Page 2835 - Week 08 - Thursday, 11 August 2016
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some gumption to put yourself out there. Some of us do lose a bit of skin as a result from time to time. I am not looking at you particularly, Mr Gentleman. But that is as it should be. A democracy should be like that. We should be tested. We should be held to account. That is what makes a strong democracy.
I would like to thank the people of Molonglo who will be changing their electorates. I thank in particular all of the people whom I have represented but, as Leader of the Opposition, I thank all of the people of Canberra whom we all are here to represent and work hard for. I believe that, regardless of our differences, we all work hard in this place and we all do put the people of Canberra at the very heart of what we do.
It has been a very successful four years for the opposition, Madam Deputy Speaker. The commentary, I think, has been that that is the case. I commend my team very strongly for the work that they have done. Opposition is tough. I appreciate that government is probably tough too. We will get a chance to taste that soon.
What I would say is that there are three things that we have done well. We have held this government to account, and you will be thankful to hear I will not regurgitate all the issues for you. We have engaged constructively in the policy debate and, again, I will not go through all of the issues. We have heard them a lot and we will hear them over the next few weeks. But no-one can accuse this opposition of not having a position and, in fact, of not setting the debate on a range of policy issues.
What is often forgotten is that we work very hard for our constituents. What I would say is that all of us have done that. I was just reflecting with Ms Lawder about the number of representations various members have made.
I thank Alistair Coe, who has brought an enormous amount of support to me in the leadership. I think that when I reflect in many ways on what has been the strength of the Liberal team, the partnership that you and I have shared is the number one thing in my view. It is what in many ways has held this team together and made us what we are, with the support of all the other members—Julia, Steve, Nicole, Vicki, Andrew and Val, who is keeping the southern border secure for us, and a couple of members who have left. It would be great if you could pass on to Brendan, who is now working for you, my regards—if he is still in the country.
Mr Barr: Yes, he says he has got a new lease on life.
MR HANSON: Good, no doubt he has—all the way to Paris. And to Zed Seselja who was a member here. Obviously, he was our leader before I took over. It is great to see that he is now a minister in the federal government.
I thank all of our public servants, of course, who work so hard across all the portfolios, and the Assembly staff. I note particularly the attendants who always seem to want to have a joke and good on them. I would like to spend a little time thanking my own staff, some of whom have come down tonight. I start with my chief of staff Ian Hagan.
Mrs Dunne: You just need to make sure you name them all.
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