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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 12 Hansard (7 December) . . Page.. 3945 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

Mr Speaker, it is Christmas and I would like to say and put on the record that the spirit of what Mr Osborne has said is an example for many of us in this place. It takes courage to say what he said and on behalf of us this side of the house, Paul, I would say congratulations and thank you.

To all those who work in the place - the staff of the offices, the DLOs, the staff of the building, the building maintenance staff who service the building, and the personal staff of all the members - I wish you a very merry Christmas and I thank you for all the work that you do. I wish all members a happy and holy Christmas. Enjoy the break. Next year will be exciting. But to Kate and your family, have a great time. Merry Christmas and God bless you all.

MR QUINLAN (11.15): Mr Speaker, I have to record that Kate Carnell never offered me a political job - funny, that. Throughout the day I mulled over what I was going to say and I thought that probably the smart thing to do would be to respond to the speech as it came. I have to say, Kate, that the speech is not the speech I expected. However, at this juncture I am not going to debate any of the points that you made. Quite obviously we would not agree on everything. In the main, all members of this place do not necessarily agree with each other but we nevertheless can co - exist and be quite civil and friendly, and I have appreciated that from all the people in this place, including you, Kate.

Personally, I wish you well. I have said this earlier this evening but I will say it again: I thoroughly recommend that you look forward and do not look back. As you are looking forward and making whatever you do next and next after that a success, please be assured that there are people in this place that you have left behind who are positive and certainly there are people in this place that have Canberra at heart. I certainly am one of those people and I have worked for the city in quite a number of ways. So let me repeat that I wish you well in whatever you do.

I wish to record my thanks to the staff of this place. I particularly thank Jeff and Adrian of my own staff. Adrian, who is leaving shortly to move upward and onward in his career, has provided exemplary service to me in my office. Every now and then we speak about the lack of resources that the opposition or the non - government members have in this place and certainly I have had a great advantage in having someone like Adrian working with me and I wish him well.

Lastly, in case I forget to say so in the corridors of this place, I extend to all members the compliments of the season. I wish you and yours the best for the season and the best in most things that you pursue through the course of next year.

MR HUMPHRIES (Chief Minister, Minister for Community Affairs, Attorney - General and Treasurer) (11.17), in reply: To close the debate, Mr Speaker, may I wish all my colleagues and staff in this place a very merry Christmas.

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