Page 3556 - Week 08 - Friday, 24 August 2012
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Over the years there have been some characters. Some members here will remember Reg Walters and Peter Litchfield. The current crop are a great bunch of people with senses of humour only a mother could love. Dick Stalker, who is Gai Waterhouse’s unrecognised son, Rod, Peter, Paul, Lainie, Denis “I’m a closet Collingwood supporter” Axelby, Andrew and Sam all give it to me when I come to work and I return fire. You gotta love them, don’t you? Where would we be without the techos and the maintenance guys like Ray “scourge of the seas” Blundell and Rick “tricky dicky” Hart and, before him, Barry Schilg?
The work of parliamentarians is one of cerebral challenge. We consider all manner of issues and submit all manner of reports, but we do so on the back of the real workers in the committee system. I need to pay special credit to the committee secretaries that I have served with over the years. I have served with so many brilliant and capable people over the years and to single out some would be to forget others. But I do need to single out Andrea Cullen and Jane Neilson, two secretaries who have epitomised the supportive role so demonstrably. And to all others, thanks; if time permitted me, I would name you all.
However, one of the passions I developed was for the role of scrutiny committees. I believe that I may be the longest serving deputy chair of the Assembly’s committee. In fact, I think I am the Assembly’s professional deputy chair. I think I have been a deputy chair of almost every committee designed by humankind in Christendom. In all of that time I have had the pleasure of the guidance of Peter Bayne, whose dedication to this subject is legendary. We have also had the service of Stephen Argument. Both of these gentlemen are recognised world leaders in the subject of legislative and subordinate legislative scrutiny. They taught me heaps.
Mr Speaker, I have been blessed to be able to work with some pretty amazing people. When I was a minister I had a number of DLOs, without whose professionalism we would not have been able to do anywhere near the things we did. They were all characters in their own right but real professionals. I salute my DLOs and apologise if I have not included all of your names. Each one has a special place in my heart. Ashley King, Geoff Virtue, Lee-Anne Warren, Paul Udovisi, Emma Taber, Matthew Clissold, Maria Mangeruca, Keith Ward and David Jones. I know there are others.
Can I say also, Mr Speaker, that ministers depend on their departmental leaders. I had such great support from Sandra Lambert, Martin Hehir, Maureen Sheehan, Lois Ford, Ian “go the Pies” Hubbard, David Collett, Mike Zissler, Gary Biles, Hamish McNulty, Tony Gill, Audrey Fagan—the legendary Audrey Fagan—Nic Manikis, Angela Parker and myriad fantastic professional officers. I hate the name “public servant”. I was an officer of the public service and a servant to no-one.
Lastly, Mr Speaker, I need to thank a group of people who have been my mainstay—my friends and my family. Jim Mallett was my campaign manager in 1998 and has been with me in one form or another for all of my political life. I worked with my good friend Ian McNeill for over 30 years and value his friendship immensely. We three grumpy old men are a formidable bunch and damn fine chefs.
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