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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 3 Hansard (9 March) . . Page.. 901 ..

MR HARGREAVES (10.55): I too wish to extend my good wishes to Mr Duncan for his little holiday in New South Wales. I know he is looking forward to a quiet time in that august chamber. When I first came to this place and found myself on the truly exciting Standing Committee on the Scrutiny of Bills, I could not believe my luck. I thought it had to be a thrill a minute, roller-coaster ride - and it sure as heck was. Without the assistance of Mr Duncan and the legal adviser, Peter Bayne, we would have got nothing done on that committee. In fact, if we have been at all effective, to echo the views of my predecessors on that committee and certainly Mr Hird, it is in no small way due to Mr Duncan's service.

We had a reasonable time in Darwin exchanging views on all sorts of exciting matters to do with scrutiny of Bills and national scheme legislation. With Tom's support, we got through it and we got through it well. We would not have done so without his help. I want him to know that he goes with our best wishes. I hope he does not get too attached to the New South Wales Parliament. I also hope that he has trained his successor to wear black and white underwear to work.

MR STEFANIAK (Minister for Education) (10.57): I see Tom is blushing after that comment. I have known Tom since he came to the Assembly. I reiterate what everyone has said but also thank you for all the advice and assistance you have given me and everyone else during the time you have spent in the Assembly. As Trevor Kaine said, the roles of Deputy Clerk and Clerk are incredibly difficult. The enormous amount of knowledge and advice you and the Clerk, Mark McRae, have given to members of this Assembly never fails to amaze me.

I did not know you were going. I was rather surprised to hear that. I certainly hope that we will see you back here again. Twelve months is not all that long. It should be an excellent experience for you. I hope you do come back. I can recall some wonderful times that I have had with you, such as the trip to Perth in 1991 with the Standing Committee on the Scrutiny of Bills. Some funny things happened there. There were dinners with Bronwyn Bishop and big Mal Colston. There was a time when we went, as Deputy Clerk and Deputy Speaker in the first Assembly, to Sydney.

I have many fond memories of working with you. I greatly appreciate all the assistance you have personally given me. I have found it incredibly helpful. I wish you all the very best. You will have a great time there. I hope we will see you briefly during your time there but, if not, certainly at the end of the 12 months.

Finally, I congratulate the Chief Minister and all my other colleagues on our fifth anniversary in government today.

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