Page 1843 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 17 June 2008
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Tuesday, 17 June 2008
The Assembly met at 10.30 am.
(Quorum formed.)
MR SPEAKER (Mr Berry) took the chair, made a formal recognition that the Assembly was meeting on the lands of the traditional owners, and asked members to stand in silence and pray or reflect on their responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory.
Death of Mr Trevor Kaine
Motion of condolence
MR STANHOPE (Ginninderra—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Business and Economic Development, Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Minister for the Environment, Water and Climate Change, Minister for the Arts) (10.31): I move:
That this Assembly expresses its deep regret at the death of Mr Trevor Kaine, former Chief Minister and former Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly, and tenders its profound sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues in their bereavement.
Mr Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I rise to record my memories of Mr Trevor Kaine. At Trevor’s funeral last Wednesday, the Deputy Chief Minister read a short message on my behalf which I would like to read in the Assembly today so that it is formally recorded in this chamber:
Impeccable politeness and generosity of spirit are not qualities commonly attributed to politicians, but all who knew Trevor Kaine would unhesitatingly attribute them to him.
Canberrans have lost a man who dedicated decades of his life to public service, first in the defence of his country and later in defence of and in pursuit of its democratic traditions.
When the story of our city is written, Trevor Kaine will feature large. He was instrumental in helping to ensure that we successfully navigated the early years of self-government, and he took seriously the opportunities and responsibilities of government and of public life.
In all my dealings with Trevor, I found him unfailingly courteous, generous with his time, respectful of his Assembly colleagues—regardless of their political stripes—and imbued with an old-world integrity.
I was honoured to count Trevor, not just as a one-time colleague and adversary, but as a long-time friend, particularly in more recent years.
There have been many words spoken and written about Trevor since his passing, but I think it appropriate that we in this chamber reflect on his contribution to the ACT Assembly, as it is here that Trevor made his most significant contributions—contributions that continue to be felt both here in the Assembly and in the broader Canberra community.
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