Page 311 - Week 01 - Thursday, 9 December 2004
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particularly Gordon Davidson, Sandra Lambert, Tim Keady, Commissioner Peter Dunn and the Chief Police Officer, John Davis, for their support in the short time I have had the honour to be minister.
I, too, would say thank you to the media. We often forget that the media are sometimes a conduit between us and the community. We would all, on both sides of the chamber, occasionally wish for some even-handedness, but by and large our relationship with the media is pretty good—I think, anyway.
Mr Speaker, I will just conclude by wishing all members here and all of their families—in fact, everybody with whom we come into contact and every constituent in the ACT—the very best of Christmases. I hope Santa comes with a bag load of stuff, drops it down your chimney—and not on the front lawn because it could be second-hand Sunday and you could lose a lot. I thought I might just use up my time because I can see Mrs Burke jumping out of her skin. No, Mr Speaker, I won’t. I wish you all a very good Christmas.
Valedictory
MRS BURKE (Molonglo) (6.08): Yes, Mr Hargreaves—always keen to wish people well. This is the more pleasurable side of this profession that we find ourselves in. We are all here, 17 of us, at the end of what has been an extremely busy 12 months—certainly 18 months for me. But hooray, hooray—no more red buses following people in. I have managed to get to this place myself for a full term, so I am looking forward to the next year—and, indeed, the next four years—with great energy, enthusiasm and commitment.
I want to thank all the Assembly people involved in making this place work. It is one magnificent place to work. I have such a great feeling when I come into this place. I love my job and I love coming to work, and I think it is because of the people who make this place work so well, because of my colleagues and, to a lesser extent, because of the government. Generally, we are all trying to get on well. I can see that. And it is the season to be jolly. It is the season of goodwill.
We all deserve a holiday. Not to be self-congratulatory or pat ourselves on the back—but it has been tough. I congratulate the government on their achievement, most definitely. I congratulate you, Mr Speaker. You sat in this self same seat, and perhaps that is my problem. I am learning to control and contain myself, but you know me: exuberant to the last.
Mr Hargreaves: I’d believe you.
MRS BURKE: I know you would, Mr Hargreaves. You have been a good tutor, actually, sitting opposite. I do wish all members a blessed and restful Christmas and that we all come back refreshed and ready for a busy and productive year in 2005. Of course, it is a time for family. It is a time for remembering the reason for the season and reflecting on the year gone by and what is to come.
There are too many people to mention—that is why I am not going to mention people by name. Thank you to everybody for their support, and most of all thank you to the
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