Page 2848 - Week 08 - Thursday, 11 August 2016
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I would also like to acknowledge those that I have been in cabinet with—Simon, Mick, Yvette, Chris, Meegan and Joy. It was a very interesting journey coming into this role. I know that the first time I walked into the cabinet room there was a bit of a sense of “Who’s the random guy that has just walked into our cabinet room?” But we got over that, and we have gone okay ever since then, on the whole.
I think the public service were a bit shocked as well. You can just imagine the conversation down at Roads ACT when they went, “Yes, we have just appointed a Greens minister as the guy in charge of TAMS.” The poor old Roads ACT crew, I think, did not quite know what was coming for them. But we survived that as well, and actually we got along just fine.
When you look back at a moment like this, there are all sorts of actual achievements during the term to reflect on. As I think Mr Hanson said earlier, we will all make those points in the coming weeks—our legacy of the past four years. For me, it has been defined through the parliamentary agreement and the partnership we have had, dealing with things like climate change, homelessness and transport.
But the ones that always catch me by surprise are the things that you do not quite expect to make progress on, and there have been a few of those this term. We are getting to the point where we are now to move ahead on a medical cannabis scheme and where we actually made a significant change to the police pursuit policy. And finally, after 15 or so years and seven attempts, the Greens’ bill to ban battery hen farming in the ACT passed, much to Mr Hanson’s chagrin.
To my colleagues across the chamber, as I touched on earlier, you really have struggled to come to terms with that whole “crossbench minister” thing. It has been a shame that we have not been able to work on more stuff together. I did enjoy today, where we finally sat down and did a bill together. It reminded me of the first time I was in this place, from 2008 to 2012. I think that defining idea that once you become part of government you are part of the enemy: I disagree with that, and I think it has been a wasted opportunity. Nonetheless, we will continue to have that argument, no doubt. I do wish you well in the coming weeks, and I am sure we will have many a good tussle over the remaining period up until 15 October.
I would like particularly to thank the directorates I have worked with over this Assembly period. Through various reshuffles, I have seen my share of the ACT government, particularly Territory and Municipal Services; the Community Services Directorate; Justice and Community Safety; Economic Development; and the Chief Minister’s directorate, with transport reform. And, finally, I became the Minister for Education.
I particularly acknowledge the directors-general. I think they play a fascinating role in the ACT government. I have really enjoyed working with each of them. They are very experienced people, very talented. I would particularly like to acknowledge Gary Byles, Natalie Howson, Kathy Leigh, Alison Playford, David Dawes, Gary Rake, Karl Alderson, Diane Joseph and David Price. Each of them has taught me something, and I hope that from me they have taken some different perspectives on things as well. I think we have formed some strong partnerships in getting things done on behalf of the people of the ACT.
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