Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 5032 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

If there is one thing that I think everyone agrees with it is that we have not let grass grow under our feet. I have to say that we have probably achieved more in the past 21/2 or nearly three years than was achieved in quite a few years before that, probably since self-government. At the end of this term there are still new and exciting ideas being developed and implemented, like Youth500, the scheme that Mr Berry does not like, which probably has been the most successful employment program ever undertaken in the ACT.

It has been wonderful to be part of that reform process which has seen enthusiasm, fresh ideas and innovation rewarded and encouraged. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since 1995 but in that time we have modernised our Public Service to the point where we are regarded as the leaders in this country. We have also put in place a system of financial accountability that is the best in Australia. That has taken a lot out of us, I suspect, Mr Speaker, particularly the thousands of very hardworking public servants who have made the ACT such a great place in which to live and work. They have worked remarkably hard.

Mr Speaker, everyone is wary of change, and I know that this is even more so in a large organisation such as the Public Service. The transition from the miniature, 1970s-style, Commonwealth Public Service clone that we inherited in 1995 to the customer-focused organisation we have now has meant an enormous upheaval for every agency and every employee.

Mr Berry: To a politicised one now.

MRS CARNELL: He says it is politicised, Mr Speaker. So, in recognising that reform is never easy, I would like to place on record my thanks to the 17,000 or so ACT public servants who have been part of the exciting changes that have happened. Everyone, whether it be casual teachers, police, CityScape workers, nurses, shopfront employees, our switchboard staff, you name it, has been part of it, and I know that all of my colleagues here would like to thank them a lot. Our agency heads have been absolutely stunning, Mr Speaker. I have to say that you cannot help but love them all.

We have proved that the critics were wrong when they said that this Government would not work efficiently with the crossbenchers. We may not have always seen eye to eye, but we have learnt to work together, and I think we have learnt to work together very efficiently. I remember well David Lamont, a former Minister in this place, coming up to me shortly after I became Chief Minister and saying that he wished me well in trying to govern with only seven out of 17 and that I would need all the luck that we could get. Well, David, we survived.

Mr Speaker, it is appropriate on this final day of sitting to pass on my thanks to a lot of people who have made my life a lot brighter as Chief Minister. I thank my colleagues on this side of the house, my staff, who have worked harder than anyone could ever expect staff to work, and my departmental liaison officers - in fact all of our departmental liaison officers - particularly Chris Roberts and Graeme Slater-Shields. They have been remarkable, Mr Speaker. I would like to thank those on the crossbenches for helping us to achieve the things we needed to achieve. (Extension of time granted)

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .