Page 2356 - Week 08 - Thursday, 6 June 2013
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My current staff, Brigitte Morten and Josh Baker have, in a short time, done great things. Brigitte is one of the most talented staffers in the Assembly and will one day go on and become Prime Minister of New Zealand, I am sure. She is a force of nature and there are few, if any, people who work harder or more effectively than Brigitte.
Josh is not just super bright; he is also super committed to the Liberal cause. To my old friend Bob O’Heir, he was with me in the early days and he brought much to the job. What was most significant, apart from his efficiency and his work ethic, was his judgement. I so greatly valued the early advice he gave me at a time when I was very much feeling my way in politics. You did not think you belonged in that job, but you were the perfect person at the right time.
I would like to pay special tribute to Ian Hagan. Ian is one of those people who could make a lot more money and work a lot shorter hours in another job. His skills in communications and the law are first class. He has made a massive contribution to the Liberal Party and I am personally so grateful for his friendship and his contribution.
To Steve Doyle, I say that there is no-one, I think, who has contributed more to the Liberal Party in the ACT in recent years than Steve Doyle. Notwithstanding that he would never have gotten the job if he was not related to me—sorry, for the Hansard, I was joking—I am forever grateful to you for the work you have done, the sacrifices you have made and the friend you are not just to me but to so many in the Liberal team.
The two most recent party presidents of the Liberal party have made a massive contribution. Winnifred Rosser helped to heal the party. She was not my choice for party president at the time but she quickly proved that she had only the best interests of the Liberal Party at heart, and not of any particular sections of the party. Hers is a strong legacy.
Tio Faulkner works seven days a week for the Liberal Party. He has often been unfairly maligned. Those who criticise him often have no idea how often he goes the extra mile unnoticed to make sure things work. He is a great servant of our party. I just wish he would have signed his timesheets from time to time. To my friends who are here, such as Jonathan Doyle, Adam Morris and Nick Medway, you are great and valued friends and I welcome your presence.
I give thanks to a number of party members, supporters and volunteers. In no particular order, Peter Collins, Jan Beazley, Arthur Potter, Dave Howard, Pam Berriman, Angela Samuels, Russell Boyd, Brian Medway, Ben Damiano, Rowan Carter, Henry Pike, Risto Rimmukainen, Candice Burch, Tom and Helen Watson, Duncan McDonald, Jimmy Kiplox, John Cziesla, Robert Gunning, Matt Graham, Josh Manuatu, Gerry Wheeler, Cate Clunies-Ross, Greg and Margaret Cornwell, Mel Clode, Anne Prendergast, John and Jan Kennedy, David Connolly, Andrew Wilsmore, Jon Belmonte, Dave Morgan, Gwynne O’Heir, Dave and Steph Wawn, Ruth and Elizabeth Biggs, Katie Lankuts, George Lemon, George Ober, Suzannah Edwards, Sarwat Maqbool, Ignatius Rozario, Julian Leeser, Sandy Tanner, Linda Reynolds,
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