Page 4263 - Week 13 - Thursday, 27 November 2014
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who keep us buoyed up. Thank you, Alistair, Jeremy, Vicki, Nicole, Steve, Brendan and Andrew, and those across the chamber who are also very kind from time to time. Thank you very much.
Valedictory
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (6.31): It has been an interesting two years since the last ACT election, straddling the crossbench and the frontbench of the government in this, the Eighth Assembly. In my endeavours over the past year there have been many who have worked very hard to support both my ministerial and my crossbench work, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them.
Firstly, the staff of the directorates: thank you for all the work you have done working for the people of this city over the past 12 months. I am proud of what we have achieved. Your efforts are appreciated, not just in this place but right across the city. The feedback that we get from members of the public on all sorts of things, whether it is a large fix or a small problem resolved—right across the public service—is that that hard work is really appreciated by our community.
To the three directors-general that I work with—Natalie Howson, David Dawes and Gary Byles—thank you for juggling all of your responsibilities and multiple ministers’ meetings, particularly since the administrative changes.
I would also like to make special mention of the hardworking directorate liaison officers representing my directorates over the year—Anneliese, Chris, Ian, Karen, Kate, Megan, Erin and the ever-patient Sarah. I know you all do an extraordinary job keeping my staff in check. To the other senior staff with whom I meet regularly and who offer their counsel to me, I thank you as well.
I would also of course like to take the annual opportunity to thank the Clerk, Tom Duncan, and the staff of the Assembly. Having fulfilled the role of Speaker last term, I am well aware of how hard they work and what a job it is to keep this place running. I know they will have their work cut out over the coming 12 months planning for the increase in the size of the Assembly. I wish them well in that task as they seek to deal with the various preferences that no doubt some members will put forward during that planning process.
The Greens are a vibrant political force in the community, and I take very seriously the role of representing the party in this place. Advancing the cause of sustainability, social justice and grassroots democracy is something that I am privileged to do in my day-to-day life. While sometimes the work here can seem far removed from those causes, I and the Greens try to put each and every issue through that lens to get the best outcomes for our community. Thanks to everyone in the ACT Greens for their work this year. The party are strong and full of energy and I look forward to continuing to work with them in 2015.
Finally, to the team who have worked in my office this year—Jarrah, Ali, Helen, Indra, Larry, Logan, Matt, Laura, Michael, Rob and Sophie—I cannot thank you enough for your energy and your enthusiasm. You are professional, focused,
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