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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 2 Hansard (25 February) . . Page.. 361 ..

MRS LITTLEWOOD (continuing):

All of these people, in part, contributed to the person I am, my attitude to life and my being in this place today. As I mentioned, being an elected representative is an honour and a privilege, a gift from the people of Brindabella. It is also a responsibility - a responsibility that I take very seriously. I have a very strong view on what being an elected representative is, namely, that I am the servant and not the master. My role is that of a local member. I am being paid to do a job, and I intend to do that job, not to play political games.

There are many challenges ahead of me, challenges for Canberra and challenges for Brindabella. What are they? I believe it is fair to say that Canberra is, in general, passing through a transition in its development, as are the people of Brindabella. Since the advent of self-government, we are being asked to assume responsibility for our own future. We can no longer rely on various Federal governments to pay our way. Whether we like it or whether we do not like it, it is up to us. In this difficult period from child to adult we must broaden our view and embrace a different mind-set. We must learn to say "we can" rather than find a million reasons why we cannot. We need to be proactive, not reactive. We need to have processes which encourage rather than stultify. We need to do, not just to talk. We need to accept our responsibility and move forward.

We, in Brindabella, can achieve, can create, can grow and can build a future. We need to have a vision; we need to make decisions; and we need to take action. Negativity is such a waste of energy. Now is the time to move forward, the time to "have a go". I would like to encourage my fellow residents of Brindabella to start thinking of what we can do, not what we cannot do. Canberra is our responsibility. It is up to us to make things happen. Things do not happen by themselves. I have already started to contact people in the electorate to look at what we might be able to do, and then get out and do it. Tuggeranong is really a dormitory satellite. It is a beautiful place, but we in the valley lack some of the development and facilities which are elsewhere. We need more in the valley. As Canberra needs to broaden its tourism base and give people an extra reason to visit this great city of ours, why not combine the two requirements?

There are a number of possibilities that I intend to investigate, and I look forward to receiving other ideas from the people of Brindabella. For instance, why not have an open plains zoo; a lavender farm; a Sovereign Hill type of facility; an artisans village with glass-blowers, wood-turners, potters, weavers; a grand wedding reception and conference facility; or an Australian ecotourism accommodation complex? Why not have a school for the performing arts? Why not have a planetarium? Why not have a wonderland? It has been mentioned to me that we should have an up-market restaurant on the shores of Lake Tuggeranong. I accept that some of these ideas may not come to pass; but, for heaven's sake, let us try to introduce appropriate development in Brindabella that will boost our economy and provide jobs. That is what we need to do - provide jobs - not the opposite. I will meet the challenges ahead. I will draw on my diverse store of ideas and from those in my electorate, and together we can build an identity and a future.

In conclusion, Mr Speaker, I just have one other thankyou that I would like to make. This is to a person who, on occasions, can be a little bit critical of politicians and politics; but, now that he is living with a politician, he has to amend that just a tiny bit. Of course, that is my husband. I appreciate his intellect. I very much appreciate his support. Whether he likes it or not, he does have a very good political nose. I thank him.

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