Page 4128 - Week 13 - Thursday, 6 December 2007
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in; also Ben O’Neill, who is probably the most highly qualified person I have ever had work for me in 30 years; the occasional assistance I have from Anne Prendergast; and the assistance I had from Lindsay Hermes who worked for something in the order of 15 months and who finished up only in the last few weeks.
I would also like to formally put on record my thanks to my wife, Rose, and our children; three of the four are in the country at the moment and one is overseas but, as others have mentioned, they probably carry a very large part of the burden of being attached to a member of this place. It is not always a position that is particularly easy. As my colleague Mrs Dunne was quick to point out, I get more than a fair share of attacks, but I have learnt to leave the Canberra Times out of the home in which I live, and that makes their life substantially more pleasant. They have been very supportive, even at times when the missiles do not always come from the directions that one might expect. They do a great deal to support me, and I was delighted today that my eldest daughter came in here to hear question time, which she has done on other occasions at year end.
Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for the fair way in which I believe you preside over the deliberations of the Assembly. I would also like to thank the Clerk and all of his staff for the advice that has been provided to me as a member and for the administrative support that is provided through those working with him. I make special mention also of the attendants, not only for keeping me hydrated through the sitting days but also for all the other manner of tasks that they carry out to assist us. To all of those working in the Assembly, I would like to express my thanks.
Above all, I want to express my ongoing thanks to the 100,000 or so electors whom I seek to represent and who provide me with a very strong level of support and encouragement by way of phone calls, emails, letters and the like and continue to bring issues to my attention. They have my ongoing assurance that I will represent their interests under all circumstances in the period ahead, because that is our primary duty, in my view—to represent the interests of the people who elect us here. On that note I will conclude and take this opportunity to wish one and all a very happy and holy Christmas and new year. I look forward to returning in 2008.
MR SESELJA (Molonglo) (6.33): I will not try to be funny, because I am not—
Members interjecting—
MR SESELJA: Well, people might find me funny in a different way sometimes, perhaps. I would like to take the opportunity, firstly, to really thank my family—I am looking forward to spending a bit more time with them over Christmas and new year—particularly Ros, who needs to shoulder much of the burden with looking after the kids on a day-to-day basis. I particularly pay tribute to her—and what an amazing woman she is—and to my beautiful children, Michael, Tommy, William and the lovely Olivia. I do look forward to spending more time with all of them.
Mr Pratt: It sounds like a battalion.
MR SESELJA: It is four-fifths of a starting five in basketball, so we are getting there.
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