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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 10 Hansard (Wednesday, 25 August 2004) . . Page.. 4272 ..

some exposure of their plan in this important journal and circular. I think it shows the renaissance in planning that we are seeking to endeavour to create here in the ACT and the fact that we are starting to meet with some success.

Secretariat staff
Tobacco

MS MacDONALD (12.58 am): Last night I rose to thank the committee staff that I have had dealings with in my first but hopefully not last term in the ACT Assembly. Tonight I would like to thank a few other people who work behind the scenes.

I would start by thanking the attendants who do a fantastic job—Lewis Akesson, Rod Campbell, Reg Walters, Peter Litchfield, Wayne Agnew, Peter Barry, Lainie Loewe and Richard Stalker. I would also like to thank former attendants Judy Munday and Brian Guest, who were also around during my time in the Assembly. I would like to thank the attendants for all the work that they do making sure that this place runs smoothly, both during sitting periods and at other times.

I would also like to pay tribute to the people in the Hansard booth and the Hansard staff upstairs who try to work out what we are mumbling about and produce transcripts of both sittings of the Assembly and committee meetings. I am sure that what they do is not always easy. So my thanks go to Russell Lutton, Pattie Tancred, Val Szychowska from the IT area, Ray Blundell, Roger Malot, Devika Nair, Bob Bolitho, Stephanie Haygarth, Luci Humphreys, David Keating, Bob Martin, Trevor McDonald, Malcolm McGregor, Carol Pope, Joy Reddey, Julia Smith, Marilyn Warner, Heather Willis and, of course, that person who just cannot seem to stay away from this place, Keith Ryder. He keeps coming back. Even though we keep saying goodbye to him, he cannot stay away. But it is good to see him around here.

On a slightly more serious note, Mr Speaker: I have talked in this place about the issue of tobacco addiction and the need to get people off cigarettes. I have talked about having lost my father at the age of 61 from a heart attack, which was not helped by his 40 a day habit. I was saddened tonight to hear that my father’s youngest brother, who started smoking shortly after my father did and only quit four years ago, has been diagnosed with inoperable cancer. I will just say that Neil MacDonald, my uncle, has made a great contribution to life and 64 years is not long enough.

I will continue to keep up the fight to get people off tobacco and to keep people safe from tobacco. This is just another personal note for me of the importance of continuing on that fight.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

The Assembly adjourned at 1.02 am (Thursday).

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