Page 4307 - Week 13 - Thursday, 19 November 2015
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Mr Barr: He said they were getting closer to government.
MR RATTENBURY: It is the only way to get there, I suppose! There have been quite a few highlights for me this year. I particularly enjoyed some of the work we have done with the community to develop legislation that delivers better protections and services for the people of Canberra.
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, to the staff of the directorates, thank you for all of the work you have done working for the people of the city this year. I am proud of what we have achieved and I know that your efforts are appreciated by Canberrans every single day.
To the directors-general whom I work with—Gary Byles, David Dawes and Alison Playford—thank you for juggling all of your responsibilities and multiple ministers’ meetings. To the other senior staff with whom I meet regularly and who offer their counsel to me, I thank you also. I would like to make special mention of the hardworking directorate liaison officers representing my directorates over the year—Chris, Karen, Narelle and the ever-patient Sarah—who all do an extraordinary job keeping our office processes well oiled.
I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the Clerk, Tom Duncan, and the staff in the Office of the Legislative Assembly for their work in keeping this place running. I certainly know from my time as Speaker what it takes to run this place, to manage the issues and concerns of MLAs and the public and to facilitate smooth sitting weeks. I know there is a lot of work involved in managing the refurbishment of this building, and Madam Speaker’s update today certainly underlined that. I wish you luck in getting through that process over the coming months.
I would like to thank members of the ALP, my cabinet colleagues and the other members of the ALP whom I form this government with. I think we have done a great job of building the collaboration that we need to make government work in this town, and I look forward to continuing that through the course of next year in the run-up to the election.
Finally, to the team who have worked in my office this year—Indra, Jarrah, Ali, Helen, Logan, Matt, Laura, Tom, Maiy and Rob—thank you for your continued energy and your enthusiasm.
We know it is going to be a big year next year, and, like other members, I simply urge everybody to have a restful Christmas season, to do the things that you enjoy doing, to spend time with your family and friends and have some relaxation over the summer break, as I am sure next year will disappear very quickly.
Valedictory
MR COE (Ginninderra) (5.58): I, too, rise, not to go through the White Pages for once but to reflect on a long year but a good year. As I have joked, I am already up to
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