Page 5760 - Week 15 - Thursday, 10 December 2009
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It is interesting that we talk about 1989; this year certainly is a better year than 1989, because in 1989 Geelong lost the grand final, 144 to 138, to the Hawthorn Football Club. This year, just as in 2007, it was a much better result. Also in 1989 the Canberra Cannons won their premiership, which is worth remembering.
I would like to acknowledge a number of staff that have been absolutely fantastic over the last year in my office: Haylee Snowdon, and Maria Violi have helped out. I also had some researchers: Lauren Callahan, Ella Bauman and Sam Jackson-Hope. In the leader’s office there has been Steve Doyle, Ian Hagan, Tio Faulkner, Adam Duke, Keith Old and Nick Chapman. In my own office I have got Duncan McDonald, Candice Burch and also Sandy Tanner. I would like to really commend Sandy’s professionalism, his loyalty, his dedication, his commitment and his conviction, both to my office and also to Liberalism more broadly.
I would like to thank my colleagues, Steve and Brendan from Brindabella, Jeremy and Zed from Molonglo and Vicki in Ginninderra. Vicki, in particular, has been a pleasure to work with for the north-west of our city, and I look forward to the next three years or so. I would also like to recognise the management committee of the Canberra Liberals, in particular the president, Winnifred Rosser OAM; vice president, Tio Faulkner; the finance director, Robert Gunning; the treasurer, Henry Pike; the policy convenor, John Cziesla; the Young Liberals president, Sandy Tanner; and the northern branch chair, Brian Medway. There are a few other positions there, but they are not quite as relevant as those ones.
Yes, I have very much enjoyed this year. I do not think there is much to compare this chamber to outside of politics. It really is a very special place, one where I do enjoy engaging in the banter, especially with a member for Brindabella, Mr Hargreaves. It has been a year that I think could have been very tricky and could have been one full of a lot more obstacles had it not been for the support of Zed and the broader team. I think it really is a great team; it is a wonderful opposition to work within. I think in times gone by we have not always had this sort of team, so it really is a great thing for the party that we do have this unity and we do have this momentum going forward. For that reason, I am very much looking forward to next year, and I wish all here the best of health over the Christmas season.
I encourage people to perhaps contribute to a charity working in and around Canberra, perhaps the Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul, UnitingCare, the Baptist mission or Anglicare. There are, of course, many others, but those ones in particular do a great job in our community. Merry Christmas.
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Health and Minister for Industrial Relations) (6.33): It seems the end of year is the time to acknowledge and thank a number of people for their efforts over the previous year. I would also like to express members’ appreciation for your role, Mr Speaker. I think you have taken to the role of Speaker very quickly. I know it is a difficult job to do, particularly at certain times of the day with the amount of emotion that sometimes exists in this chamber.
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