodny says, to some of the great values that she remembers while growing up in Canberra. I would like to offer my congratulations, as you did, Mr Speaker, to each of the members who made their inaugural speeches this evening. I feel proud to be in the Assembly with those members who are starting off with that enthusiasm. I hope that they can retain that enthusiasm and continue working to see Canberra at its best.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Assembly adjourned at 9.14 pm

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