Page 5764 - Week 15 - Thursday, 10 December 2009
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I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on a very interesting and personally rewarding year. I particularly enjoyed getting to know the issues affecting my portfolio areas and the people of Brindabella. I think it is appropriate to reflect on the privilege we enjoy in being able to represent our Canberra community in this place and the responsibilities that come with that representation. We have all come into this place to make a difference and after the first year of learning my new trade, politics, I look forward to next year as we all continue our political journey.
I have particularly enjoyed meeting the many dedicated people who are involved in my portfolio areas, the many areas of disability, education, sport and multicultural affairs. I have met with a vast cross-section of people from all of these areas and I am continually amazed by the commitment and dedication I have seen demonstrated within our ACT community across all of these portfolio areas.
But I would like to make a special mention of the incredible courage of the many individuals who are trying to cope with various forms of disability, and the courage, love, dedication and sheer hard work of their families and carers, work that never ends. While we all prepare to take our holidays and enjoy this coming Christmas period, let us spare a thought for the many thousands in our community who have no such luxury to look forward to. The number of children and adults with special needs in our community has been an incredible eye-opener for me, and I look forward to next year to try to do justice to some of the many requests that have come my way this year.
This year would not have been possible without the support of a number of individuals. My thanks, of course, must go first and foremost to my family: my wife, Maureen, and children, Adam and Amy, and their families, for their support and understanding. Also I thank my staff, Kate Davis and Haylee Snowdon, for their assistance and hard work.
I say a special thanks to my Liberal Party colleagues: to Zed Seselja, for his leadership; to our team, Brendan, Vicki, Alistair and Jeremy, who have all worked hard and showed the unity required to present our credentials to our community; and to all my colleagues’ staff who have also provided support to all of us throughout the year.
My thanks also, Mr Speaker, to you for your contributions and for eventually recognising me yesterday after I jumped up four times in a very competitive adjournment debate. I must say it is a little hard to comprehend how polite we all are to each other tonight, waiting for each other to stand and finish. But thank you for your contribution to the Assembly. It is much appreciated by all of us.
My thanks go to Tom and Max for their advice, which has been sought several times by a lot of us newcomers; to the many wonderful staff of the Assembly; Dr Sandra Lilburn and my committee secretary, Grace; indeed, my colleagues on the health committee; the attendants; Janice and the Chamber Support staff; Corporate Services; Hansard; the Library; and InTACT for the work they have all done this year to make our jobs that little bit easier.
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